mmarshall

I can remember a few interesting niche models from Lexus, though. Shortly after I bought my (new) 2001 IS300, they did a slow-selling 5-door hatchback (wagon) version called the SportCross....and then dropped it from very poor sales.



An even more niche model (though it never saw production) was the 90s-vintage Lexus Street Rod, which used a Lexus-derived V8 and an (imitation), custom-built '32 Ford Deuce-style body/interior. IMO, it was a FAR better attempt to do a modern retro street-rod than the (actual production) Plymouth Prowler, which was simply too outrageous-looking, too aero, and used an underpowered (for a street rod) V6 and a side-stick auto-manual instead of a true manual (Chrysler's explanation for the automatic was that the body and driver's footwell was too narrow to properly fit in a third pedal for the clutch). Unfortunately, the Lexus street rod died in concept......it never actually saw production.

S2000toIS350

Will offer vs does offer

Let's be granular to illustrate what a joke hand Lexus is playing against a real tier 1 luxury brand

Lexus currently offers 0 convertibles

MB currently offers 16 convertibles across 5 car classes

SLC
300
43

E
400
550

SL
450
550
63
65

S
550
63
65

C
300
300 4matic
43
63
63S

SW17LS

Lexus is just never going to do that, if that variety is something you value, you should buy Mercedes.

S2000toIS350

I am not an MB customer and I agree that Lexus won't go toe to toe with them regarding models

i am just illustrating why I believe Lexus will not be able to keep up with MB in the sales battle

we all know Lexus sells a crap load of a few models because the value proposition for the ES and RX are compelling for a ton of folks

situman

I think with the modular platform, it is quite feasible to provide more niche models. Constantly modifying old and non-modular platforms into different vehicles is extremely expensive, inefficient and will not be the best product possible. Case in point, the RC. It's heavy and it doesnt handle as well as it could have if it had its own platform instead of a marriage of parts from different cars.

Also, if Lexus sells over 2m cars like the Germans, it will provide a reason and the financial might to do all those vehicles.

RNM GS3

They don't want to do it - they definitely could.
When Lexus was developed as a brand, the mission was to be the best Luxury brand and Luxury experience.
Now they are happy with selling FWD based vehicles, which is fine as long as they still develop Tier 1 luxury cars like roadsters, convertibles, sportscar (R8, MB GT type car), CLS/A7/Grancoupe competitor, full line of F cars.

There is just so much more they can do and be GREAT at doing too.
They have more resources than any other car company.
The desire and commitment from Japan is not there. They need a plan and stick to it, instead they let products grow stale like the GS/SC/LS/F cars and then blame low sales.

SW17LS

Sure they can, Toyota can do anything it wants, they're just not going to. Thats not how they operate their business.

sears1234

It's probably not that case. At least, I know Toyota's new infotainment system platform is designed by Ford, Toyota share the software, and develop it's own UI (HMI) software.
There could be a lots of software bugs in the future.

Toys4RJill

That is not exactly what they said in the original literature for Lexus cars. They stated something along the lines "unsurpassed Automotive Experience" and the Lexus goal was "Quite simply, the Lexus goal is to design and build the best automobiles and to actively maintain the most satisfied owners in America"

dseag2

Let's get realistic. Roadsters and convertibles may sell well in European countries where top-down driving is still valued. One of Lexus' biggest markets is the US, where only 1% of cars sold are convertibles. Why would they want to invest in convertibles and roadsters when they can invest in SUVs/CUVs that are outselling even sedans? The only reasons the Germans have so many different types of convertibles/roadsters is because they have a huge market share in Europe that actually buy them.

S2000toIS350

1 I an not saying Lexus shouldn't invest in the fill in the letter UV market. In fact I have been surprised they haven't put something nicer than the LX out.

2. When you serve a market, you should serve it as well as the other participants. Lexus basically looks (is) stupid for having such a huge gap in their product line.

3. While verts are a small piece of the overall market, they do better in the I have mucho disposable income market. On a nice day just count the # of Audi A5 and BMW 4 based convertibles on the road.

4. Do you think that MB would offer16 verts if they didn't have customers for them? Sure, they sell small #s of the V12 65 based models.

5. At the very high end, verts are the thing, the McLaren specialist near my office said, pretty much all of the 650S orders are for the spiders.

G Star

iTrader: (2)

Right but I was responding to the OP's claim that Lexus does not have mass market appeal.

And yes, we should definitely have high standards.

Toys4RJill

The top end flagship market for S, A8, 7 series and Tesla S is not exactly growing. You want to have more models off a flexible platform. The new Lexus RWD platform will be very flexible. There are huge profit markups with convertibles based off a specific platform. For example, if you look at the way MB prices their convertibles, think about how many bread and butter RX models Lexus has to move for every one S-class convertible that is going to $180K or $220K when the base price is $150K.

Sulu

Toyota is one manufacturer that does not like to buy components that were developed by suppliers that are not in its own family of companies; if it does, it does not buy from competitors. I have no doubt that Toyota's infotainment system, although it may be built upon a commercially-available operating system, was NOT designed by Ford. It will offer an open-source smartphone interface (similar in functionality to Android Auto and Apple CarPlay), the SmartDeviceLink, that Ford originally developed but is now open-source and being adopted by other auto manufacturers.

Toys4RJill

I believe the current system in the Lexus and Toyota models is currently using a Blackberry operating system. I believe I heard this from either Autoblog or it was Motorweek.