jruhi4

Coinciding with the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, trade publication Automotive News held its annual World Congress of car industry executives. Among the events held there on 10 January 2012 was a speech by Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A.’s Group Vice President and Toyota Division General Manager Bob Carter where he announced that 19 new or updated Toyota, Scion and Lexus products would go on sale this year.

Taking this as a challenge, I came up with this list of what I believe to be the 19 vehicles in question:

1) Lexus GS350
2) Lexus GS450h
3) Toyota Prius C
4) Toyota Prius Plug-In
5) Scion FR-S
6) Toyota Land Cruiser (mid-life refresh)
7) Lexus LX570 (mid-life refresh)
8) Scion IQ EV
9) Toyota RAV4 EV
10) Toyota RAV4
11) Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
12) Toyota Avalon
13) Lexus ES350
14) Lexus ES300h
15) Lexus RX350 (mid-life refresh)
16) Lexus RX450h (mid-life refresh)
17) Lexus LS460
18) Lexus LS600h
19) Toyota Avalon Hybrid

The criteria I used to come up with this list, as well as extra commentary and other possibilities that might bump one or more of these off the list, are detailed in a pair of Kaizen Factor stories ( http://kaizenfactor.wordpress.com/20...h-during-2012/ and http://kaizenfactor.wordpress.com/20...yota-for-2012/ ).

So, what do you think? Did I miss the mark in any way?

PhilipMSPT

iTrader: (5)

The IS will be redesigned for 2012 as a MY2013.

The LS should be redesigned in 2013 for MY2014.

The four Lexus "changes" beyond the GS should be the IS, ES, and re-furbs of the RX and LX.

jruhi4

I realize that is "conventional wisdom", but I address this subject towards the end of my first Kaizen Factor article:

PhilipMSPT

iTrader: (5)

The IS should be priority.

Lexus typically coincides their redesigns with their German competitors.

The C-Class and 3-Series have recently been redesigned. The IS needs it.

The S-Class has yet to be redesigned. The LS usually has it as its target competitor.

Now, if Lexus only had an answer to the new 6-Series and SL-Class...

cino

iTrader: (1)

Remember other 4 crates behind GS in GS super bowl commercial?

I think of ES, IS, LS and refreshed RX immediately.

LexFather

Great list! From my understanding the LS will receive another facelift with the new front end before a FMC.

jruhi4

If that turns out to be the case (and, while I hadn't heard anything like that, it's certainly possible, given the IS and Toyota Avalon precedents), it would qualify for the list anyway, since Bob Carter said "new or refreshed".

MPLexus301

iTrader: (3)

From what I've heard, the LS will receive another MMC, similar to how the IS had two updates. The update will include the spindle grille, F Sport model, and a few other small changes, and should come later this year.

IS should debut early next year as a 2014 model, from my understanding.

I know people might not like either of these, but Lexus has to space out their new model introductions otherwise they'll be in a similar predicament to 2010/2011 in ~6 years, with no new sedans in the showroom. Between new GS and ES, and refreshed RX and possible sub-RX CUV, I think there will be plenty of interest and traffic to keep dealers happy. Next year should also mark refreshes for CT and GX, which would be another plus. IS and LS seem far off, but 1) I think there will be plenty of new product between now and then and 2) Lexus has to space out the model redesigns, as we have seen in the last 2 years.

flipside909

Yeah the future of Lexus is coming...or is it here literally?

http://http://fb.me/1CyxQ7VwF

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

Yup IS and 3 series were 2006 and LS and S-class were 2007. This year is going to be awesome for the entire industry

Hmm LF-LC perhaps

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

one thing i don't get is some of the model years... the new GS is a 2013 but it's launched in jan. 2012. i get calling an august release the next year, but this early?

so if someone buys a 2012 gs and sells it next year, i guess they can claim it's less than a year old?

jruhi4

Legally, a car sold as of January 1 of any calendar year can claim to be the next year's model year. Thus, don't be surprised if 2013 model year Lexus GS are really available on sale for something like 18 months (February 2012 thru August/September 2013). Other carmakers have done this before, as has Toyota/Lexus (I think the original Toyota Matrix launched in a similar manner, and Toyota Land Cruiser and Lexus LX 570 mid-life facelift are following the same timetable as the new GS).

LexFather

Great thread!
I pray the LF-LC comes fast and other coupes b/c Lexus really needs to excitement fast and in a hurry.