Lexus LS, Dangling from a Crane

Ever had a nightmare where five Lexus LS models were hanging precariously by the thin metal thread of a crane, right over the hood of the beautiful LFA? We bet you didn't, but this is exactly how the Japanese have decided to let you know how much they trust the way they build their models.

The clip you will see below is part of the new Lexus advertising campaign, meant to tell the world how tough the new LS is. According to the manufacturer, the stunt you see in the video below is as real as it gets.

Shot on the runway of an airport somewhere, under a cloudy sky (hence the surreal images which, at first, made us think this is a CGI of some sorts), the stunt required quite an extensive previous preparation and the involvement of several very bright people, including a physicist and a structural engineer. After all, Lexus planned to place $375,000 worth of LFA under the five suspended sedans.

“It isn’t enough to just say that we pursue perfection, we want to demonstrate the great lengths we go to in our pursuit,” said Dave Nordstrom, vice president of marketing for Lexus.

“The new broadcast spot allows us to focus on the foundation of our vehicles, the chassis, and show its almost unbelievable strength. In fact, we feared that it would be so unbelievable, we invited a physicist and structural engineer to witness the shoot, to prove that it did, in fact, occur without the use of special effects or computer generated-imagery.”