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
Popular Stories

Sorry. No data so far.

Comments
mmcartalk
That's definitely not a Lexus body, unless they are dumping the spindle grille.......and I certainly wouldn't bet the rent money on that LOL. ;)

It could (?) be a test-mule for a new Lexus platform, using a Toyota body (as others have pointed out, maybe the Crown) in disguise.
mmcartalk
That's definitely not a Lexus body, unless they are dumping the spindle grille.......and I certainly wouldn't bet the rent money on that LOL. ;)

It could (?) be a test-mule for a new Lexus platform, using a Toyota body (as others have pointed out, maybe the Crown) in disguise.
mmcartalk
That's definitely not a Lexus body, unless they are dumping the spindle grille.......and I certainly wouldn't bet the rent money on that LOL. ;)

It could (?) be a test-mule for a new Lexus platform, using a Toyota body (as others have pointed out, maybe the Crown) in disguise.
mmcartalk
That's definitely not a Lexus body, unless they are dumping the spindle grille.......and I certainly wouldn't bet the rent money on that LOL. ;)

It could (?) be a test-mule for a new Lexus platform, using a Toyota body (as others have pointed out, maybe the Crown) in disguise.
mmcartalk
That's definitely not a Lexus body, unless they are dumping the spindle grille.......and I certainly wouldn't bet the rent money on that LOL. ;)

It could (?) be a test-mule for a new Lexus platform, using a Toyota body (as others have pointed out, maybe the Crown) in disguise.
mmcartalk
That's definitely not a Lexus body, unless they are dumping the spindle grille.......and I certainly wouldn't bet the rent money on that LOL. ;)

It could (?) be a test-mule for a new Lexus platform, using a Toyota body (as others have pointed out, maybe the Crown) in disguise.
S
cmk1 says the GS is still on. It could be that they are testing a new GS platform over a Toyota Crown's shell.

Hmm, I wonder what this means. I had learned that the next IS entered developmentin 2015, under the programme code 400A is due for design approval in the second half of 2017. Scheduling for that model begins in July 2020, on TNGA-L. This I had not seen until now, which is quite shocking that I didn't come across this on my own earlier. 200B was for the LS and 950A was for the LC. The new ES is 240B, but the 5GS appears to be under 300B due for SOP in April 2019. Initially this car had been scheduled for late 2018, but I am wondering how recent this information is.


Remember this odd mule.

S
cmk1 says the GS is still on. It could be that they are testing a new GS platform over a Toyota Crown's shell.

Hmm, I wonder what this means. I had learned that the next IS entered developmentin 2015, under the programme code 400A is due for design approval in the second half of 2017. Scheduling for that model begins in July 2020, on TNGA-L. This I had not seen until now, which is quite shocking that I didn't come across this on my own earlier. 200B was for the LS and 950A was for the LC. The new ES is 240B, but the 5GS appears to be under 300B due for SOP in April 2019. Initially this car had been scheduled for late 2018, but I am wondering how recent this information is.


Remember this odd mule.

S
cmk1 says the GS is still on. It could be that they are testing a new GS platform over a Toyota Crown's shell.

Hmm, I wonder what this means. I had learned that the next IS entered developmentin 2015, under the programme code 400A is due for design approval in the second half of 2017. Scheduling for that model begins in July 2020, on TNGA-L. This I had not seen until now, which is quite shocking that I didn't come across this on my own earlier. 200B was for the LS and 950A was for the LC. The new ES is 240B, but the 5GS appears to be under 300B due for SOP in April 2019. Initially this car had been scheduled for late 2018, but I am wondering how recent this information is.


Remember this odd mule.

S
cmk1 says the GS is still on. It could be that they are testing a new GS platform over a Toyota Crown's shell.

Hmm, I wonder what this means. I had learned that the next IS entered developmentin 2015, under the programme code 400A is due for design approval in the second half of 2017. Scheduling for that model begins in July 2020, on TNGA-L. This I had not seen until now, which is quite shocking that I didn't come across this on my own earlier. 200B was for the LS and 950A was for the LC. The new ES is 240B, but the 5GS appears to be under 300B due for SOP in April 2019. Initially this car had been scheduled for late 2018, but I am wondering how recent this information is.


Remember this odd mule.

S
cmk1 says the GS is still on. It could be that they are testing a new GS platform over a Toyota Crown's shell.

Hmm, I wonder what this means. I had learned that the next IS entered developmentin 2015, under the programme code 400A is due for design approval in the second half of 2017. Scheduling for that model begins in July 2020, on TNGA-L. This I had not seen until now, which is quite shocking that I didn't come across this on my own earlier. 200B was for the LS and 950A was for the LC. The new ES is 240B, but the 5GS appears to be under 300B due for SOP in April 2019. Initially this car had been scheduled for late 2018, but I am wondering how recent this information is.


Remember this odd mule.

S
cmk1 says the GS is still on. It could be that they are testing a new GS platform over a Toyota Crown's shell.

Hmm, I wonder what this means. I had learned that the next IS entered developmentin 2015, under the programme code 400A is due for design approval in the second half of 2017. Scheduling for that model begins in July 2020, on TNGA-L. This I had not seen until now, which is quite shocking that I didn't come across this on my own earlier. 200B was for the LS and 950A was for the LC. The new ES is 240B, but the 5GS appears to be under 300B due for SOP in April 2019. Initially this car had been scheduled for late 2018, but I am wondering how recent this information is.


Remember this odd mule.

S
cmk1 says the GS is still on. It could be that they are testing a new GS platform over a Toyota Crown's shell.

Hmm, I wonder what this means. I had learned that the next IS entered developmentin 2015, under the programme code 400A is due for design approval in the second half of 2017. Scheduling for that model begins in July 2020, on TNGA-L. This I had not seen until now, which is quite shocking that I didn't come across this on my own earlier. 200B was for the LS and 950A was for the LC. The new ES is 240B, but the 5GS appears to be under 300B due for SOP in April 2019. Initially this car had been scheduled for late 2018, but I am wondering how recent this information is.


Remember this odd mule.

S
cmk1 says the GS is still on. It could be that they are testing a new GS platform over a Toyota Crown's shell.

Hmm, I wonder what this means. I had learned that the next IS entered developmentin 2015, under the programme code 400A is due for design approval in the second half of 2017. Scheduling for that model begins in July 2020, on TNGA-L. This I had not seen until now, which is quite shocking that I didn't come across this on my own earlier. 200B was for the LS and 950A was for the LC. The new ES is 240B, but the 5GS appears to be under 300B due for SOP in April 2019. Initially this car had been scheduled for late 2018, but I am wondering how recent this information is.


Remember this odd mule.

S
cmk1 says the GS is still on. It could be that they are testing a new GS platform over a Toyota Crown's shell.

Hmm, I wonder what this means. I had learned that the next IS entered developmentin 2015, under the programme code 400A is due for design approval in the second half of 2017. Scheduling for that model begins in July 2020, on TNGA-L. This I had not seen until now, which is quite shocking that I didn't come across this on my own earlier. 200B was for the LS and 950A was for the LC. The new ES is 240B, but the 5GS appears to be under 300B due for SOP in April 2019. Initially this car had been scheduled for late 2018, but I am wondering how recent this information is.


Remember this odd mule.

S
cmk1 says the GS is still on. It could be that they are testing a new GS platform over a Toyota Crown's shell.

Hmm, I wonder what this means. I had learned that the next IS entered developmentin 2015, under the programme code 400A is due for design approval in the second half of 2017. Scheduling for that model begins in July 2020, on TNGA-L. This I had not seen until now, which is quite shocking that I didn't come across this on my own earlier. 200B was for the LS and 950A was for the LC. The new ES is 240B, but the 5GS appears to be under 300B due for SOP in April 2019. Initially this car had been scheduled for late 2018, but I am wondering how recent this information is.


Remember this odd mule.

S
cmk1 says the GS is still on. It could be that they are testing a new GS platform over a Toyota Crown's shell.

Hmm, I wonder what this means. I had learned that the next IS entered developmentin 2015, under the programme code 400A is due for design approval in the second half of 2017. Scheduling for that model begins in July 2020, on TNGA-L. This I had not seen until now, which is quite shocking that I didn't come across this on my own earlier. 200B was for the LS and 950A was for the LC. The new ES is 240B, but the 5GS appears to be under 300B due for SOP in April 2019. Initially this car had been scheduled for late 2018, but I am wondering how recent this information is.


Remember this odd mule.

S
cmk1 says the GS is still on. It could be that they are testing a new GS platform over a Toyota Crown's shell.

Hmm, I wonder what this means. I had learned that the next IS entered developmentin 2015, under the programme code 400A is due for design approval in the second half of 2017. Scheduling for that model begins in July 2020, on TNGA-L. This I had not seen until now, which is quite shocking that I didn't come across this on my own earlier. 200B was for the LS and 950A was for the LC. The new ES is 240B, but the 5GS appears to be under 300B due for SOP in April 2019. Initially this car had been scheduled for late 2018, but I am wondering how recent this information is.


Remember this odd mule.

S
cmk1 says the GS is still on. It could be that they are testing a new GS platform over a Toyota Crown's shell.

Hmm, I wonder what this means. I had learned that the next IS entered developmentin 2015, under the programme code 400A is due for design approval in the second half of 2017. Scheduling for that model begins in July 2020, on TNGA-L. This I had not seen until now, which is quite shocking that I didn't come across this on my own earlier. 200B was for the LS and 950A was for the LC. The new ES is 240B, but the 5GS appears to be under 300B due for SOP in April 2019. Initially this car had been scheduled for late 2018, but I am wondering how recent this information is.


Remember this odd mule.

S
cmk1 says the GS is still on. It could be that they are testing a new GS platform over a Toyota Crown's shell.

Hmm, I wonder what this means. I had learned that the next IS entered developmentin 2015, under the programme code 400A is due for design approval in the second half of 2017. Scheduling for that model begins in July 2020, on TNGA-L. This I had not seen until now, which is quite shocking that I didn't come across this on my own earlier. 200B was for the LS and 950A was for the LC. The new ES is 240B, but the 5GS appears to be under 300B due for SOP in April 2019. Initially this car had been scheduled for late 2018, but I am wondering how recent this information is.


Remember this odd mule.

S
cmk1 says the GS is still on. It could be that they are testing a new GS platform over a Toyota Crown's shell.

Hmm, I wonder what this means. I had learned that the next IS entered developmentin 2015, under the programme code 400A is due for design approval in the second half of 2017. Scheduling for that model begins in July 2020, on TNGA-L. This I had not seen until now, which is quite shocking that I didn't come across this on my own earlier. 200B was for the LS and 950A was for the LC. The new ES is 240B, but the 5GS appears to be under 300B due for SOP in April 2019. Initially this car had been scheduled for late 2018, but I am wondering how recent this information is.


Remember this odd mule.

S
cmk1 says the GS is still on. It could be that they are testing a new GS platform over a Toyota Crown's shell.

Hmm, I wonder what this means. I had learned that the next IS entered developmentin 2015, under the programme code 400A is due for design approval in the second half of 2017. Scheduling for that model begins in July 2020, on TNGA-L. This I had not seen until now, which is quite shocking that I didn't come across this on my own earlier. 200B was for the LS and 950A was for the LC. The new ES is 240B, but the 5GS appears to be under 300B due for SOP in April 2019. Initially this car had been scheduled for late 2018, but I am wondering how recent this information is.


Remember this odd mule.

Gecko
^I think that turned out to be an early LC mule, if I remember correctly.
Gecko
^I think that turned out to be an early LC mule, if I remember correctly.
Gecko
^I think that turned out to be an early LC mule, if I remember correctly.
Gecko
^I think that turned out to be an early LC mule, if I remember correctly.
Gecko
^I think that turned out to be an early LC mule, if I remember correctly.
Gecko
^I think that turned out to be an early LC mule, if I remember correctly.
Gecko
^I think that turned out to be an early LC mule, if I remember correctly.
Gecko
^I think that turned out to be an early LC mule, if I remember correctly.

G