Anniversary Spotlight - Dan Warthesen

 Village Automotive Group is celebrating Dan Warthesen’s 10th year of service with Lexus of Maplewood.

During his tenure, he has had nine different positions due to management’s support in allowing him to reach his professional and personal goals. Dan grew up in the Metro area and enjoys connecting with people from surrounding communities.  He likes being able to serve people he knows, like his former school teachers.

Most of Dan’s training has revolved around customer service. He has completed his Lexus Master certification and has also attended leadership training courses. Dan comments “I appreciate being able to work alongside role models each day.” Dan has been able to grow continually by assuming different roles and taking on more responsibilities. One of Dan’s goals as a manager is to grow the experiences of those around him by sharing tips on what he has learned in his various positions at the dealership. Dan sees Village’s greatest strength as, “Being able to able deliver top notch service to our guests, which is a major perk of the job.”

Inside Lexus of Maplewood, Dan has found a fast-paced environment. The dealership leads the industry in snow removal day through team work that has created an efficient and refined process. He also enjoys the many events Lexus of Maplewood plans such as helping at Second Harvest Heartland, attending the Timberwolves Lexus Courtside Club, going to the Bearly Open event in White Bear Lake and participating in the New Owner Welcome Clinics and New Vehicle Launch parties. The best community event Dan has been a part of is the Opus and Olives Event where he enjoyed the evening because, “It is all about the St. Paul Public Library and raising money for a good cause. The attendees were community members, publishers, writers, and bestselling authors.” His favorite team events include attending Twins games with the store employees which brings everyone together and gives everyone time to have fun and socialize.

Village Automotive Group thanks Dan for his years of service and looks forward to his future with us.

Anniversary Spotlight - Kevin Kriegshauser

Village Automotive Group is celebrating Kevin Kriegshauser’s 17th year of service with Lexus of Maplewood.

Kevin describes the company as having good benefits, a great brand, and plenty of training. In his experience, Kevin has never seen another manufacturer with the same transparency as Lexus. Lexus corporate sends helpful tips and information that most other brands wouldn’t share. 

The company has been around for a long time. Kevin describes Village as, “A place where the owner walks through from time to time and actually talks to you.” He says there are a lot of things that happen to make you feel wanted; baseball games, events, biometric screenings. 

His favorite part about the company is room to advance. Kevin started as a Line Technician, became a Team Lead, and was then promoted to a Diagnostic Specialist role. He currently holds the top Technician position.

The team events Kevin has enjoyed most are Twin’s games on the Budweiser Party Deck and community service events at Second Harvest Heartland. He describes it as, “amazing how many people we put food together for in just a couple of hours!”

Village is a “good place to start a career, not just a job.” He finds value in the programs put into place to work for you to get to a comfortable retirement.  

Village Automotive Group thanks Kevin for his years of service with us and looks forward to his future with us.

Jeremy Mertes - HR Corner

HR Corner

Jeremy Mertes

August 2016

One of Village Automotive Group’s philosophy is to “grow your own.”

Jeremy Mertes exemplifies that philosophy when he began his career with Lexus of Maplewood in May of 2004. He started as a Technician and was promoted to Reconditioning Manager in 2009. In 2011, he became a Pre-Owned Sales Associate and communicated to management his desire to grow into sales management someday.

July 1, Jeremy was able to achieve his goal to be a manager when he became the Pre Owned Sales Manager at Lexus of Maplewood. 

In his new role, Jeremy will be focused on training sales associates to maximize the potential each individual sales associate brings to Lexus of Maplewood. With Jeremy’s talent and support, management is confident he will be bring continued success to  the Pre-Owned Sales department and the overall experiences for our customers and employees.

Village Automotive Group believes in finding “the best and the brightest talent” to hire, train and retain.  Jeremy’s work ethic was described by management as, “He excelled at everything he was given since he started his career with Lexus of Maplewood.” His dedication to the “pursuit of perfection” as a Technician opened doors for him to grow in his professional career and experience.

The Pre-Owned department is currently seeking Sales Associates. If you are interested in joining Jeremy and his team, where you will have an opportunity to grow in your professional experiences, please apply at:  villageautomotivegroup.com/careers to be considered for this position.  

Apply the Golden Rule--Thank you Glenn from Fridley & his grandson Jake (Coon Rapids Baseball Player)

The staff at Lexus of Maplewood are always striving to provide the best customer service experience and at times are able to surprise a customer in a personal way. Glenn was a first time customer who found out about Lexus of Maplewood through positive references from his friends and relatives. This was his first Lexus purchase and he now really enjoys their RX 350. Their favorite features are the following:

• ·         Very comfortable/adjustable seats (Lumbar support on passenger side)
• ·         Very quiet ride
• ·         My wife loves the keyless entry (no more fumbling in her purse to locate keys)
• ·         Engine/transmission performance with a very quick response

When Glenn was shopping for his RX, he ended up talking with his Sales Associate, Dan Haspert, about sports. He also mentioned that his grandson, Jake, who is 15 years old, is a big baseball fan and plays for Coon Rapids. After hearing about the sports conversations, our General Sales Manager, Matt Koehnen, with the help of Dan, were able to get two Twins tickets, and offered them to Glenn. Glenn was delighted to take his grandson. No one could have imagined the impression this gesture made on Jake.

After the game, Glenn sent a nice email to our Lexus of Maplewood staff thanking them for providing the Twins tickets. He also included the reaction of his grandson below:

Jake fully enjoyed the first class experience. At the game, Jake said, 

“Grandpa the tickets are awesome! Where did you get them?” 

I explained that I had purchased a new Lexus from Lexus of Maplewood last week and they offered me the tickets as a “thank you”. Jake responded with, 

“Wow Grandpa, these are amazing seats! Do you think you paid too much for the car?”

I am proud of my practical grandson and pleased that he appreciated and enjoyed the seats. I laughed as I responded to Jake, that the lowest price is not always the best value. I feel a car from Lexus of Maplewood is a great value since Lexus has a reputation for being very dependable and the dealership treats their customers the way they themselves would wish to be treated.

Jake responded, 

“I get it, they apply the Golden Rule! Hopefully, I can purchase a car from them someday!”

Our staff was very excited to hear this story and wanted to share the experience with other Lexus owners. Lexus of Maplewood would like to thank Glenn and his wife for their business. We appreciate you sharing this story with us and other Lexus customers!

Anniversary Spotlight: Thomas Schultz 
Lexus of Maplewood 
Service Advisor

Village Automotive Group is celebrating Thomas Schultz’s 10th year of service with Lexus of Maplewood.

Thomas chose the automotive industry because he has always had a passion for cars and motorsports. When he got the opportunity to work for a luxury brand right out of technical school, he says he was “stoked.” Thomas started in the Car Wash department, moved into a Technician role, and then became a part of the Service Advisor team. In 2012, Thomas was involved in a rollover car accident and was unable to do the physical tasks required as a Technician. He started in the service department. He says, “The Village Human Resources department and store management helped me work into a desk job within the Service Department which I gladly say I owe a lot of my retention to their help.”

Thomas describes the culture in the Service Department as fast paced and says coworkers are generally available to help you learn on the job. “If you are willing to put in the work, it pays off and I have seen this time and again with new hires here.” In regards to training, Thomas has gone to the central training office in Chicago many times. “The staff and facility are top notch. I have come back enthused after every trip because they do a great job instilling Lexus culture and keeping you engaged.” Some of Thomas’ favorite company events include Valley Fair Day and charter walleye fishing trips to Mille Lacs Lake.

Thomas believes the strengths of Village Automotive Group includes a consistent customer service base who has a lot of faith in the Lexus brand and a supportive training base. He also believes working within the company provides the network of information, tools, and support required to live up to the Lexus standard our guest’s expect.

Village Automotive Group thanks Thomas for his years of service with us and looks forward to his future with us.

December Employee Spotlight: John Butina

Lexus of Maplewood is excited to highlight John Butina for our December Employee Spotlight.

John has worked at Lexus as a New Car Sales Associate since 2012. He was referred for the position by a Lexus of Wayzata employee, Chris Ilhe. John feels it’s less about selling cars than it is about working with people and appreciates the wonderful people he has met along the way.

John grew up in South Saint Paul and completed 2 years of college at Augsburg.  Before working for Lexus of Maplewood, John worked in mortgage banking for 22 years. He has been married for 22 years and loves to spend time with his niece and nephew. He enjoys visiting them at school and taking them out.

In addition to spending time with his niece and nephew, John enjoys spending his spare time golfing. He has been a member of a course for 20 years. He is proud to say he got two hole-in-ones with a 4 iron and both were 200 yards. John is also a contributor and volunteer for Animal Ark and Crohn’s and Colitus Foundation. Crohn’s and Colitus Foundation is a non-profit, volunteer-based organization dedicated to finding cures for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Animal Ark is Minnesota’s largest no-kill shelter for animals.

John’s favorite vacation was a visit to Washington D.C. where he got the opportunity to go on private tours of the White House and Capital during Halloween. He was lucky enough to experience awesome weather and do lots of sightseeing.  If John had to recommend a place to visit in the Midwest, he would suggest South Dakota to visit Sioux Falls and Mount Rushmore.

Lexus of Maplewood thanks John for his continued dedication to his customers and the store.


To view past employee spotlights click here 

Lexus Announces Twins! - All-New NX Compact Crossover Introduces First Twin Scroll Turbo Charger to Lineup

BEIJING – April 20, 2014 – With the addition of two exhaust gas inlets and two nozzles, Lexus welcomes its first twin scroll turbo charger to its powertrain family at the 2014 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition.  The all-new Lexus NX compact crossover offers the brand’s first gasoline turbo engine in the NX 200t. The NX 200t turbo will balance excellent fuel economy with responsive acceleration and agility.

The all-new NX is Lexus’ first entry into the luxury compact crossover segment. The NX 200t turbo will be available in the U.S. market along with the NX 300h hybrid.  The availability of NX model range, including the NX 200 with a naturally aspirated engine, will vary by market.

“Positioned below the RX, the new NX model will provide an exciting entry point into the Lexus crossover and luxury utility vehicle family.  Its expressive design and turbocharged performance embody the technology and design focused direction customers can expect from Lexus,” said Jeff Bracken, Lexus group vice president and general manager.

The NX 200t F SPORT will also be available with aggressive design features.  F SPORT exclusives include a mesh grille insert, bold front bumper, machined-finish wheels, black exterior mirrors, interior ornamentation, paddle shifters, and sport seats.

The NX was developed as a refined and stylish compact luxury utility vehicle.  NX chief engineer Takeaki Kato said, “Luxury is epitomized by small but important details.”

Examples of attention to detail in the NX include welcoming LED illuminated exterior door handles, advanced overhead console touch switches that operate smoothly and other innovations that will set new standards for future Lexus models.

“Apart from the luxury touches, the NX was designed to complement daily life while also being capable of supporting an active lifestyle on the weekend.”

The Lexus NX will go on sale globally in the second half of 2014, and appear in U.S. showrooms in the fall of 2014.  Both U.S. models, NX 200t and NX 300h, will be available in front-wheel-drive and all-weather-drive.

Three Powertrains Globally

NX 200t

The NX 200t will use the all-new 2.0-liter turbo direct injection gasoline engine matched to a six-speed automatic transmission specially tuned for the NX.

The six-speed automatic transmission features new torque-demand control logic, which calculates required engine torque and maximizes it, delivering quick response to acceleration and exhilarating feel with fuel efficiency.

The new Lexus 2.0-liter turbo engine was tested extensively on various road conditions and harsh environments. The turbo engine has a Lexus-first combination of water-cooled cylinder head integrated exhaust manifold and twin scroll turbo charger.

NX 300h

The NX 300h adopts Lexus Hybrid Drive with a 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle engine, generator, motor and battery. The hybrid model features sprung-weight damping control to increase ride comfort and other suspension modifications for handling and stability.

Available in front-wheel drive or all-weather drive, the NX 300h will be ready for urban adventure.

NX 200

China and Russia will offer the NX 200. A naturally aspirated 2.0-liter Valvematic variable valve mechanism gasoline engine matched to a Sequential-Continuously Variable Transmission (S-CVT)/Multi-drive transmission will power the NX 200.

The Lexus Valvematic system provides high torque through an expanded valve opening angle and Variable Valve Timing (VVT) operation range.

The 2.0-liter powerplant has a high compression ratio and diagonal fuel injectors, which optimizes fuel mixture to produce strong power through the rev-range.

Chassis and Suspension

The NX has been designed for agile driving, handling stability, turning posture and ride comfort, including yaw-rate response to steering input and stability on uneven road surfaces.
      
The foundation for the vehicle’s sophisticated suspension is a highly rigid body with extensive underbody reinforcement. The new body has a comprehensive package of reinforcements, additional bulkheads and spot welding, suspension braces, and the use of Lexus body adhesive, laser-screw welding and high-rigidity glass adhesive.

NX F SPORT models will have newly developed performance dampers to further enhance handling stability.

Exterior Design

From inception to reality, the NX was substantially influenced by the LF-NX concept vehicles that were introduced in hybrid form at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show, and later at the Tokyo Motor Show, powered by an all-new turbo drivetrain.

The NX was designed to provide more agility than an SUV and the versatility needed to navigate urban streets.?

The front fascia integrates Lexus’ signature spindle grille, innovative LED headlamps, fog lamps, and daytime running lamps. The new compact crossover embraces a sculpted look with bold front and rear wheel arches that house standard 17-inch and optional 18-inch wheels.

The profile is accentuated by a roofline peak set towards the back of the vehicle to create a tight silhouette and provide ample head-room for rear seat occupants.

An innovative, Lexus-first door handle with a hidden key barrel and integrated lighting provide the subtle attention to detail that meet the chief engineer’s definition of luxury.

Lexus’ signature ‘L’ shaped combination tail lamps, each with seamless LED lighting, and bodywork that reflects the spindle grille complete the rear design.

 Interior Design

Soft interior materials combined with hard metallic surfaces provide NX with a luxurious environment and the structural beauty of a high performance machine.

A strong, silver frame defines and surrounds the center instrument panel. Knee pads located at the base of the center stack help support the driver and front passenger when cornering. The Human Machine Interface (HMI) technology continues the impression of an advanced vehicle and is also located at the bottom of the center stack.

Seating played a significant role in the cabin design. A quilted pattern in the seats and varied cushion thickness provide both support and style. The NX possesses a low hip point that helps optimize driver position and adds to the connection between the driver and the vehicle while increasing overall head room.

The NX also has a long cargo area length and a wide front to rear couple distance that helps increase legroom.

Technology

The NX has an array of innovative on-board technology, including an available Lexus-first Wireless Charging Tray which enables Qi compatible phones to be charged. Other available technology includes the first application of a new Lexus Remote Touch Interface with a touch pad; Pre-Collision System with All-speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control; Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross Traffic Alert; power folding rear seat and Lane Departure Alert. The standard-equipped Multi-information Display features an available Lexus-first G sensor and boost meter.

Specifications

NX specifications will vary by market

	NX 200t	NX 300h
Overall Length	182.3 in.	182.3 in.
Overall Width	72.6 in.	72.6 in.
Overall Height	64.8 in. (with antenna)	64.8 in. (with antenna)
Wheelbase	104.7 in.	104.7 in.
Tread  - front/rear	62.2/62.2 in. (with 225/65R17 tire) 61.8 in/61.8 in (with 235/60R18 tire)	62.2/62.2 in. (with 225/65R17 tire) 61.8 in/61.8 in (with 235/60R18 tire)
Horsepower	235 hp	194 hp (total system)
Torque	258 lb.-ft. @ 4,000 rpm	-