Lexus Kyushu Japan Plant to Produce New Model in 2014


When Lexus ES production shifts in part to North America in 2014, the Kyushu plant in Japan will begin production of a brand new Lexus model — Hans Greimel of Automotive News has more details:

Toyota Motor President Akio Toyoda, sidestepping specifics on what’s ahead and what’s needed, said Lexus needs something “more exciting, more exhilarating.” But Lexus International Executive Vice President Mark Templin got a little more specific about what might be built in Kyushu, offered these thoughts on two areas in which he feels Lexus is lacking.

Sports coupe: “The coupe market is about the same size in the United States and Europe,” Templin said. “It’s not an enormous market, but it’s an important segment in terms of what it does for image. I think a coupe could change perceptions of our brand and make us a more emotional brand and potentially reach younger buyers.”

Crossover: “The RX actually does triple duty today. It covers its own segment, it covers a smaller [crossover] segment, and it covers a larger segment,” he said. If a new crossover nameplate “were smaller than RX or bigger than RX, it would still increase sales. You’d get some cannibalization, but the net would be a sales increase.”

Automotive News reported in April that a compact crossover concept would be shown at the Tokyo Auto Show this year, followed by the introduction of a production model at the Geneva Motor Show in 2014 — considering that the Kyushu plant already manufactures the RX, it’s possible this new model might fit into the production timeline.

(However, it’s also possible that the compact crossover might be built at the Tahara plant, where the RAV4 is produced — really, it’s all guesswork at this point.)

[Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required) Photo by [Raymond Patrick](http://raymondpatrick.com/)]

FutureJapanLexus ES: Fifth Generation
Comments
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GX all the way or a new smaller cuv
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    BlackDynamiteOnline
  • May 7, 2013
Lexus NEEDS all of the above! A coupe, really two, the LF-CC and LF-LC A small crossover (NX) And GX-replacing crossover...... MAKE IT SO! BD
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      Lasse J. Nordvik
    • May 8, 2013
    Couldn't agree more.
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    Erich Kerner
  • May 8, 2013
The new model at Kyushu we be a small SUV. Toyota ended production of the Harrier at Kyushu and the RX / RX Hybrid will move to Canada early next year. So there is room for a new model with 80.000 units a year. For the markets all over the world...
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      F1orce
    • May 8, 2013
    Yeah no more Highlander/Kluger production in Japan?
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      Erich Kerner
    • May 8, 2013
    This is the way i understand it from Toyota. The entire production for all markets will move to Indiana, USA starting from second half of 2013.
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      Andy L
    • May 8, 2013
    I think the statement that "RX/RX Hybrid will move to Canada early next year" is not entirely true. For RXs destined for Japanese domestic market, Hong Kong, and other Asian cities, I am sure they are still made in Kyushu or some other plants in Japan. Not sure about the ones for European or other non-North American markets (Australia, New Zealand, etc). For North American RXs, they are already manufactured in Canada, maybe except some packages. In the past, RX with Sport package was made in Japan but the current F-Sport RX is already made in the Cambridge plant in Ontario, Canada.
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      Erich Kerner
    • May 8, 2013
    Ups. You are right Mr. !! I just wanted to say that even more production from more models goes to the US - so Lexus is having room for a new model.
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      Andy L
    • May 9, 2013
    Oh I see. :P In any case, we should be excited to see a new model coming from Lexus soon. I hope it is a crossover smaller than the RX.
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Next up on the menu the RC coupe!
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    Altezza
  • May 8, 2013
IS coupe arrives next year, than will come the new small SUV. It is 100%. ;-)
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    FooFoo
  • May 8, 2013
I visited the Kyushu plant last month. It is handy. The line can assemble any model at a time, a highlander next to an RX, and so on. It is not so modern though, the Nissan is more automated. May be this is called craftsmanship??
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    Lextronics
  • May 12, 2013
Needs to put all 3 in a blender RX, GX and the LX and create a new aggressive suv for men. It's time to fight Cadillac and Range Rover.

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