Since it's clear that the "massive redesign" won't happen for the 2017 model year, I'm wondering if Lexus will market the 2017 model year LS460... or if they'll just skip a year (does that even happen)?

As a 2013 LS460 owner, I personally hope they'll have a 2017 model which looks exactly like my 2013 (in order to stave off depreciation)... but I'm sure not everyone will share my opinion

Any thoughts are welcome.

 

It happens occasionally that manufacturers skip a model year. Usually when they do, the new model comes out early in the skipped model year.

Once Infiniti skipped a model year with the old M series. They didn't produce a 2005 model, but the 2006 came out in Feb. 2005.

 

Exactly. Closer to "home", there is no 2012 LX 570 in the US. MY2011 was a long run, and the facelift on the 2013 model was introduced late winter/early spring 2012.

 

If this happens, would Lexus then be expected to unveil the 2018 LS during the LA auto show in November 2016 or the Detroit auto show in January 2017?

 

Lexus also skipped the 2001 SC.

 

if they did skip 2017, I would think the 2018 would debut at one of those shows. It certainly wouldn't be at the rinky-dink Boston auto show.

 

I'm curious what the 2017 model year will bring as well.

Assuming the new one will be introduced in 2017 as a 2018, my bets are just minor improvements, similar to the changes between 2015 and 2016, which included minor technology differences and a regiment of body stiffening according to the press release. Maybe they'll add a new color or make further tech changes. It will probably look exactly the same, though.

 

It does happen, I doubt they will do it with the LS. I'm sure we will see an unchanged 2017.

 

Lexus skipped the 2012 LX570 production run. Came out with the facelift version of the 2013 LX570. It may have something to do with the tsunami or the nuclear plant disaster? IDK.

 

Lexus never skipped the 2012 LX and the 2013 LX debuted in september just like most cars do. They did skip the 2001 SC and the 2006 ES was a short year. As for the 2017 there will be two special edition models.

 

Lexusrus is correct. There was no 2012 LX in the US, and instead, MY 2011 was a long run production. Facelifted 2013 LX was introduced in early 2012.

 

Lexus' website shows the LS as a "2017."

I haven't seen a media press kit or release showing any differences between the 2016 and 2017 like they did for the 2015 to 2016. I bet it's the exact same thing but just labeled as a 2017 model year.

I wonder when they'll start showing up in the showrooms.

 

No differences, it's just a carryover from 2017.

 

I think it's weird they're not even doing a "special edition" model for the 2017 LS. Usually they do that before killing off a model if a major redesign is coming soon like rumored for the 2018 LS.

 

I''ll look next month at the LA Auto Show and report back (and/or, of course, it will be all over the news).

They usually have a couple of lexus concept cars around. Whether they are ready to show the 2018 LS or not is another question. They might wait for Detroit?

Note - Someone on another thread posted a photo of a presumed covered up 2018 LS being tested against some other brands of ultra-lux cars. So presumably it has been designed and is in testing, but how it looks is still unknown?