Also covered in the HS 250h pricing announcement was the cost of the new Lexus Enform telematics subscription:
Complimentary one-year trial subscriptions of Lexus Enform and Safety Connect are included with all new HS 250h purchases. One-year renewal subscriptions to Safety Connect alone will be available for $139.95 and to Lexus Enform with Safety Connect for $264.90 per year. Multi-year subscriptions will also be available.
Safety Connect provides Automatic Collision Notification, Stolen Vehicle Location, Emergency Assistance Button (SOS), and Enhanced Roadside Assistance, and costs $140. The Lexus Enform service, costing an additional $125, gives drivers Destination Assist, which allows a remote customer agent to send locations to your GPS, and eDestination, which lets you program destinations into your GPS using a private website.
Difficult to forecast the success of either service, but it’s important to note that this undercuts the similar OnStar service by close to $50 a year, a significant savings. In my mind, the ability to have your GPS programmed while driving goes a long way in justifying the cost—add the eDestination and all the safety features and I expect this functionality to become an integral part of the Lexus experience.
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