GS Spy Shots: Lexus GS

[330CIZHP]

Agreed. Most of the Lexus cars are painfully boring to drive. The only one I genuinely had fun driving was the Lexus IS300 way back in the early 2000s.

Lexus should just apply the same out the box thinking via the LFA to their regular cars. Not the V10 and exotic engineering (costs too much), but the styling and design. Why not? What is there to lose? The GS has been a losing car since day one, they can afford to tear up the book and start over with the GS, hell it only sold 6K units last year in the U.S.


M

 

[chonkoa]

Yes, the 3rd stage of Lexus design philosophy ...

1st stage: copying MB
2nd stage: copying BMW
3rd stage: copying Audi


New slogan?

"Why buying MB, BMW or Audi?
Lexus offers you all 3-in-1.
Originals are overrated!
Lexus. Mastering the imitation.*"



* Now available with standard radioactive features. rActive

by Lexus.

Does that mean Audi is going to be the new top selling premium brand?

 

[Merc1]

Actually the first GS seemed to be a huge hit. The second one just lost so much momentum.

I agree that if Lexus wants to maintain, they either need to do a dramatic shift to the Design philosophy, OR, and better yet, just go extremely conservative and cut out the samuarai front end gimmick to try and keep up with everyone on the "aggressive styling" front. It just doesn't fit Lexus. Everyone is chasing the same thing, maybe Lexus just need to keep feeding and maintaining what got them so popular in the first place: Unapologetically boring, serene, supremely understated and elegant>aggressive designs.

Every GS sold well for about 1.5 years and then went in the toilet. I drove the first generation GS300, I really liked it even though it was slow as hell. It was so smooth and quiet, but it went downhill from there. Then 1998 model arrived with a V8, the GS430 and it was a seller for like 2 years and then boom. Then the 2006 model came, dud from day one. The re-design will sell for a year or so before the E and 5-Series stomp it back into irrelevance. Lexus doesn't know how to facelift their cars to keep them fresh, only the LS do they somewhat try to keep it up to date. The SC, GS, even the IS they let go on too long with not enough change. A car can't go 7 years anymore without some major changes. BMW and especially Mercedes are masters at making a model headed towards middled age, desireable all over again. Arguably the best time to buy a Mercedes is at facelift time. Look at the C and the S. They're perfect now. What has Lexus done to the LS or the IS or ES? Not much.


M

 

[K-A]

I agree. However, I think that the reason that Lexus' designs can't last the full extent of their production span isn't as much evolving around how they're facelifted, as much as it is how dated the designs look quickly (typical to Japanese cars), and the lack of German precision and design quality (Lexus have typical bland/bulbous/chunky Japanese designs for the msot part). The good German designs get facelifted subtly, enough to freshen them up a bit, but it really lies on the general design quality, and the timelessness involved, which Lexus really lacks.

 

[Merc1]

^ Bingo!

In short K/A you're saying that they're designs aren't squat to begin with...lol. I agree. There are only 2 Lexi that I like, the IS and the LFA.


M

 

[K-A]

LOL, yup! I think that's pretty much it. The first gen GS was a very popular car initially indeed, and I'd say Lexus' biggest home run during its time, to date. But their Designs in general just don't cut it initially IMO, so I think that's why they look exxxxtra dated 7 years down the line. They ain't ready to play the 7 year game with the Europeans yet, the Lexus design quality is still at a 4-year span.

 

[EnI]

In Europe even Jaguar & Porsche sell more cars then Lexus! The Lexus brand image in Europe is very poor. Perhaps in the UK people are more prone to it, but the continental people ... not really.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Lexus is HUGE in Russia apparently.

 

[Beemer B773ER]

The Lexus brand image in Europe is very poor.

What do you think are some of the reasons for this Eni? Putting aside their actual products (the vehicles), what makes the Lexus brand so unattractive in Europe?

 

[Merc1]

No decent diesels and they aren't made there are the main reasons I bet. All they have is the IS220d I think.


M

 

[Nicks]

Lexus is HUGE in Russia apparently.

It was. 2 or 3 years before. Germans are taking over since then

 

[Mr Robert]

What do you think are some of the reasons for this Eni? Putting aside their actual products (the vehicles), what makes the Lexus brand so unattractive in Europe?

From my experience, people are a bit narrow-minded and think of a Lexus as a Toyota for Mercedes money. Just like some still feel about Audi.

A more real world reason is the incredible thirst in the Lexus engines. That, and the lack of relevant diesel alternatives.

 

[EnI]

IMO the engines are the main problem for the sluggish sales. And the price. And bad marketing: they market Lexus as "green premium" - emphasizing the hybrid models (and therefore unintentionally making even stronger image connection to Toyota, especially Prius hybrid). But this was a fail marketing decisions: Europeans prefer diesels over hybrids. Period.

Jaguar & Porsche Euro sales bloomed when proper strong diesel engines were offered. Not to mention the best selling German premium models are the diesel ones. Sales of 6-cyl & 8-cyl petrol engines are thin compared to the sales of powerful large diesel engines -even in premium segment. But also the Lexus brand image is weak - I guess because the brand is seen as "hyped Toyota".

Also - as said many times - Euro people link premium image to rich heritage. Rich heritage & tradition contributes much to the brand cache. While all those generic Asian premium brands are mere & pure marketing products - constructed & conceived in the marketing department of Toyota / Nissan / Honda / Hyundai. Lexus may offer great products, but here many are paying for the brand as well. Generic Asian premium brands just are in the same league with the Euro premium car brands - image wise. As said: even eg. Volvo, Saab, Alfa Romeo, Lancia have better brand image according to some researches than Asian premium brands. While brands like Porsche, BMW, MB, Audi, Jaguar, Range Rover are light years ahead - not to mention Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Maserati, Ferrari etc.

The "Old World" remains true to its reputation.

 

[Beemer B773ER]

What heritage does Audi have?

 

[Michael]

IMO the engines are the main problem for the sluggish sales. And the price. And bad marketing: they market Lexus as "green premium" - emphasizing the hybrid models (and therefore unintentionally making even stronger image connection to Toyota, especially Prius hybrid). But this was a fail marketing decisions: Europeans prefer diesels over hybrids. Period.

Really? I mean, I feel that the reason why they don't sell so well is simply because they have to overcome the association with Toyota and that is probably the hardest thing to do. I doubt engines and whether they are green or not has that much of an impact.

Lexus has always had issues with respect to their image as a whole. Is it a toyota or not? People simply know that it is a more expensive toyota with a few changes, hence why it may never reach the appeal of MB, BMW, etc.

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

What heritage does Audi have?

Regarding Audi's heritage, Audi's predecessors were Auto Union and NSU. I remember Audi drawing on the heritage of the Auto Union racers when it showed the Rosmeyer concept and, to an extent, the Le Mans concept which led to the R8. With exception to A8 and A6/7, it seems Audis do share alot of platform technology with its VW brethrens. Even the R8 does share some Gallardo parts, but in that case Audi went upmarket with the sharing.

Really? I mean, I feel that the reason why they don't sell so well is simply because they have to overcome the association with Toyota and that is probably the hardest thing to do. I doubt engines and whether they are green or not has that much of an impact.

Lexus has always had issues with respect to their image as a whole. Is it a toyota or not? People simply know that it is a more expensive toyota with a few changes, hence why it may never reach the appeal of MB, BMW, etc.

I think if Lexus takes a more active effort to offer a more brand-centered theme in terms with what the driver sees and interacts with (driver interface, buttons, design theme, etc.) rather than sharing parts with Toyota, then it has potential to shake off that stigma. I think that approach is the best way to go as buyers are becoming more and more discerning, whether you are buying a luxury car or a compact car.

 

[donkeykong]

Regarding Audi's heritage, Audi's predecessors were Auto Union and NSU.

August Horch started developing cars under the name Horch Automobil Werke GmbH in 1909,but legally lost the right to use the name to A. Horch & Cie. Motorwagen Werke AG, a company he created ten years earlier,but left due to differences with the supervisory board. He then incroparating a latin translation of his name to the company which was none as Audiwerke GmbH. Auto Union AG wasn't established till 1939 which was made up of Audi,horch,DKW,and Wanderer.

 

[Mr. M]

I'm really anticipating this car. Mercedes, BMW and Audi have already shown their cards with their mid-sized luxury saloons, but there is lacking a new Japanese alternative. the GS has already been in the market for so long and is quite dated to be honest, but this new one is promising. The interior looks great, very LFA inspired and it should look good too. More importantly, reliability, luxury & comfort are the most important attributes to this car that must be maintained. We have owned countless European cars and their reliability is just dismal in our tropical climate - eveything keeps breaking! We're moving back to the Japanese who build cars more suited to our climate (hot and humid all year round, every day).

 

[klier]

In Europe even Jaguar & Porsche sell more cars then Lexus! The Lexus brand image in Europe is very poor. Perhaps in the UK people are more prone to it, but the continental people ... not really.

That small 1er fighter (with hybrid tech) is going to sell more than all Jaguars and Porsches combined. In continental Europe.

 

[MBFanToDeath]

Leaked: Next Generation Lexus GS spotted in China