Rendered: The Lexus Luxury Minivan

Posted by Kevin on April 7th, 2019

There’s every expectation that Lexus will reveal a minivan at next week’s Shanghai Motor Show, and Nikita Chuiko from Russian website Kolesa has taken the teaser image and transformed it into two full-size renders — here’s what the van could look like from the rear:

Lexus Minivan LM Rear

(The forum conversation revolving around the minivan has been divisive, to say the least — for every member that has bought into the idea of Lexus creating a minivan for the Chinese market, there’s another that doesn’t see a fit with a brand so focused on performance and design.)

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Comments
Joaquin Ruhi
Deusex
Say what? where is new LX and GX? what the hell is Lexus thinking?
The 4th-gen LX is expected to enter production a bit over a year from now (summer 2020) for a 2021 model year debut.

The wait for 3rd-gen GX, on the other hand, could be significantly longer. We should expect some sort of refresh for the current 2nd-gen model this fall (2020 model year), but estimates for the debut date of the 3rd-gen GX vary wildly. It should be no earlier than autumn 2022 (2023 model year) and could be as late as the 1st quarter of 2024 (!)
S
Gecko
I'm not sure that is true. GX and LX are both notorious cash cows for Lexus being based on the Land Cruiser 150 and 200 platforms. Lexus has been quoted as using the term "printing money" in relation to the GX specifically.

Profitability of this thing will depend on how much of a rebadge it is.
Actually, LX is actually selling really good for them overall... GX sells well only in the USA, hence less development seen vs LX.

But LX is a real deal overall, it sells similar numbers to GL, which is considerably cheaper to start with worldwide.
S
ydooby
For what's supposed to be an all-new model for Lexus they had better not simply slap a Lexus badge onto the existing Alphard. I would not be terribly surprised but simply terribly disappointed if Lexus does take the cheapo route instead of properly designing a new vehicle with the TNGA platform.
and when exactly did they do that? If they base on it Alphard, it will likely get unique interior/exterior like NX did vs Rav4.
Gecko
spwolf
Actually, LX is actually selling really good for them overall... GX sells well only in the USA, hence less development seen vs LX.

But LX is a real deal overall, it sells similar numbers to GL, which is considerably cheaper to start with worldwide.
Yes I am aware of this, thus my comment.
S
Gecko
Profitability of this thing will depend on how much of a rebadge it is.
ydooby
I would not be terribly surprised but simply terribly disappointed if Lexus does take the cheapo route instead of properly designing a new vehicle with the TNGA platform.
There is little incentive for them to jump to TNGA considering the only purpose of this model is to print money. The Alphard already is the best luxury minivan, period. The Alphard is relatively new and got its facelift last year with updated powertrains and interior. They cannot improve its competitiveness any further because there is no competitor.

We have to understand why the LM exists. This thing is targeted at the chinese market specifically, where the Alphard is a Veblen good: a luxury item that gets more popular the more expensive it gets. It reached that status because it is the best luxury minivan by a long shot. In JDM it costs between $35-55k (although there is a $150k special trim for VIP transport), but in China the MSRP is $120k and the average transaction price is $170k. Dealership add huge markups on them due to huge demand and limited supply. People who buy an Alphard would never compare it to a Mercedes V-Class, a Buick GL8 Avenir, or a Nissan Quest; they cross-shop it against Mercedes S-Class Maybach, Maserati Ghibli, and entry-level Bentleys, in which case $170k is a bargain. Even at such ridiculous prices they sold over one thousand of these a month, more than the LS, LX, and LC combined.

The LM will be the profit maximization machine for them, so they will do whatever they can to reduce costs. They could already command a ridiculous premium without a TNGA update because it is already the best. Let's just forget this stupidity and look at the bright side: it will be so profitable that it will pay for R&D for all their F models in the future.
F1 Silver Arrows
Joaquin Ruhi
The 4th-gen LX is expected to enter production a bit over a year from now (summer 2020) for a 2021 model year debut.

The wait for 3rd-gen GX, on the other hand, could be significantly longer. We should expect some sort of refresh for the current 2nd-gen model this fall (2020 model year), but estimates for the debut date of the 3rd-gen GX vary wildly. It should be no earlier than autumn 2022 (2023 model year) and could be as late as the 1st quarter of 2024 (!)
What a joke. 2024? That's essentially a 14-15 year life cycle. I haven't heard of anything that long bar the Mercedes-Benz Geländewagen and the Land Rover Defender. The Toyota Tundra (once it gets released in 2020) has a 1 year shorter cycle. Insane.
T
Yes please! These luxury vans are an alternative to limos in asia. Who wouldn't like a fully reclined business class lounge with all the bells and whistles and still have enough space for the assistant in the front seat?
Carmaker1
F1 Silver Arrows
What a joke. 2024? That's essentially a 14-15 year life cycle. I haven't heard of anything that long bar the Mercedes-Benz Geländewagen and the Land Rover Defender. The Toyota Tundra (once it gets released in 2020) has a 1 year shorter cycle. Insane.
Yes, but that's what they are ridiculously doing. I said as late as Q1 2024, because of staggered launch. The current J150 was launched in January 2010 as a 2010 model, just like LS 500 in January 2018 in Japan and US February 2018 as a 2018 model.

In fact, someone just gave a claim that the 2020 RX arrives in August 2019 and GX in September 2019. Something tells me they could be credible...at least this time. The fact that not just one model was mentioned, but two of them makes me believe them somewhat.

Unfortunately take everything with a grain of salt, because just like the Prado situation 2 years ago, I heard about a GX facelift coming early 2018, I assumed it extended to the US market 4Runner and let some Toyota affiliated engineers mislead me on that, despite them not even having direct access to the N280 life-cycle clearly.

I feel very stupid for that, as it's quite an embarrassment and hurt my credibility.:pensive: Anyway, I am very confident that the GX is definitely getting another facelift this year. Weirdly enough, maybe that annoying tidbit I dismissed about a 2021 4Runner change up, has some validity. But why deviate from the 150-Series set? All are built in Japan, so it doesn't make sense how in late 2017 Prado got a refresh, then GX in late summer 2019, then 4Runner only gets some safety tech for MY 2020? I digress.
Gecko
When it comes to GX, the people I know with good information laugh at the term "refresh" and put it in air quotes. I think it will be similar to 4Runner - just a tech addition (bigger screen, Android Auto, CarPlay, Alexa) with possibly no sheetmetal change whatsoever.

Anyway, back to the minivan.
Joaquin Ruhi
I like Road Show by CNet's commentary on the Lexus Enthusiast "Minivan at Shanghai" news story:

Lexus rumored to be readying a luxury minivan for Shanghai, report says
Minivans are big business in SE Asia, so could Lexus be looking to get in on that game with a fancy people-mover of its own?
BY KYLE HYATT
MARCH 29, 2019

Here in the US, the minivan has started to fall by the wayside, relegated to its place in history as the butt of lazy jokes, as the SUV becomes the de facto family hauler. In China, however, that's not the case.

That's why when Lexus announced that it would be debuting a new vehicle at the Shanghai Auto Show next month, it got some folks thinking that rather than a new RX or GX, maybe it would be a real deal, no B.S. luxury Lexus minivan.

No, wait, stop laughing. We're serious.

The folks over at Lexus Enthusiast convinced us. See, not long after the brand made its teaser announcement for Shanghai, the Lexus Taiwan Facebook page posted some cryptic text talking about "Luxury of personal space" and so on, language which -- as Lexus Enthusiast points out -- is regularly used to sell minivans in Southeast Asia.

It's like the people of China and SE Asia saw Get Shorty back in 1995 and took the whole idea of "Cadillac of minivans" thing to heart. The boxy people-conveyers aren't just sold to harried parents there, they are seen as real luxury vehicles for people with means and taste.

This idea of a Lexus minivan makes even more sense when you consider the fact that Toyota has intimated that we could see a brand new Sienna on a new platform by 2021. An announcement of a new luxury van now means that its release could coincide with that refresh.

Obviously, this is all a bunch of wild, tinfoil hat-wearing, bicycle conversation in A Scanner Darkly-style crazy speculation, but wouldn't it be kind of cool?

Lexus didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.
https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/lexus-minivan-shanghai-auto-show-rumor/
S
ssun30
The Alphard already is the best luxury minivan, period. The Alphard is relatively new and got its facelift last year with updated powertrains and interior. They cannot improve its competitiveness any further because there is no competitor.....
keep in mind there are still ways to improve Alphard, even if competition doesnt have anything better... Lexus should be way nicer.

L
F1 Silver Arrows
What a joke. 2024? That's essentially a 14-15 year life cycle. I haven't heard of anything that long bar the Mercedes-Benz Geländewagen and the Land Rover Defender. The Toyota Tundra (once it gets released in 2020) has a 1 year shorter cycle. Insane.
You forgot the Mitsubishi Pajero.
krew
Lexus Luxury Minivan to Start Production in 2020

[​IMG]

From Japanese newspaper report.
View the original article post
C
Levi
You forgot the Mitsubishi Pajero.
And almost every other Mitsubishis currently on sale, also certain Nissans, coincidentally both of them are now partners.
maiaramdan
Levi
You forgot the Mitsubishi Pajero.
Toyota is not Mitsubishi by any means, at least for now

But with they stubborn late future schedule and keep postponing everything they may face the same fate

Tundra
Seqouia
Land cruiser 200
LX
Prado
GX
4 Runner
GS
Mark X

All with 10+ years and they need every single car in this list
Faisal Sheikh
April fool's joke?

krew
Lexus Luxury Minivan to Start Production in 2020

[​IMG]


View the original article post
M
This has got to be the ugliest front end ever. Looks like a bloated Cadillac grill.
GSCT
Mr. Pontiac
This has got to be the ugliest front end ever. Looks like a bloated Cadillac grill.
Even Cadillac never fell this low and we haven’t seen what a mess the spindle grill could add. If it’s not real careful, Lexus could come out of this with a blow to its style/performance image so carefully cultivated over the last decade.
S
GSCT
Even Cadillac never fell this low and we haven’t seen what a mess the spindle grill could add. If it’s not real careful, Lexus could come out of this with a blow to its style/performance image so carefully cultivated over the last decade.
So Lexus China should not offer a minivan that Chinese people want to buy, because you in USA or me in Europe think minivans are not cool?
GSCT
spwolf
So Lexus China should not offer a minivan that Chinese people want to buy, because you in USA or me in Europe think minivans are not cool?
Well, I know it sounds arrogant, but basically yes. I can’t imagine we will ever see a BMW or Audi minivan.
S
GSCT
Well, I know it sounds arrogant, but basically yes. I can’t imagine we will ever see a BMW or Audi minivan.
There has been bmw minivan for years, as well as MB minivan.
flexus
I agree to this broaden your horizon.
spwolf
So Lexus China should not offer a minivan that Chinese people want to buy, because you in USA or me in Europe think minivans are not cool?
Never heard about MB B or V? Maybe BMW 2? I think they're ugly but Germans like them.
flexus
GSCT
Well, I know it sounds arrogant, but basically yes. I can’t imagine we will ever see a BMW or Audi minivan.
MB V is Basically Vito with seats. You can't see if it is a workhorse or luxury mini van.
View attachment 3209 View attachment 3210
zeusus
GSCT
Even Cadillac never fell this low and we haven’t seen what a mess the spindle grill could add. If it’s not real careful, Lexus could come out of this with a blow to its style/performance image so carefully cultivated over the last decade.
Spare the dramatics. I've seen this type of post too many times already and its quite old.
M
New Lexus Minivan Could Look Like This If Based On Toyota’s Alphard
https://www.carscoops.com/2019/04/n...d-look-like-this-if-based-on-toyotas-alphard/


flexus
Motor
Would they use sharkfin? It's kinda Toyota's trademark.
Gecko
maiaramdan
It will sell like hot cakes in Asian markets
It has a very shine future in china
S
I don't know what to say about that grille...
maiaramdan
Guys , still rendering
Wait for the real deal !!!

M