I never drop a Phanton, but the S class is already a much better car than competing Bentley. Sure, Bentley might have some exotic materials and hand crafted details - but it doesn't ride with the same authority.

If anyone has any chance at catching up to the Germans, I'd put my money on Caddy.

 

kinda like how the rear seat on the new S class excites me ten times more than the GS?


i honestly would take S class over flying spur. for realz. it's that good

 

I wonder if they are going to turn the R-Spec quotient up and will it drive better?

Thats for mentioning that on a Lexus forum.:thumb up: Some of us actually do own the cars.

 

don't get me wrong. i like lexus. but i don't love it. my next car won't be lexus most likely. i like IS, but i'm growing out of entry level luxury. to me IS has the best interior in class - that's saying alot because i'm a dash stroker. but i'm in my mid 30's and i need something for my family. most likely big a$$ SUV.

anyway, IMO the gap between LS and S class is bigger than the gap between Equus and LS. well that's just me. i just think S class is that much better than everything else. in a way this new S class has changed the game just like how ls400 has changed the game in a different way. new sheriff is in town for sure.

 

All we've seen so far of the new S-class are photoshopped & CGI images of the interior. ^^

Mercedes did a similar thing with the CLA. But when I actually saw the CLA in person it was a heap of junk.

Before I got my IS350 I test drove the C250 and it was crap. Unrefined and noisy drivetrain/engine, sloppy handling, much, much less performance, cheap interior, ugly interior, crappy sound system and was just less refined in comparison to the IS350.

 

eh, i've seen it in person many times already.

my first impression was like 'damn, a8 & 7 series are screwed'

 

it would have been well received, but nothing like it was being launched as a lexus, because toyota did a GENIUS job with their ad agency to launch lexus. the marble, champagne glasses, and other ads, were advertising milestones and direct sniper shots into luxury territory and made everyone pay attention. launched as toyota, even with the ads, wouldn't have been the same. as you know, branding and image are hugely important.

hyundai has obviously taken a very low key approach, perhaps because they knew their vehicles are not radical like the ls400 was. companies should always choose a strategy that matches product and goals (and budget). genesis and equus are nice, but not special.

back to the new genesis, it seems to be a lot more modern and sleek compared to the old model, and will likely drive better. but there's no way at all it (or equus) justifies a separate brand like toyota did, so their strategy is reasonable.

the only company that has done anything radical in the past 10 years is tesla.

lexus is very much respected, but revered by few. in the lat 80s lexus stunned the world in terms of quality, refinement and value. now, not so much. i think lexus has lost a lot of ground since it launched, and since the exciting days of the 2nd gen GS (including a V8 GS, alas no more), and the first IS. lexus still makes some excellent vehicles though! but the advertising, what there is, is pathetic, and the competition has caught up or exceeded on other areas.

back to the genesis... it likely won't make much of a dent in the market, plus they're competing with themselves, with cadenza/k900 in their other brand but they're certainly building a fairly good arsenal. it will be interesting to see the marketing effort/strategy.

 

agreed. 'revered' is a wrong choice of word. having lived in london, lexus actually gets no respect still.
in the u.s, respect level was high in 90's. went low in early 00's. but now it's definitely trending up with the new direction.

 

i just got back from london and saw several CTh's while i was there (handy for fuel economy in that traffic and avoiding the congestion fee), and a couple of LS600hL's (of course also hybrids!). but that was it. outside london i saw a few RX's. never saw a gs, is, etc. in 2 weeks.

qft

i HOPE HOPE HOPE the next LS blows us away. the current LS is a very nice and very good looking car, i'd love to own one if i was in the market for a big sedan. but it needs something special to take the world's breath away. again.

 

well said. I think its kind of odd for Lexus to call the current LS a new LS when it looks like my 07 with a strong refresh. I am sure they are still using the same frame but are adding new interior , bumpers, and tail lights. I just think different and new should be just that. I love my LS but a new model should make me want to jump ship for the new one . The "new" LS doesnt get close to that


PS I am not comparing the LA to the genesis. I am simply making comments on the car I own compared to the new model

 

hyundai screwed up big time on their decision to not re-brand their luxury division with the genesis moniker.

they could have easily commanded +5000 more for the genesis sedan if they did just that.

the cars look good, very reliable and offer a crazy warranty and yet their 2012 genesis sedan has taken a 30 percent hair cut on the resale value. Bad for owner, good for next buyer.

this next genesis will have the same fate. All they had to do was re-badge and open up a few genesis dealerships. U see both nissan and toyota going this route in their home country japan. they realize the importance of rebranding for upmarket. That move by toyota and nissan was very telling and yet hyundai failed to see the importance of it.

 

This car is so bland. No way would I pick it over the GS, E-Class and 5 series.

 

Look how many years it took them all to do it though.

 

I respect your opinion but I say it looks no worse than rest of the class:

 

even more reason for hyundai to have picked up this hint from the start.

they will eventually have to.

I cannot believe with all the degree's and education behind these positions that they could not have figured this out. This is evidence that street smarts goes much further than book smarts.