5th Generation (2018+) Lexus LS 500 & LS 500h Megathread

[Ali Manai]

 

[DarkSpace6383]

I hope history remembers Akio Toyota as the man who hated Lexus and killed it.

tbf he also brought lexus to stardom with the LFA. I dont think its fully Akio's fault but im not denying the fact that he did play a role.

 

[Levi]

He probably regrets every time he sits in his LFA and sees the Lexus badge…

The GR GT is his vindication.

 

[DarkSpace6383]

He probably regrets every time he sits in his LFA and sees the Lexus badge…

The GR GT is his vindication.

baseless assumption.

 

[mikeavelli]

Well most people gloss over a simple fact lexus was made primarily for the US market as in most Asian and European markets Toyota is still considered a mid tier luxury brand but the US was different and Toyota struggled to sell it's luxury cars under the toyota brand of which the prime examples were the toyota mark II, cresta and chaser which failed in the US. Lexus has always been a side project it was only after 2005 Lexus got some more specialities after introduction in Japan and that stayed true until 2020 where we got those awesome models with Gs f, Lc, Lfa and more. After covid everything changed and since Lexus was primarily focused on the US middling policy and uncertainty have greatly undermined product planning add to that changing customer taste and akio's attitude the brand has pretty much regressed except for the 3 or 4 best selling nameplates under lexus. So they decided to move all the experimental ev crap under lexus brand and now lexus is mostly a test bed for future toyota products. There is still some resistance to Toyota in luxury and that is the only reason lexus name exists but given that they haven't properly launched the crown brand even in asia still leaves some hope for lexus

Well the thing is Lexus isnt USA focused as much. 20 years ago probably 80% of the sales was in the USA. Today that number is about 40-45%. Thus we lost some voice even though we are still their biggest market.

@Gecko made the suggestion once that the LS almost made a better GS. I think that would have worked then have the LS H or whatever it was called built.

Though I guess Century will fill that role now. Not sure

 

[DarkSpace6383]

Well the thing is Lexus isnt USA focused as much. 20 years ago probably 80% of the sales was in the USA. Today that number is about 40-45%. Thus we lost some voice even though we are still their biggest market.

@Gecko made the suggestion once that the LS almost made a better GS. I think that would have worked then have the LS H or whatever it was called built.

Though I guess Century will fill that role now. Not sure

Century won't fill the role imo. Look at BMW and Rolls Royce for example. BMW has the 7 series, but the company they own, Rolls Royce, is still a tier above. The goal of Century is to compete with Bentley and (eventually) Rolls. It's not an LS replacement.

 

[Falcon]

A flagship minivan LS and a flagship SUV LS are going to vastly outsell a flagship sedan LS.

 

[DarkSpace6383]

A flagship minivan LS and a flagship SUV LS are going to vastly outsell a flagship sedan LS.

Yeah the way things are going, LS is going to become a series of models. It's also clear that we aren't going to get a sedan soon (though hoping we get it one day). In my head the flagship lines look like this:

LS_ = Flagship Comfort
LF_ = Flagship Sport
LX = Flagship Offroad

 

[CRSKTN]

tbf he also brought lexus to stardom with the LFA. I dont think its fully Akio's fault but im not denying the fact that he did play a role.

This is thinking i will never understand.

Are you people under the impression this guy is designing cars and engineering s***?

 

[DarkSpace6383]

This is thinking i will never understand.

Are you people under the impression this guy is designing cars and engineering s***?

I mean the LFA wouldnt have gone into production without his okay.