More like pissed honestly. After driving all the three German premium brands it all boils down to same philosophy but different execution. There is something so cold about them that bothers me a lot, they are anemic once you daily drive them. That's why I was always open to premium alternative and so far only Lexus can challenge them properly and that's exactly where I get pissed cause Lexus has something Germans don't and that ability to have very low ROI because they have Toyota behind their back. That means they can take much more risk and venture into technologies very few can. But they don't. And then there is that whole Jekyll & Hyde type of thing going inside Lexus structures and product management cause most of the times their products don't match, it's like they come from different manufacturer. You could definitely tell which are made under old-school management (RX, ES, SC, LS, NX) and which ones were made by fresh newcomers (IS, RC, LC, new LS, GS).

 

I dunno if I'm gonna get this right, but I think the 4 objectives in the early 80's prior to Lexus existing, for Toyota Motor, was aerodynamics, top speed, quietness, and fuel economy. I have no idea if these were requirements on the new LS or not. But when you see that the 3rd and 4th gen LS' has a .25 and .26 cd, one would think they still wanted to achieve it "just because." My dad having worked in aerospace would remind us, that's the HP number, that everyone uses to measure goodness. But, frontal area is pretty important, and also, that at 100 mph, it likely isn't going to make much difference. Which is why a GS is like .33 or something? The glasses on the hood imho were a just because as well. It probably means nothing, but was catchy and to this day, 29 years later, people remember it....

 

new lexus ad that pertains to this: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/car...superbowl.html

 

FYI the GS drag coefficient is .27.

http://www.lexus.com/models/GS/speci...wd#performance

 

Gotcha, it's the LC that's .33

http://www.lexus.com/models/LC/specifications

And the new LS is .28. So it would seem that Lexus still does care about that number, not sure what the limiting factor on the LC is....maybe looks over aerodynamics

http://www.lexus.com/models/LS/specifications

 

Downforce over aerodynamics.

Aerodynamics and downforce are opposites.

The LC is after high speed downforce for greater grip at high speeds, and the greater the downforce, the more the aerodynamics is compromized.

Another way you could say it is that as downforce increases, drag increases too.

For example, a Lamborghini Aventador @ $380,000 is very low in height, but has a highish Drag Co-efficient of 0.33 as well, thanks to its great wing for downforce.
Its predecessor the Gallardo was 0.34.

If I remember correctly, drag has little effect below 60 mph, however, by 90 mph - drag should start to impact big time.
I wouldn't have thought that at 100 mph, drag makes little difference.

New edgy 4GS actually has a higher drag than old jelly bean 3GS, because drag has little effect on performance & economy below 60 mph for bread & butter mums & dads.

 

To me,Lexus means a mean competitor for MB and BMW big sedans.What I see now are "Wow Duuuude" styling.Leaves me cold,but what do i know?Do millennials buy them??

 

The styling is part of it. Most people near my age (late 20's... damn, I can only say that for the better part of this year, now! :'( ) seem to like the styling on the IS I drive, or at least, they will comment on its looks. However, older people I know think it looks "weird" or is "too busy". The styling for me kinda helped me decide to buy it - 3-series and 4-series are a dime a dozen in my office parking lot, whereas the IS and RC are more interesting and less common. However, styling says nothing about the driving experience. I preferred the way the IS drove compared to the A4 and 328i that I cross-shopped with it, no doubt about that. Lexus should market its models more based on that aspect rather than "making an entrance".

 

With C Class selling 77,000 units last year, 3 Series 60,000 units, A4 37,000 units, and IS on just 26,000 units - it will be interesting to see how many Millennials in their 20's fork out money to purchase the young sporty angular styled firm suspension compact luxury IS.

IMO, targeting the 30 year old age group with appropriate styling and suspension setting compact luxury cars like the Germans is a smarter move, because only a handful of consumers in their 20's who are successful or who have successful parents will have the money to pay for a luxury compact.

 

The 4IS will likely grow in total length and in the wheelbase, not much, but every gen gets a little bit bigger. If the IS F returns from hiatus, and if they could bring a hybrid, this could spark some more interest in the IS Line. Not C-Class or 3-Series numbers, but better than current.

The Spindle design if the LC is any indication will look far more organic on the 7ES, 5GS, and 4IS, than the 6ES, 4GS, and 3IS, which should help too.

 

Hoovey, do you know the average age of 1IS, 2IS, 3IS, C Class and 3 Series buyers?
Just out of interest only.
I would have thought the average age for C Class, 3 Series and even IS would be 40+ am I right??? If the average were below 40, then it would be 30+, but I can't imagine it being 20+?

 

I thought I read that Lexus was targeting 40 year olds with the IS.

 

I'm sorry I don't know those figures. I do believe your are correct though that 40+ is the average age for IS

 

I was 49 when I bought mine LOL.

 

I would love to know what C Class and 3 Series average age buyer is?
30 to 40 is reasonable, but I could hardly imagine the average 20-30 year old would have enough money to purchase C Class and 3 Series.
Hence 3IS styling might be a tad too young to maximize sales for their own sake.

3IS styling is probably ideal for Corolla market.
I wonder how old is average Corolla buyer, and even Camry, RAV4 and Highlander for that matter?

I thought they styled new Avalon for 30+, when they should be styling new Avalon for 40+...