What Does the New Toyota Crown Mean for the Next-Generation Lexus GS?

Posted by Kevin on June 28th, 2018

Toyota has just released a next-generation Crown sedan exclusively for the Japanese market, making it the second such model I’ve posted about this week. However, unlike the Toyota Century, this new sedan might actually make an impact on the Lexus lineup.

There has been much discussion on the future of the Lexus GS, and that makes the Toyota Crown very important indeed. The two models have shared platforms and engines since 1993, this new Crown has been extensively redeveloped. It now uses a modified version of the GA-L platform from the new Lexus LS sedan & LC coupe, and the same hybrid powertrain also offered on both Lexus flagships. For all intents and purposes, this Toyota is already a Lexus underneath the sheet metal.

Not to discount the additional development required, but the Crown offers a basic shell that could be used for a next-generation Lexus GS. Exterior and interior styling would have to change, but then that plays exactly into the brand’s strengths. It should be noted that Lexus no longer needs a second mid-size sedan, but the GS could be refactored into a four-door coupe and be elevated to a more prestigious (and lucrative) segment.

It may all be in the timing, as Lexus has brought out three new cars (LC, LS, ES) into a market that prefers SUVs and crossovers. There’s been an understandable shift in priority for the brand, with the focus now shifting to the UX and the fast-tracked production version of the LF-1 Limitless crossover. But the pendulum will swing back at some point, and with the Toyota Crown, Lexus can easily have a new GS just waiting in the wings.

Lexus GS: Fourth Generation
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maiaramdan
But if you put the words of Lexus Australian manager that they want a 4 doors coupe and a sport cross model to go for allroad and outback, this gives very much a clear view on 2 new lines we may see it in the near future
maiaramdan
But if you put the words of Lexus Australian manager that they want a 4 doors coupe and a sport cross model to go for allroad and outback, this gives very much a clear view on 2 new lines we may see it in the near future
maiaramdan
But if you put the words of Lexus Australian manager that they want a 4 doors coupe and a sport cross model to go for allroad and outback, this gives very much a clear view on 2 new lines we may see it in the near future
maiaramdan
But if you put the words of Lexus Australian manager that they want a 4 doors coupe and a sport cross model to go for allroad and outback, this gives very much a clear view on 2 new lines we may see it in the near future
maiaramdan
But if you put the words of Lexus Australian manager that they want a 4 doors coupe and a sport cross model to go for allroad and outback, this gives very much a clear view on 2 new lines we may see it in the near future
maiaramdan
But if you put the words of Lexus Australian manager that they want a 4 doors coupe and a sport cross model to go for allroad and outback, this gives very much a clear view on 2 new lines we may see it in the near future
maiaramdan
But if you put the words of Lexus Australian manager that they want a 4 doors coupe and a sport cross model to go for allroad and outback, this gives very much a clear view on 2 new lines we may see it in the near future
maiaramdan
But if you put the words of Lexus Australian manager that they want a 4 doors coupe and a sport cross model to go for allroad and outback, this gives very much a clear view on 2 new lines we may see it in the near future
Gecko
maiaramdan
But if you put the words of Lexus Australian manager that they want a 4 doors coupe and a sport cross model to go for allroad and outback, this gives very much a clear view on 2 new lines we may see it in the near future
I think Lexus' philosophy (and rightly so) has been to scratch four door coupes and just try to make their sedans look as sleek as they can. They did this with the LS and have been pretty forthright about it in press materials. New ES looks significantly more sleek from spy photos as well.

The one thing I do see as a huge opportunity is the return of "SportCross" for IS and midsize sedan, be it ES or GS.

I can see a case for keeping the ES as a more mainstream sedan and elevating GS to be a super sleek 4 door coupe with a SportCross variant. Having that car be RWD-biased would be a good way to differentiate it from RX. A FWD ES SportCross could be too similar.
Gecko
maiaramdan
But if you put the words of Lexus Australian manager that they want a 4 doors coupe and a sport cross model to go for allroad and outback, this gives very much a clear view on 2 new lines we may see it in the near future
I think Lexus' philosophy (and rightly so) has been to scratch four door coupes and just try to make their sedans look as sleek as they can. They did this with the LS and have been pretty forthright about it in press materials. New ES looks significantly more sleek from spy photos as well.

The one thing I do see as a huge opportunity is the return of "SportCross" for IS and midsize sedan, be it ES or GS.

I can see a case for keeping the ES as a more mainstream sedan and elevating GS to be a super sleek 4 door coupe with a SportCross variant. Having that car be RWD-biased would be a good way to differentiate it from RX. A FWD ES SportCross could be too similar.
Gecko
maiaramdan
But if you put the words of Lexus Australian manager that they want a 4 doors coupe and a sport cross model to go for allroad and outback, this gives very much a clear view on 2 new lines we may see it in the near future
I think Lexus' philosophy (and rightly so) has been to scratch four door coupes and just try to make their sedans look as sleek as they can. They did this with the LS and have been pretty forthright about it in press materials. New ES looks significantly more sleek from spy photos as well.

The one thing I do see as a huge opportunity is the return of "SportCross" for IS and midsize sedan, be it ES or GS.

I can see a case for keeping the ES as a more mainstream sedan and elevating GS to be a super sleek 4 door coupe with a SportCross variant. Having that car be RWD-biased would be a good way to differentiate it from RX. A FWD ES SportCross could be too similar.
Gecko
maiaramdan
But if you put the words of Lexus Australian manager that they want a 4 doors coupe and a sport cross model to go for allroad and outback, this gives very much a clear view on 2 new lines we may see it in the near future
I think Lexus' philosophy (and rightly so) has been to scratch four door coupes and just try to make their sedans look as sleek as they can. They did this with the LS and have been pretty forthright about it in press materials. New ES looks significantly more sleek from spy photos as well.

The one thing I do see as a huge opportunity is the return of "SportCross" for IS and midsize sedan, be it ES or GS.

I can see a case for keeping the ES as a more mainstream sedan and elevating GS to be a super sleek 4 door coupe with a SportCross variant. Having that car be RWD-biased would be a good way to differentiate it from RX. A FWD ES SportCross could be too similar.
Gecko
maiaramdan
But if you put the words of Lexus Australian manager that they want a 4 doors coupe and a sport cross model to go for allroad and outback, this gives very much a clear view on 2 new lines we may see it in the near future
I think Lexus' philosophy (and rightly so) has been to scratch four door coupes and just try to make their sedans look as sleek as they can. They did this with the LS and have been pretty forthright about it in press materials. New ES looks significantly more sleek from spy photos as well.

The one thing I do see as a huge opportunity is the return of "SportCross" for IS and midsize sedan, be it ES or GS.

I can see a case for keeping the ES as a more mainstream sedan and elevating GS to be a super sleek 4 door coupe with a SportCross variant. Having that car be RWD-biased would be a good way to differentiate it from RX. A FWD ES SportCross could be too similar.
Gecko
maiaramdan
But if you put the words of Lexus Australian manager that they want a 4 doors coupe and a sport cross model to go for allroad and outback, this gives very much a clear view on 2 new lines we may see it in the near future
I think Lexus' philosophy (and rightly so) has been to scratch four door coupes and just try to make their sedans look as sleek as they can. They did this with the LS and have been pretty forthright about it in press materials. New ES looks significantly more sleek from spy photos as well.

The one thing I do see as a huge opportunity is the return of "SportCross" for IS and midsize sedan, be it ES or GS.

I can see a case for keeping the ES as a more mainstream sedan and elevating GS to be a super sleek 4 door coupe with a SportCross variant. Having that car be RWD-biased would be a good way to differentiate it from RX. A FWD ES SportCross could be too similar.
Gecko
maiaramdan
But if you put the words of Lexus Australian manager that they want a 4 doors coupe and a sport cross model to go for allroad and outback, this gives very much a clear view on 2 new lines we may see it in the near future
I think Lexus' philosophy (and rightly so) has been to scratch four door coupes and just try to make their sedans look as sleek as they can. They did this with the LS and have been pretty forthright about it in press materials. New ES looks significantly more sleek from spy photos as well.

The one thing I do see as a huge opportunity is the return of "SportCross" for IS and midsize sedan, be it ES or GS.

I can see a case for keeping the ES as a more mainstream sedan and elevating GS to be a super sleek 4 door coupe with a SportCross variant. Having that car be RWD-biased would be a good way to differentiate it from RX. A FWD ES SportCross could be too similar.
Gecko
maiaramdan
But if you put the words of Lexus Australian manager that they want a 4 doors coupe and a sport cross model to go for allroad and outback, this gives very much a clear view on 2 new lines we may see it in the near future
I think Lexus' philosophy (and rightly so) has been to scratch four door coupes and just try to make their sedans look as sleek as they can. They did this with the LS and have been pretty forthright about it in press materials. New ES looks significantly more sleek from spy photos as well.

The one thing I do see as a huge opportunity is the return of "SportCross" for IS and midsize sedan, be it ES or GS.

I can see a case for keeping the ES as a more mainstream sedan and elevating GS to be a super sleek 4 door coupe with a SportCross variant. Having that car be RWD-biased would be a good way to differentiate it from RX. A FWD ES SportCross could be too similar.
Gecko
maiaramdan
But if you put the words of Lexus Australian manager that they want a 4 doors coupe and a sport cross model to go for allroad and outback, this gives very much a clear view on 2 new lines we may see it in the near future
I think Lexus' philosophy (and rightly so) has been to scratch four door coupes and just try to make their sedans look as sleek as they can. They did this with the LS and have been pretty forthright about it in press materials. New ES looks significantly more sleek from spy photos as well.

The one thing I do see as a huge opportunity is the return of "SportCross" for IS and midsize sedan, be it ES or GS.

I can see a case for keeping the ES as a more mainstream sedan and elevating GS to be a super sleek 4 door coupe with a SportCross variant. Having that car be RWD-biased would be a good way to differentiate it from RX. A FWD ES SportCross could be too similar.
Gecko
maiaramdan
But if you put the words of Lexus Australian manager that they want a 4 doors coupe and a sport cross model to go for allroad and outback, this gives very much a clear view on 2 new lines we may see it in the near future
I think Lexus' philosophy (and rightly so) has been to scratch four door coupes and just try to make their sedans look as sleek as they can. They did this with the LS and have been pretty forthright about it in press materials. New ES looks significantly more sleek from spy photos as well.

The one thing I do see as a huge opportunity is the return of "SportCross" for IS and midsize sedan, be it ES or GS.

I can see a case for keeping the ES as a more mainstream sedan and elevating GS to be a super sleek 4 door coupe with a SportCross variant. Having that car be RWD-biased would be a good way to differentiate it from RX. A FWD ES SportCross could be too similar.
Gecko
maiaramdan
But if you put the words of Lexus Australian manager that they want a 4 doors coupe and a sport cross model to go for allroad and outback, this gives very much a clear view on 2 new lines we may see it in the near future
I think Lexus' philosophy (and rightly so) has been to scratch four door coupes and just try to make their sedans look as sleek as they can. They did this with the LS and have been pretty forthright about it in press materials. New ES looks significantly more sleek from spy photos as well.

The one thing I do see as a huge opportunity is the return of "SportCross" for IS and midsize sedan, be it ES or GS.

I can see a case for keeping the ES as a more mainstream sedan and elevating GS to be a super sleek 4 door coupe with a SportCross variant. Having that car be RWD-biased would be a good way to differentiate it from RX. A FWD ES SportCross could be too similar.
Gecko
maiaramdan
But if you put the words of Lexus Australian manager that they want a 4 doors coupe and a sport cross model to go for allroad and outback, this gives very much a clear view on 2 new lines we may see it in the near future
I think Lexus' philosophy (and rightly so) has been to scratch four door coupes and just try to make their sedans look as sleek as they can. They did this with the LS and have been pretty forthright about it in press materials. New ES looks significantly more sleek from spy photos as well.

The one thing I do see as a huge opportunity is the return of "SportCross" for IS and midsize sedan, be it ES or GS.

I can see a case for keeping the ES as a more mainstream sedan and elevating GS to be a super sleek 4 door coupe with a SportCross variant. Having that car be RWD-biased would be a good way to differentiate it from RX. A FWD ES SportCross could be too similar.
Gecko
maiaramdan
But if you put the words of Lexus Australian manager that they want a 4 doors coupe and a sport cross model to go for allroad and outback, this gives very much a clear view on 2 new lines we may see it in the near future
I think Lexus' philosophy (and rightly so) has been to scratch four door coupes and just try to make their sedans look as sleek as they can. They did this with the LS and have been pretty forthright about it in press materials. New ES looks significantly more sleek from spy photos as well.

The one thing I do see as a huge opportunity is the return of "SportCross" for IS and midsize sedan, be it ES or GS.

I can see a case for keeping the ES as a more mainstream sedan and elevating GS to be a super sleek 4 door coupe with a SportCross variant. Having that car be RWD-biased would be a good way to differentiate it from RX. A FWD ES SportCross could be too similar.
Gecko
maiaramdan
But if you put the words of Lexus Australian manager that they want a 4 doors coupe and a sport cross model to go for allroad and outback, this gives very much a clear view on 2 new lines we may see it in the near future
I think Lexus' philosophy (and rightly so) has been to scratch four door coupes and just try to make their sedans look as sleek as they can. They did this with the LS and have been pretty forthright about it in press materials. New ES looks significantly more sleek from spy photos as well.

The one thing I do see as a huge opportunity is the return of "SportCross" for IS and midsize sedan, be it ES or GS.

I can see a case for keeping the ES as a more mainstream sedan and elevating GS to be a super sleek 4 door coupe with a SportCross variant. Having that car be RWD-biased would be a good way to differentiate it from RX. A FWD ES SportCross could be too similar.
Gecko
maiaramdan
But if you put the words of Lexus Australian manager that they want a 4 doors coupe and a sport cross model to go for allroad and outback, this gives very much a clear view on 2 new lines we may see it in the near future
I think Lexus' philosophy (and rightly so) has been to scratch four door coupes and just try to make their sedans look as sleek as they can. They did this with the LS and have been pretty forthright about it in press materials. New ES looks significantly more sleek from spy photos as well.

The one thing I do see as a huge opportunity is the return of "SportCross" for IS and midsize sedan, be it ES or GS.

I can see a case for keeping the ES as a more mainstream sedan and elevating GS to be a super sleek 4 door coupe with a SportCross variant. Having that car be RWD-biased would be a good way to differentiate it from RX. A FWD ES SportCross could be too similar.
Gecko
maiaramdan
But if you put the words of Lexus Australian manager that they want a 4 doors coupe and a sport cross model to go for allroad and outback, this gives very much a clear view on 2 new lines we may see it in the near future
I think Lexus' philosophy (and rightly so) has been to scratch four door coupes and just try to make their sedans look as sleek as they can. They did this with the LS and have been pretty forthright about it in press materials. New ES looks significantly more sleek from spy photos as well.

The one thing I do see as a huge opportunity is the return of "SportCross" for IS and midsize sedan, be it ES or GS.

I can see a case for keeping the ES as a more mainstream sedan and elevating GS to be a super sleek 4 door coupe with a SportCross variant. Having that car be RWD-biased would be a good way to differentiate it from RX. A FWD ES SportCross could be too similar.
maiaramdan
3 weeks not so far
They still have in there pipeline the UX, RX-L, ES, CT (international) & RX FL all in 2018
With LSF & LCF as maybe
maiaramdan
3 weeks not so far
They still have in there pipeline the UX, RX-L, ES, CT (international) & RX FL all in 2018
With LSF & LCF as maybe
maiaramdan
3 weeks not so far
They still have in there pipeline the UX, RX-L, ES, CT (international) & RX FL all in 2018
With LSF & LCF as maybe
maiaramdan
3 weeks not so far
They still have in there pipeline the UX, RX-L, ES, CT (international) & RX FL all in 2018
With LSF & LCF as maybe
maiaramdan
3 weeks not so far
They still have in there pipeline the UX, RX-L, ES, CT (international) & RX FL all in 2018
With LSF & LCF as maybe
maiaramdan
3 weeks not so far
They still have in there pipeline the UX, RX-L, ES, CT (international) & RX FL all in 2018
With LSF & LCF as maybe

M