Lexus LS650 Prototype Set for Essen Motor Show
11-13-12, 10:40 PM
#46
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
that needs qualification... as in, not in unreasonable time frames.
a case in point would be the is-f. started as a skunk works project (in the u.s. i believe, maybe the rod millen project? it's been a while now) but once toyota/lexus gave the green light, i think it was still probably 18 months to get one to market. a great car to be sure, made even better by significant committed effort by lexus to each successive model year.
but making money isn't just about the initial sale, it's about not losing all that profit in warranty claims or just bad customer experiences causing to be lost customers down the road! that takes significant effort.
also, while turbos and v8's have been around forever, making them work together is not 'trivial'. sure, it can be made to work for the local drag strip burnout, although the lifespan may be very short... but to make it reliable, day in, day out, for a daily driver, takes a LOT of testing, fabricating, changing...
a case in point would be the is-f. started as a skunk works project (in the u.s. i believe, maybe the rod millen project? it's been a while now) but once toyota/lexus gave the green light, i think it was still probably 18 months to get one to market. a great car to be sure, made even better by significant committed effort by lexus to each successive model year.
It they know for sure is a money maker, it will be in the showroom tomorrow.
also, while turbos and v8's have been around forever, making them work together is not 'trivial'. sure, it can be made to work for the local drag strip burnout, although the lifespan may be very short... but to make it reliable, day in, day out, for a daily driver, takes a LOT of testing, fabricating, changing...
11-14-12, 08:54 AM
#48
Former Sponsor
I read an article recently in Forbes that really reiterates what a lot of us already know. The importance of low volume "halo" cars. They used an example that while most of Mercedes growth has been with the C-class they still debuted multiple Black Series cars and AMG cars which helps elevate the brand.
Lexus clearly knows this since they debuted the LFA which is as rare of a "halo" car as it gets. The F brand needs more product and the hybrids are great but they need 650hp gas guzzlers as well.
I truly hope this isn't just a concept or exercise but a future limited edition model to be sold even if its $150,000 or $180,000 dollars like a S63 or S65.
Lexus clearly knows this since they debuted the LFA which is as rare of a "halo" car as it gets. The F brand needs more product and the hybrids are great but they need 650hp gas guzzlers as well.
I truly hope this isn't just a concept or exercise but a future limited edition model to be sold even if its $150,000 or $180,000 dollars like a S63 or S65.
11-14-12, 09:14 AM
#50
I read an article recently in Forbes that really reiterates what a lot of us already know. The importance of low volume "halo" cars. They used an example that while most of Mercedes growth has been with the C-class they still debuted multiple Black Series cars and AMG cars which helps elevate the brand.
Lexus clearly knows this since they debuted the LFA which is as rare of a "halo" car as it gets. The F brand needs more product and the hybrids are great but they need 650hp gas guzzlers as well.
I truly hope this isn't just a concept or exercise but a future limited edition model to be sold even if its $150,000 or $180,000 dollars like a S63 or S65.
Lexus clearly knows this since they debuted the LFA which is as rare of a "halo" car as it gets. The F brand needs more product and the hybrids are great but they need 650hp gas guzzlers as well.
I truly hope this isn't just a concept or exercise but a future limited edition model to be sold even if its $150,000 or $180,000 dollars like a S63 or S65.
11-14-12, 09:58 AM
#51
i dont understand why are posts being deleted from threads like this? should we all have same opinion?
can you please tell me what is correct opinion so my posts are not deleted? Thanks!
can you please tell me what is correct opinion so my posts are not deleted? Thanks!
11-14-12, 11:14 AM
#56
maybe a bit, but is hard to compensate for 900 lbs curb weight.
Before I driven all the electric power assist car, I thought the same thing, the full torque at 0 rpm is going to be insane off the line. But my real world butt dyno shows me differently, I have driven LS600, GS450, Nissan Leaf, HS250, Prius........etc. The only one that kicked hard is the Tesla Roadster 2.5 Sport. Everything else just gave it a little boost, nothing crazy. I do feel the LS600 feels a bit more torque rich then the LS460, but not by much. A LS500 would definitely matched or trump the LS600 in speed and feels.
I mean look how much quicker the IS-F is compare to the LS600, a LS500 F-Sport would only be 400 lbs heavier then a IS-F.
Before I driven all the electric power assist car, I thought the same thing, the full torque at 0 rpm is going to be insane off the line. But my real world butt dyno shows me differently, I have driven LS600, GS450, Nissan Leaf, HS250, Prius........etc. The only one that kicked hard is the Tesla Roadster 2.5 Sport. Everything else just gave it a little boost, nothing crazy. I do feel the LS600 feels a bit more torque rich then the LS460, but not by much. A LS500 would definitely matched or trump the LS600 in speed and feels.
I mean look how much quicker the IS-F is compare to the LS600, a LS500 F-Sport would only be 400 lbs heavier then a IS-F.
Last edited by BNR34; 11-14-12 at 11:21 AM.
11-14-12, 02:18 PM
#57
maybe a bit, but is hard to compensate for 900 lbs curb weight.
Before I driven all the electric power assist car, I thought the same thing, the full torque at 0 rpm is going to be insane off the line. But my real world butt dyno shows me differently, I have driven LS600, GS450, Nissan Leaf, HS250, Prius........etc. The only one that kicked hard is the Tesla Roadster 2.5 Sport. Everything else just gave it a little boost, nothing crazy. I do feel the LS600 feels a bit more torque rich then the LS460, but not by much. A LS500 would definitely matched or trump the LS600 in speed and feels.
I mean look how much quicker the IS-F is compare to the LS600, a LS500 F-Sport would only be 400 lbs heavier then a IS-F.
Before I driven all the electric power assist car, I thought the same thing, the full torque at 0 rpm is going to be insane off the line. But my real world butt dyno shows me differently, I have driven LS600, GS450, Nissan Leaf, HS250, Prius........etc. The only one that kicked hard is the Tesla Roadster 2.5 Sport. Everything else just gave it a little boost, nothing crazy. I do feel the LS600 feels a bit more torque rich then the LS460, but not by much. A LS500 would definitely matched or trump the LS600 in speed and feels.
I mean look how much quicker the IS-F is compare to the LS600, a LS500 F-Sport would only be 400 lbs heavier then a IS-F.
for EV, since you charge it, those limitations are out because:
a. your bigger battery can pump out more hp
b. you precharged the battery so you dont have to worry about recovering that 60hp worth of energy... for instance GS450h motor's could pump out 100hp easily but what happens when you are depleted? You wont be able to use it for next 5-20 minutes :-). The way it works now, it is reusable instantly.
So thats why pure EV can be so fast, while normal hybrid is limited to up to 54hp so far. Eventually with better batteries and recovery, that number MIGHT go up, but certainly wont double in the next 10 years even... or for plugins in the future, you could get GS450hp with 20 mile battery for instance, which you would use to boost 150hp for instance and that "boost" could get recharged every stop you make... That could be fun and give extra boost in sales too :-)
11-15-12, 09:42 AM
#58
This car is going to be amazing, I can't wait to hear/see more about it! This big-bodied beast is going to be awesome. Even if it's crazy expensive, there's always a market for cars like this.
when you are in the market like this, it's really about image, more than how much money you make. if that's the case, there is no lfa.
11-19-12, 01:58 PM
#60
Driver
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: ca
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Now that's what I'm talking about!!! Lexus is finally waking up and smelling the the need for HP. If this big sporty beast comes into fruition, say bye bye to the B7, S8, and Sclass AMG. I predict there will be a lot of people changing up their beloved German brands.