2010 Land Cruiser Prado (Our GX 460)

[dunnojack]

Originally Posted by GS3Tek

Uggh. So far I'm not liking it (and still not liking the new LX)

1) they got rid of the body cladding around the fender and the doors
2) it has the hannibal lecter grill

fififififififififififififif

body cladding is so last decade.

there is still cladding, in a sense. look at the bulky fenders around the wheels.
the cladding is now integrated into the body.

lexus won't get that grille.

[GS3Tek]

Originally Posted by dunnojack

body cladding is so last decade.

there is still cladding, in a sense. look at the bulky fenders around the wheels.
the cladding is now integrated into the body.

lexus won't get that grille.

Damn, I got chewed out. I was an ex-GX owner here.

Guess I'm still stuck in the last decade b/c I love the body cladding.
Must be cheaper to produce it without the body cladding too.

I jumped the gun on the grill-I know the prado uses that and hope lexus won't.

[pagemaster]

Originally Posted by dunnojack

body cladding is so last decade.

there is still cladding, in a sense. look at the bulky fenders around the wheels.
the cladding is now integrated into the body.

lexus won't get that grille.

Body cladding is so last decade. You're right!

[PhilipMSPT]

Originally Posted by GS3Tek

Uggh. So far I'm not liking it (and still not liking the new LX)

1) they got rid of the body cladding around the fender and the doors
2) it has the hannibal lecter grill

fififififififififififififif

Mind you, the pic is of a Toyota.

Lexus will have enhancements to make it more luxurious...

[lex]

Originally Posted by GS3Tek

Uggh. So far I'm not liking it (and still not liking the new LX)

1) they got rid of the body cladding around the fender and the doors
2) it has the hannibal lecter grill

fififififififififififififif

the current Prado has this grill to so you can't say anything about it

[werewolf]

I've rented the current Land Cruiser Prado. It is an awesome vehicle, much better proportions and useable space than a 4runner. The new one looks modern but I would buy the current model and keep it until it died (30 yrs from now)

[MPLexus301]

Originally Posted by werewolf

The new one looks modern but I would buy the current model and keep it until it died (30 yrs from now)

I would be inclined to do the same- the current GX is one of my favorite Lexus models of all time.

[DustinV]

The Lexus qualities are definitely there, but from a styling point of view this thing has "Toyota" written all over it. And I have a problem with that.

I have commented on this topic before but I always felt that Lexus was doing a great job distancing themselves from Toyota in terms of styling - then came the LX570, the HS250h and now the GX460. Great cars, no doubt, but the styling isn't anything special. I was hoping that Lexus would seriously invent their own distinctive style that would first of all set them apart from Toyota and eventually keep evolving.

Right now, Lexus design, in my opinion, is still a mixture of Toyota influences and some semi-Lexus identifiable designs. Cars which really have the potential to influence future Lexus design are the IS, GS and LS (in my opinion).

Just some thoughts. Please feel free to criticize me.

[MPLexus301]

Originally Posted by DustinV

The Lexus qualities are definitely there, but from a styling point of view this thing has "Toyota" written all over it. And I have a problem with that.

I have commented on this topic before but I always felt that Lexus was doing a great job distancing themselves from Toyota in terms of styling - then came the LX570, the HS250h and now the GX460. Great cars, no doubt, but the styling isn't anything special. I was hoping that Lexus would seriously invent their own distinctive style that would first of all set them apart from Toyota and eventually keep evolving.

Right now, Lexus design, in my opinion, is still a mixture of Toyota influences and some semi-Lexus identifiable designs. Cars which really have the potential to influence future Lexus design are the IS, GS and LS (in my opinion).

Just some thoughts. Please feel free to criticize me.

No criticism here- I can see what you mean. To to be honest, this is a Toyota Landcruiser Prado, so we should wait to see what Lexus does in terms of redesigning the front end, wheels, lights, door handles and running boards, etc. They may also add some body moulding or accents, so anything is possible.

For now I am glad that the body is at least attractive. Between the RX, ISc, HS, and LX, I was pretty terrified

[FKL]

So is Lexus going to do a body carry-over from the Toyota model or actually make it distinctive this time around? They put so much time and effort into distinguishing the brand with L-Finesse, but just keep taking Toyota left-overs and doing close to no alteration... I wish push would come to shove and somebody inside the company would acknowledge that a Toyota with a Lexus badge isn't a Lexus, it's a Toyota (unless they have some sort of internal definition of a "real" Lexus that is different from mine). Just look at the current GX - there is zero distinction over the "Prado". Body and interior are carryovers.

[Threxx]

Originally Posted by FKL

So is Lexus going to do a body carry-over from the Toyota model or actually make it distinctive this time around? They put so much time and effort into distinguishing the brand with L-Finesse, but just keep taking Toyota left-overs and doing close to no alteration... I wish push would come to shove and somebody inside the company would acknowledge that a Toyota with a Lexus badge isn't a Lexus, it's a Toyota (unless they have some sort of internal definition of a "real" Lexus that is different from mine). Just look at the current GX - there is zero distinction over the "Prado". Body and interior are carryovers.

That might not matter to much to the average consumer who has never seen a prado. We have the 4runner and GX here and while they share a lot of the same basic design and are made in the same plant side by side, they still offer quite a bit of differentiation from them. I own a 4runner and before we got it I went and test drove the GX. I could tell that they were related, but the driving experience was still very different. The GX had a totally different more isolated and more 'solid' feel to it while driving, and the interior is clearly a big step up from the 4runner.

So maybe it's sold as a Toyota elsewhere but does that mean I'd want Toyota to spend a bunch more R&D on the GX just so they can claim it's a more unique vehicle, even if it's not actually much if any better? I mean there are definitely some differences between the Prado and GX... but I think if you wanted the differences to become more significant it would require a lot of R&D costs that wouldn't actually improve either product... they'd just keep people from being upset that their Lexus SUV is elsewhere in the world sold with a Toyota badge on it... and, what, maybe 1/10th of 1 percent of the GX owning population actually knows that, much less cares... so what's the point? If the GX is a good SUV, then it's good.

I think I've seen you go on a GX rant before saying the interior is not up to Lexus standards. And by the current model lineup, it's really starting to look dated, but when it first came out it definitely fit right in to the rest of their lineup. I'm sure the 2010 will perform similarly.

[FKL]

Originally Posted by Threxx

That might not matter to much to the average consumer who has never seen a prado. We have the 4runner and GX here and while they share a lot of the same basic design and are made in the same plant side by side, they still offer quite a bit of differentiation from them. I own a 4runner and before we got it I went and test drove the GX. I could tell that they were related, but the driving experience was still very different. The GX had a totally different more isolated and more 'solid' feel to it while driving, and the interior is clearly a big step up from the 4runner.

So maybe it's sold as a Toyota elsewhere but does that mean I'd want Toyota to spend a bunch more R&D on the GX just so they can claim it's a more unique vehicle, even if it's not actually much if any better? I mean there are definitely some differences between the Prado and GX... but I think if you wanted the differences to become more significant it would require a lot of R&D costs that wouldn't actually improve either product... they'd just keep people from being upset that their Lexus SUV is elsewhere in the world sold with a Toyota badge on it... and, what, maybe 1/10th of 1 percent of the GX owning population actually knows that, much less cares... so what's the point? If the GX is a good SUV, then it's good.

I think I've seen you go on a GX rant before saying the interior is not up to Lexus standards. And by the current model lineup, it's really starting to look dated, but when it first came out it definitely fit right in to the rest of their lineup. I'm sure the 2010 will perform similarly.

Thanks for this post, Threxx. I completely see where you are coming from. I suppose, like you said, it doesn't matter to the vast majority of the consumers who purchase these trucks, but it would to me, personally. So personally, it bothers me, but I understand the monetary gains that can be made by just carrying it over with subtle revisions.

[ffpowerLN]

Originally Posted by FKL

but it would to me, personally. So personally, it bothers me,

That's ok because Lexus knows when you are buying cars you'll head right to your local Audi/VW dealerships anyways...

Not a lost to them by any means.

[FKL]

Originally Posted by ffpowerLN

That's ok because Lexus knows when you are buying cars you'll head right to your local Audi/VW dealerships anyways...

Not a lost to them by any means.

Lame. Please lay off the insults, for once, unless you want to write your age for us all to see.

[pagemaster]

Originally Posted by Threxx

So maybe it's sold as a Toyota elsewhere but does that mean I'd want Toyota to spend a bunch more R&D on the GX just so they can claim it's a more unique vehicle, even if it's not actually much if any better? I mean there are definitely some differences between the Prado and GX... but I think if you wanted the differences to become more significant it would require a lot of R&D costs that wouldn't actually improve either product... they'd just keep people from being upset that their Lexus SUV is elsewhere in the world sold with a Toyota badge on it... and, what, maybe 1/10th of 1 percent of the GX owning population actually knows that, much less cares... so what's the point? If the GX is a good SUV, then it's good.
.

The GX470 is a Prado with a 4.7 engine and AVS.....Tundra had the 4.7....and Sequoia has the AVS...

but I think if you wanted the differences to become more significant it would require a lot of R&D costs that wouldn't actually improve either product

Land Cruiser and Sequoia are totally different products. It could be done with the GX and Prado but there really is no point...