Lexus Pulls an 'All-Nighter' with Xbox LIVE for CT 200h

TORRANCE, Calif., Dec. 15, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- In support of its all-new CT 200h hybrid, Lexus has forged its first partnership with Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft for the Xbox LIVE® online entertainment network "All-Nighter." On Saturday, December 18, Lexus will sponsor the all-night gaming marathon for "Halo: Reach," giving gamers the opportunity to download Lexus content and enter to win prizes for playing from dusk 'til dawn.

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The "All-Nighter" custom sponsorship includes a branded destination experience within Xbox LIVE where gamers can access episodes of "Darkcasting," the first after dark in-car talk show, starring actress and comedian Whitney Cummings. The online show, which premiered November 4, features interviews from inside the CT with social media influencers, young entrepreneurs and movers and shakers from technology, fashion, media and entertainment.

Gamers can also register to win prizes by playing "Halo: Reach" against other players from across the country all night long. Every hour from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. PT, eight players will each win 4,000 Microsoft Points, which can be used to purchase Arcade games, game add-ons, movie and music downloads, merchandise and more. With 4,000 Microsoft Points, gamers can download approximately five Arcade games, three new movie purchases or 50 Zune songs, for example. To enter, gamers need to download the free Lexus All-Nighter Gamer Picture and play "Halo: Reach." The longer they play "Halo: Reach," the greater their odds of winning.

"We're looking to stimulate conversation with a new customer for Lexus, for whom gaming is highly engaging and very social," said Dave Nordstrom, Lexus vice president of marketing. "This partnership allows us to be a part of the Xbox community for the first time and give a little something back to gamers just for doing what they do best."

The "All-Nighter" sponsorship is the latest in the multi-phased introduction of the CT 200h, a luxury hybrid like no other on the market and the new gateway into the Lexus brand. The "Darker Side of Green" campaign for the CT re-casts the hybrid as anything but flowers and sunshine through a variety of innovative entertainment, social media and emerging technology programs.

"As the Xbox LIVE audience grows and broadens, we continue to create innovative ways for advertisers to extend their reach and deeply engage with consumers," said Mark Kroese, General Manager of Microsoft's IEB Advertising Business Group. "Our partnership with Lexus is an example of both companies bringing the right message to the right audience at the right time."

The stylish, sporty five-door CT 200h will deliver a dynamic, fun-to-drive experience when it goes on sale in the U.S. in early March 2011. As Lexus' fifth hybrid vehicle, the CT 200h will have the luxury industry's best combined EPA-estimated fuel economy with 42 mpg. The CT is powered by a 1.8-liter Atkinson cycle four-cylinder gas engine with Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i) and Lexus Hybrid Drive technology. The CT 200h features four drive modes: Sport, when the driver wants a more dynamic experience, or Normal, Eco, or EV to satisfy more typical day-to-day driving needs. The CT 200h can operate in EV mode for up to one mile driving under electric motor power alone in certain conditions. In addition, Sport mode provides less intrusive operation of the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Traction Control (TRAC) systems, allowing drivers to fully exploit the full hybrid's extended dynamic abilities while throttle settings are modified to give a faster response to driver inputs. The CT will have a base MSRP of $29,120.

To learn more about "Darkcasting," visit www.darkersideofgreen.com/darkcasting. For more details on the Lexus "All-Nighter" contest, including complete rules and eligibility, please visit www.xbox.com/lexusall-nightersweeps.

About Lexus

Lexus is the leading luxury automaker in the United States.  With its reputation for high-quality products and exemplary customer service from its 228 dealers, Lexus has been the top-selling luxury automaker for ten years in a row.  In addition, Lexus is the luxury hybrid leader and will soon offer five hybrids that provide the best in innovative technology and first- class luxury.  When Lexus was established in 1989, it offered two models of vehicles.  Now, more than 20 years later, Lexus offers variations of 11 vehicles, from the entry-level IS 250 to its first V10 supercar, the LFA.

SOURCE Lexus