Is Lexus Becoming The Next Acura?
02-18-17, 04:07 PM
#91
Will this ISF debut with the next gen IS or before? I leased a car simply to give me time to wait and see what Lexus comes up with. That's the car i would want next instead of a RCF/GSF....IS is the perfect size for me, not to mention a more accessible price.
02-18-17, 04:16 PM
#92
One major problem I see with Lexus and I hope they are changing this soon, is customization.
02-18-17, 04:17 PM
#93
Lexus Fanatic
Originally Posted by G Star
The photos never did them justice, in person I think the updated 4GS is far far better from pre-update. What a great and drastic update. If the 4GS had a more coupe-like shape, I would've gotten it.
One major problem I see with Lexus and I hope they are changing this soon, is customization.
One major problem I see with Lexus and I hope they are changing this soon, is customization.
02-18-17, 05:41 PM
#94
Lexus Test Driver
There was a great article in either MotorTrend or Car and Driver discussing that the Japanese corporate culture is very slow to react to changes and give control to US based executives. On the other hand the Koreans are much more open and have no issue with Western executives making important decisions. This is evident by Hyundai hiring of top designers and engineers of European descent.
here is link - article by Bob Lutz
http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cult...art-and-seoul/
Last edited by RNM GS3; 02-18-17 at 05:50 PM.
02-18-17, 07:09 PM
#95
Lexus Champion
That's an interesting short article by Bob Lutz - one of the Detroit auto industry's suits. Usually folks like him are judged on the basis of the lousy product that came from the domestic car industry on their watch. But Lutz is actually a very smart insider with some great observations and he was one of the windmill-tilters who banned ridiculous gingerbread trim on Pontiac/GM products and urged on better products like the Saturn Sky and Pontiac Solstice etc. - RWD products.
That article sums up a lot. Japan's difficult history with the US and its reluctance to bring in outsiders to decide critical issues like styling and aesthetics, big gambles.
I don't know if Acura went down a side street dead end because of Japan's corporate culture or because the rest of the non-luxury car world improved so fast. But abandoning storied names like Integra, Vigor and Legend while refusing to embrace AWD early on, that didn't bode well. The infamous beak just shut the door after all that.
Lexus could hit a home run here with the LS like they are doing with the LC. If the 5LS can handle a nice curve in the tradition of the big Mercs, while still providing a smooth ride for the traditional customers - that will work very well but price is key.
That article sums up a lot. Japan's difficult history with the US and its reluctance to bring in outsiders to decide critical issues like styling and aesthetics, big gambles.
I don't know if Acura went down a side street dead end because of Japan's corporate culture or because the rest of the non-luxury car world improved so fast. But abandoning storied names like Integra, Vigor and Legend while refusing to embrace AWD early on, that didn't bode well. The infamous beak just shut the door after all that.
Lexus could hit a home run here with the LS like they are doing with the LC. If the 5LS can handle a nice curve in the tradition of the big Mercs, while still providing a smooth ride for the traditional customers - that will work very well but price is key.
02-18-17, 07:18 PM
#96
Lexus Champion
I read it awhile back but the average age of Lexus isn't that much better these days. Bloomberg quotes low 60s now as the average
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...buyers-with-is
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...buyers-with-is
02-18-17, 07:43 PM
#98
Fact
The fact of the matter is, Lexus is no longer marketing towards their older clientele. They are marketing towards the younger generation of people who are going to be able to purchase 4 to 5 more cars in their lifetime. Why market to an older generation when it will most likely be their last car. It's unfortunate to look at it this way. But business is business. Got to meet the markets demands.
02-18-17, 07:50 PM
#99
Lexus Fanatic
Thing is, appealing to a younger market also brings in older buyers. Youth sells.
02-18-17, 07:50 PM
#100
Lexus Test Driver
Originally Posted by dseag2
That article is almost 4 years old.
02-18-17, 07:57 PM
#101
Lexus Fanatic
The fact of the matter is, Lexus is no longer marketing towards their older clientele. They are marketing towards the younger generation of people who are going to be able to purchase 4 to 5 more cars in their lifetime. Why market to an older generation when it will most likely be their last car. It's unfortunate to look at it this way. But business is business. Got to meet the markets demands.
Last edited by mmarshall; 02-18-17 at 08:01 PM.
02-18-17, 08:23 PM
#102
Lead Lap
Lexus volume cars are always going to be from the Camry platform. I don't understand why this is such an issue. It has always been this way.
Thats not an issue, but merely a statement of facts.
Again, ever since the introduction of the RX, this has always been the case.
Similar to what Acura does now, and what Lexus did a decade ago
Sales versus how much they can charge are two different things. The new upper end Lexus models will be more expensive and people are going to be willing to pay more for them. The growth of a sales volume for the LS model is a moot point as the industry will not grow going forward after a record sales year. Instead, high end car brands will offer more choice over a wider range of price points for a single model. For example, take a look at the Lexus GS, it starts at $43K and tops out at almost $90K. The next generation LS500 will do the exact same sort of thing, its about charging more money and making more money. The eventual release of the a LC-F model will further push Lexus MSRP upwards.
Just because MSRP moves upwards, doesnt really mean they will somehow magically attract new customers, it simply means Lexus believes their product should be priced higher. The 4th gen GS was priced higher then their older 3rd gen and was a better all around vehicle compared to anything in the class at the time, but still continues to sell very very poorly. A better product, traditionally is not the only key to success, as if that was the case every luxury brand would simply buy a couple samples of the market leader, reengineer those components and add there own marque label and sell in quantity.
The next generation ES model will move the MSRP range as well, it will go closer to the high end of the Lincoln Continental or CT6 end of the spectrum while also appealing to the current base price.
Thats not an issue, but merely a statement of facts.
Again, ever since the introduction of the RX, this has always been the case.
Similar to what Acura does now, and what Lexus did a decade ago
Sales versus how much they can charge are two different things. The new upper end Lexus models will be more expensive and people are going to be willing to pay more for them. The growth of a sales volume for the LS model is a moot point as the industry will not grow going forward after a record sales year. Instead, high end car brands will offer more choice over a wider range of price points for a single model. For example, take a look at the Lexus GS, it starts at $43K and tops out at almost $90K. The next generation LS500 will do the exact same sort of thing, its about charging more money and making more money. The eventual release of the a LC-F model will further push Lexus MSRP upwards.
Just because MSRP moves upwards, doesnt really mean they will somehow magically attract new customers, it simply means Lexus believes their product should be priced higher. The 4th gen GS was priced higher then their older 3rd gen and was a better all around vehicle compared to anything in the class at the time, but still continues to sell very very poorly. A better product, traditionally is not the only key to success, as if that was the case every luxury brand would simply buy a couple samples of the market leader, reengineer those components and add there own marque label and sell in quantity.
The next generation ES model will move the MSRP range as well, it will go closer to the high end of the Lincoln Continental or CT6 end of the spectrum while also appealing to the current base price.
See the bolded
02-18-17, 09:29 PM
#103
Lexus Fanatic
It is not necessarily a good business decision, though. In general, those with the most money to spend on a car tend to be in their late 50s to early 60s.......just before retirement. That is because, unlike young people, they have been working, getting promotions and higher-paying jobs, and (hopefully) saving all of their lives. And, with today's average life expectancy (which, in my county, is now 83 for females and 82 for males), you can bet it probably won't be their last car. At my pool/fitness center, I see people every day still driving in their 90s....safely. The idea that you can't market to older people any more is complete nonsense.
02-19-17, 07:45 AM
#104
I love how you picked out the 5-60 MPH time just to prove your point. Isn't that something. 0-60 the IS350 will do it anywhere from 4.8 - 5.1 seconds on a good launch (which is pretty much faster than most of the competition besides the 335i and Audi S4). Some people have gotten 4.6 - 4.7 seconds 0-60 on a good launch. Can you do that consistently? Probably not
i love how you picked the "some people" acceleration times to prove your unsupported claim. laughable.
