Agreed. The E-Class and 5-Series have long been the anchors of the German luxury brands, yet Lexus sells so few GS cars.

The GS has not been cancelled. Perhaps Hoovey can find that thread in which it was confirmed that a new-generation GS is on its way.

 

ask and you shall receive. Post #94 courtesy of @cmk1

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/car...gs-line-7.html

 

Camry has adopted a lot of the styling cues of the 6th Gen ES, from the trapezoidal grill, the side mirrors, to the curved rear passenger window of the c pillar. Also, all of the current ES' tech offerings are also now available on the 2018 Camry.

Lexus will need to really come out with a distinct design and exclusive features in the 7 ES to keep buyers away from the other luxury brand competitors who want that separation.

 

Just me spitballing but perhaps:

future ES = sedan midsizer vs 5 series/ E class/ A6 = functionality and sales numbers

future GS = 4 door midsize Grancoupe vs 6 series GC/CLS/A7 = style + sportiness and aimed towards motoring enthusiasts

 

Just curious where one sees F-Sport cues on the two spy cars. Both have sporty rims and tires, which suggests some aggressiveness, but what else?

 

These Grancoupes sell in tiny #s.
They can only be made bec they are based on the high volume 5series, Eclass, A6 etc.

You can't justify the engineering cost to sell a $60k car at 500units per month.

 

I think the biggest tip off is that the one that appears to be an F Sport has a mesh grill.

 

These are current GS numbers already

 

Correct, and unfortunately, the standard car seems to have vertical slats like the RC...they really should be horizontal

 

It's a bit complex.

From the Japanese domestic market JDM point of view, in truth, the Lexus GS line is already a sporty four door gran coupe, and in some generations more than others, especially the 3GS from 2005-12 which was low and swoopy, because Japanese drivers have the choice between the more luxurious Toyota Crown which sells around 40,000 units/year last year with as much as 82,000 units/year back in 2013 in Japan, and 30,000 units last year with as much as 53,000 units/year back in 2007 in China, or the more sporty Lexus GS which only sells only up to 9,000 units/year at best back in 2007 within Japan.

However, from export markets point of view, only the Lexus GS is offered for export, such that they had to make the 4GS taller, boxier and more practical.

On the other hand, TMC has another export model called the ES which can be sold as the more mainstream practical model with more interior space and a softer ride, but many export markets around the world eg Europe does NOT have access to Lexus ES sales.

So it is somewhat complicated, depending on which models are available in which country.

Which method is better is anyone's guess?
The German's simple method of having a mainstream sedan E Class, 5 Series and A6, and a four door gran coupe in the CLS, 6 Series and A7 Sportback?
Or Toyota Motor Corporation's complex method of having:
Lexus ES that is Avalon-based transverse mounted engine FWD/AWD, and limited sales to only certain parts of the world.
Toyota Mark X [1/2 size smaller] assembled in RHD in Japan, and assembled in LHD in China.
Toyota Crown luxury variant, assembled in RHD in Japan, and assembled in LHD in China.
Lexus GS sporty variant assembled in Japan in both RHD & LHD, and sold all over the world.


2008-12 Toyota Crown



2005-12 Lexus GS as 4 door gran coupe???






2012-18 Toyota Crown


2012-19 Lexus GS

 

they would then be... acura.

 

GS is no longer a legit competitor, it's years behind the E and 5 series, both in power and tech. Not too mention that both Germans are also bigger in size.
I honestly doubt that anyone would miss the GS or even notice it's absence if Lexus decides to cancel it.

 

A tough assessment - But accurate.

 

You forget : the future GS will be sharing and amortizing development costs with the 5LS and LC as all 3 are based on Lexus GA-L platform. Also 5GS will share platform with JDM RWD Toyota Crown but will be styled as Grancoupe and have sportier suspension and upgraded chassis and probably have a higher tier base engine. Peteharvey made similar points about GS vis a vis Toyota Crown.

Thinking globally :

Toyota Crown targets 5 series/E class/A6 as the luxury midsize family hauler except that role will taken over by the new ES in North America.

Lexus GS, " based on" the high volume selling Crown platform can now be freed to pursue stylishness and sportiness while ES and Crown act as the midsize volume sellers in US and Japan respectively.

 

In the same vein, I wonder if conceptually, Lexus would view the 5GS as the LC Grancoupe and keep the radical LC styling but adapted to 4 doors for the GS.