Kylie Minogue likes cars but she has moved up-market. In 2002 Ford sponsored her 39-date European Fever Tour, from Cardiff to Barcelona. She was pictured with the production StreetKa roadster to provide a preview before it went on sale in 2003. “The partnership with Kylie was the perfect way to show off StreetKa ahead of its launch,” said Peter Fleet, marketing director. “StreetKa and Kylie had a lot in common; they were both small, beautiful and stylish.” The car was formally unveiled to the public at the Paris Motor Show in September 2002.
Well, now it’s the Lexus CT 200h. Lexus will be lead sponsor of Kylie’s 2011 UK concert tour, Aphrodite – Les Folies. Elegant, contemporary and chic, trills today’s press release from Lexus. Director Belinda Poole shares Peter Fleet’s view: “Kylie is the perfect ambassador for Lexus. She has the energy, style and popular public profile that will re ach directly to customers new to the Lexus brand.” Kylie, “who has enjoyed huge success as an actor, singer, dancer, model and designer”, was thrilled too: “I’ve been lucky enough to have a preview of the car, which is stylish and elegant…” She will have her own specially specified Lexus.

The Sunday Times once ran a series, which ran alongside my motoring column, on Stars and Cars. It had to be discontinued when it became obvious that many celebrities didn’t own any cars. They had not chosen them. They drove round free in those secretly on loan from manufacturers and then gushed about them like Corporate Press Releases. Kylie's a smart girl and at least she’s honest about it.