Lexus has taken a new design direction!

[GTA45E]

Ok, I know it`s a little earily to be talking about the next Lexus LS seeing that this is a concept but the production models design should be around 95%
of what this concept is. My question is why is Lexus following BMW in design now with the 2007 LS. Could the Japanese see BMW as the new German car leader?

 

[Agent_Imperial]

Wow, that's scarily similar! It even has the trademark Hoffmeister kink. Personally I've always liked the E60s design. It's my favorite of the Bangled cars. I think it is very innovative and perhaps other car makers are starting to realize this fact. Although it looks very similar from the side, I wonder how close the resemblance is from other angles?

 

[Alx]

Neither is following each other, the new LS looks like the current ES. Just bolder! M5 looks crazy in comparison i dotn really see any similarities.

 

[GTA45E]

Man, I see BMW 5er all over this new car!! Lexus has managed to change some subtle design details but Im really shock!!

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

While the proportions are similar, the surfacing, detailing and other design elements are distinctly different to the 5. The car is still very Japanese. It's more of a grown up IS.

And I dont think that it's an acknowledgment that BMW is the new leader amongst the Germans. I think that lexus realised that anything too similar to a Benz the 3rd time around would be too much of a blatant rip off.

 

[Alx]

Exactly Mr.Merc....

In fact here is the ES330 looks like the Lexus but bolder...

 

[EnI]

Maybe the LF-S is a new ES, and not LS.

 

[Alx]

Could be Tine, they look too similar to each other, and for an LS its too sporty and sleek instead of bold, wide and luxury like.... too wierd for me.

 

[Beemer B773ER]

Whether BMW is the new leader in German design is purely subjective, so I doubt that is the case.

I think it's more the notion that BMW has broken the shackles of the image it used to have with its cars, ..that being a car which pleased the eyes of all, whether you were a BMW fan, or a Mercedes fan or whoever.
Now that they've shaken that image off with their bold new direction in design,..I think Lexus has realised that it can not solely rely on it's reputation of being reliable, ..that it's vehicle must also somehow be a symbol of Lexus and the direction that its heading.

BMW realised this a decade ago when the 7er was being designed. Lexus is instigating the same process in the last few years.

That's my take on Lexus and their designs.

 

[Matt]

Thanks for your take Bimmer Boi
Just kidding

That Lexus is very similar to the 5 in the lights and many of the lines. Personally I like the 5er better not the copy that was trying to avoid plagiarism by changing things here and there. The 5's lines are better put together and flow right, while the lexus looks like they were just trying to avoid a complete copy. There are definitely design Q's from the 5 onto that Lexus. That car is closer looking to the 5 than any previous Lexus.

 

[Beemer B773ER]

No worries Matt..!!

Well, putting all that design language n philosophy aside.... just comparing those 2 pics, ...yes there are a few similarities there.
Ofcourse the rear light shape is similar..but Lexus would argue that the current ES has similar shaped rear lights.
That Hoffmeister kink alteration is something that Lexus seem to be doing now...but it had horrendous results on the new IS (IMO).
From that side view, the front lights look more like the Acura RL...but overall, this concept is likeable...

Acura RL:

 

[Deutsch]

Snoooooooooooozzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

[Matt]

lol. Stuttgarter, your signature makes you sound like an automotive Nazi. HAHA. gave me a good laugh though

 

[Merc1]

Lexus is still clueless about design. Nice Autoweek article:

Lexus

They say:

But the car's styling is as important as its mechanicals. The new edition continues Lexus' expressive "L-Finesse" theme. Lexus wants a family resemblance that avoids small, medium and large versions of the same car.

Yet the new LS is nothing more than a scaled up IS. After years of copying Mercedes they've switched the same sausage different sizes that BMW used for years. Both MB and BMW have both since moved on, yet Lexus is still behind, now copying a practice BMW ditched with the 2002 7-Series. A pity.

M

 

[Mr. M]

I think that's too far. Lexus has churned out the GS and IS, which looks distinctively different. The new ES will not look like the new LS, I'm pretty sure about that.

 

[Merc1]

I think that's too far. Lexus has churned out the GS and IS, which looks distinctively different. The new ES will not look like the new LS, I'm pretty sure about that.

You're right the GS is ugly whereas the IS is just plain boring.

M

 

[Centurion]

It not suprising that Lexus is taking a new design direct. Just look at the design of the S-class(ww140), that has probably have got to be the most copied design ever. Toyota, Lexus, Honda, Kia and several other manufacturers has copied that car so much that it has resulted in the newer MB cars looking like Japanese one. The old ww140 design is a milked cow and even MB themselves have moved on..

 

[GTA45E]

Nice post Luwalira.

Maybe the LF-S is a new ES, and not LS.

You and Alex could be right. Automobile Magazine thinks this is the 2007
LS430-LS600. If this is the ES it`s design appears to be more upscale than the GS IMO.

Lexus has taken on a sportier theme that has started with the IS
I`m sure the LS will follow this new theme.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

The car looks way too big to be an ES. Didn't the press release also say somthing about being a flagship concept?

 

[GTA45E]

Opon a second look you can tell it`s larger than the 5er!!
The wheelbase is also longer than the 5er`s. Thanks for pointing that out
Mr. Mercedes!