Lexus is hoping to bring younger consumers into the luxury marque by promoting its 5th hybrid around a global-warming debate series. The initial "Darker Side of Green" debate was this spring in New
York, and had comic Sarah Silverman moderating a debate between a global warming skeptic and an alternative-energy advocate.
The expanded program, promoting the CT 200h hybrid sedan, will
continue the theme, with celebrity moderators and legitimate antagonists. The company says, for example, that Andy Samberg, Jamie Kennedy, Tracey Morgan, and Mark McGrath will moderate upcoming
debates, which also have Lexus vehicles on site.
The events are really an opportunity for Gen Y's to party: Patron Spirits co-sponsors and drinks are Tequila centric. The venues have
interior-design themes meant to evoke the CT 200h, vehicle, also on display. An installation, called "CT Umbra" changes color between gold to green and blue.
"Lexus designed the CT 200h to
have higher fuel mileage and lower emissions, without sacrificing the fun," said David Nordstrom, Lexus vice president of marketing. "CT 200h brings energy to the new compact premium hybrid segment
with its sleek styling and dynamic handling."
Environmental advocates Simran Sethi, Amanda Little, Eric Bates, and David Roberts and climate change skeptics Phelim McAleer, Christopher Horner,
Lord Monckton, and Steve Everley will face each other in the light-hearted series.
Andrea Lim, Lexus events marketing manager. "Expanding our debate series helps to reinforce the message
embodied in the CT 200h - that two behaviors, not often found side by side, can successfully merge and become a way of life."
The first debate in the new series, to be moderated by Andy
Samberg, will be in Los Angeles on July 8. Emmy Award-winning journalist Simran Sethi and journalist, skeptic, and filmmaker Phelim McAleer will face off.
Comedian Jamie Kennedy will host the
next one on July 20 in Miami. The third one, moderated by Tracey Morgan, will be on July 27 in New York between Eric Bates, editor of Rolling Stone, and The Viscount Monckton of Brenchley, a former
policy advisor to U.K. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. The last one will be on August 5 in Chicago and will be moderated by singer Mark McGrath.