bogglo

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Still trying to understand what this is all about. Are they finally about to tell us how each brand fall in the TMC priority hierarchy?
 

Gecko

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I don’t know what they’re doing, but I have a feeling this won’t be good for Lexus

As usual - the deprioritization of Lexus will likely continue.

Where is Crown in this graphic?

Century
Lexus
Crown
GR
Toyota
Diahatsu
.... feels like a lot. I still don't think GR needs to be it's own brand, but I guess they didn't learn their lesson with Scion. The strategy of Century for super luxury, Lexus for luxury, Toyota for mainstream, and Diahatsu as entry level for emerging/global markets makes the most sense for me. GR as a brand with GR Toyota and GR Lexus models is just going to be confusing, and from what I hear, their goal is to elevate the GR brand to become Toyota's version of Porsche... but how does that work when you have a GR Yaris and GR Sport RAV4, etc? Not the same at all.

Akio Toyoda seems bored, misinformed, and greedy.
 

Falcon

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Where is Crown in this graphic?
Perhaps they don't consider Crown an independent brand but a sub-brand much like the Land Cruiser basically is (we have 3 Land Cruiser models and I suspect they will unveil 2 additional models, the Land Cruiser SE and the Land Cruiser FJ at the Japan Mobility Show, so 5 models in total). Crowns still have a Toyota logo in the back.
GR as a brand with GR Toyota and GR Lexus models is just going to be confusing
I think that's what's going to happen. Both Lexus and GR carry their RnD at the Shimoyama facility. I think there will be some level of intermarrying and the result will be more RR Morizo Lexus products.

I'm not exactly sure what they'll announce in 20 days. Perhaps Century is officially launched as an independent brand? I also heard rumors that Land Cruiser was going to become its own brand. I guess time will tell. The Japan Mobility Show is also supposed to be a huge event for Lexus.
 

ssun30

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Perhaps they don't consider Crown an independent brand but a sub-brand much like the Land Cruiser basically is (we have 3 Land Cruiser models and I suspect they will unveil 2 additional models, the Land Cruiser SE and the Land Cruiser FJ at the Japan Mobility Show, so 5 models in total). Crowns still have a Toyota logo in the back.
Land Cruiser is actually the one IP they should have turned into a brand many many years ago. Like how Jeep, Land Rover, and RAM became independent brands. It has both the brand recognition and economies of scale to be self sufficient. On its own the Land Cruiser brand name is more valuable than Century, Crown, and GR combined.
 

spwolf

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Land Cruiser is actually the one IP they should have turned into a brand many many years ago. Like how Jeep, Land Rover, and RAM became independent brands. It has both the brand recognition and economies of scale to be self sufficient. On its own the Land Cruiser brand name is more valuable than Century, Crown, and GR combined.

everything starts from them not selling them properly in home market, and then it is hard.
Now, quite possibly, it is too late, they missed their chance.

But there were rumors for a long time about baby LC, which would have been a good addition... They could have easily added even 3 levels of LCs under current Prado.
 

internalaudit

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As usual - the deprioritization of Lexus will likely continue.

Where is Crown in this graphic?

Century
Lexus
Crown
GR
Toyota
Diahatsu
.... feels like a lot. I still don't think GR needs to be it's own brand, but I guess they didn't learn their lesson with Scion. The strategy of Century for super luxury, Lexus for luxury, Toyota for mainstream, and Diahatsu as entry level for emerging/global markets makes the most sense for me. GR as a brand with GR Toyota and GR Lexus models is just going to be confusing, and from what I hear, their goal is to elevate the GR brand to become Toyota's version of Porsche... but how does that work when you have a GR Yaris and GR Sport RAV4, etc? Not the same at all.

Akio Toyoda seems bored, misinformed, and greedy.
You are spot on! And with Lexus, it doesn't bother bringing to North America the IS hybrid. I hope the next gen IS will have a hybrid powertrain and maybe sip regular gasoline lol.

Toyota’s Next Hybrids Won’t Just Save Gas—They’ll Add Serious Power​

A hybrid Supra isn’t confirmed, but Toyota hints its GR lineup could adopt gasoline-electric setups for stronger performance.

 

Kelvin2020

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You are spot on! And with Lexus, it doesn't bother bringing to North America the IS hybrid. I hope the next gen IS will have a hybrid powertrain and maybe sip regular gasoline lol.

Toyota’s Next Hybrids Won’t Just Save Gas—They’ll Add Serious Power​

A hybrid Supra isn’t confirmed, but Toyota hints its GR lineup could adopt gasoline-electric setups for stronger performance.

What about Lexus🤦🏻‍♂️
 

ssun30

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As usual - the deprioritization of Lexus will likely continue.

Where is Crown in this graphic?

Century
Lexus
Crown
GR
Toyota
Diahatsu
.... feels like a lot. I still don't think GR needs to be it's own brand, but I guess they didn't learn their lesson with Scion. The strategy of Century for super luxury, Lexus for luxury, Toyota for mainstream, and Diahatsu as entry level for emerging/global markets makes the most sense for me. GR as a brand with GR Toyota and GR Lexus models is just going to be confusing, and from what I hear, their goal is to elevate the GR brand to become Toyota's version of Porsche... but how does that work when you have a GR Yaris and GR Sport RAV4, etc? Not the same at all.

Akio Toyoda seems bored, misinformed, and greedy.
They sold 280 Century SUVs and 100 Century sedans in Japan last year. China is even worse at 23 last year and 85 this year. So far this new brand strategy is not working.

The LX700h, despite being a compromised product, is doing great world wide in sales. It benefits from the brand recognition of Land Cruiser. They could have invested in a unibody LX with on-road focus built on GA-L (like a 3-row LF1 with optional VIP seating) and market the BOF LX as a G-wagen competitor. The platform and powertrains are already there.

Instead they built a Highlander pro max that nobody wants. And in the process destroyed the top end lineup of Lexus.
 

NomadDan

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They sold 280 Century SUVs and 100 Century sedans in Japan last year. China is even worse at 23 last year and 85 this year. So far this new brand strategy is not working.

The LX700h, despite being a compromised product, is doing great world wide in sales. It benefits from the brand recognition of Land Cruiser. They could have invested in a unibody LX with on-road focus built on GA-L (like a 3-row LF1 with optional VIP seating) and market the BOF LX as a G-wagen competitor. The platform and powertrains are already there.

Instead they built a Highlander pro max that nobody wants. And in the process destroyed the top end lineup of Lexus.

This is what I think Lexus should do to keep the LS name alive. Yes, it's a bummer to see the sedan discontinued, but I'd be ok with a LS unibody GA-L based SUV. Give it at least a 122" wheelbase. LX can be the offroad flagship model, but the LS could be the brand's flagship model. The next generation Sequoia could move away from the compromised BOF package that it is and move to the same unibody platform.
 

Gecko

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This is what I think Lexus should do to keep the LS name alive. Yes, it's a bummer to see the sedan discontinued, but I'd be ok with a LS unibody GA-L based SUV. Give it at least a 122" wheelbase. LX can be the offroad flagship model, but the LS could be the brand's flagship model. The next generation Sequoia could move away from the compromised BOF package that it is and move to the same unibody platform.

This was my thought too - make the LS into the production LF-1 Limitless. Call it LSX or something like that.
 

bogglo

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I don't want to comment on the LS going away yet. I want to believe that they meant LS as we know it is going away. Maybe I'm being delusional.

It's still mind boggling what the goal is for TMC. Are they giving up on cars in general and just trying to go back to their origin as a textile company. I mean they built a Woven City where Toyoda san is the master Weaver.
 

Kennyth

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“LEXUS LS” was trademarked recent, maybe possible future Lexus models don’t have numbers like LEXUS LBX, LEXUS ZC?
 

spwolf

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The LX700h, despite being a compromised product, is doing great world wide in sales. It benefits from the brand recognition of Land Cruiser. They could have invested in a unibody LX with on-road focus built on GA-L (like a 3-row LF1 with optional VIP seating) and market the BOF LX as a G-wagen competitor. The platform and powertrains are already there.

Not sure if people are interested in more luxurious TX but without the space.

LX is doing great because people who buy it want BOF.