Fresh off their excellent preview of the 2012 GS 350, Inside Line is reporting that Lexus is considering a coupe based on their next-generation sports sedan:
If Ben J. Mitchell, Lexus’ product planner manager has his way, the GS Coupe will happen. “I’d like to do a coupe,” he told Inside Line. “We’re really trying to increase the emotional qualities of our brand. We want to emphasize exterior styling and dynamics.” According to Mitchell, Lexus is at the moment involved in a “fairly active study of coupe opportunities.”
According to Mike Michels, Lexus’ external communications vice president, the brand does want to expand its lineup. “Lexus has aspirations to have a full model line and global reach,” he told Inside Line during the same conversation.
Having a coupe to compete against the Audi A5/S5, BMW 6-Series and Mercedes E-Class coupe may be a tough and tall order, but it’s all-together necessary move — this is a segment that is the very definition of luxury performance. Of course, a GS coupe (the GT?) could also open the door for a high-performance variant, which makes the rumor even more interesting.
Inside Line suggests that if a GS coupe is made, it likely wouldn’t see production until the spring of 2013, and that there’s currently no plan for a convertible.
[Source: Inside Line]
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