Lexus LFA II Megathread

[CRSKTN]

They hashtag Lexus GRGT3

Like the time they put a Lexus badge on the concept and japan got mad

 

[dylanfoos]

I’ve been pretty quiet over the past few weeks, taking time to process the disappointing developments surrounding the Lexus brand—particularly the issues with the ES, and the ongoing rumors and updates about the LFR/GR GT. Then I see this commercial of Lexus playing with my emotions again 😥

 

[Levi]

As CRSTKN says, it is a US commercial. Japan does not want it and will not approve further cars that will make such commercials possible.

 

[Blipstein]

You guys have covered this pretty well, but I had a buddy take part in the Lexus Performance Driving School at COTA (I'm a 16+ year Lexus employee and got him a bunch of Lexus vehicles over the years, most recently a GX, the Launch Edition IS 500, then the Yellow special edition IS 500). This was his text to me, pretty much confirming everything you guys have gathered already...


"Apparently the new GT car, LFA 2.0 will be twin turbo V8 hybrid, about 800 HP. Sounds like price range will be high $100's low 200's. They were planning to release it this summer but has been delayed. They're going to call it GR"

 

[CRSKTN]

I’ve been pretty quiet over the past few weeks, taking time to process the disappointing developments surrounding the Lexus brand—particularly the issues with the ES, and the ongoing rumors and updates about the LFR/GR GT. Then I see this commercial of Lexus playing with my emotions again 😥

Levi is right this is Lexus USA seeing the writing on the wall and going into death throes.
Same thing with the giant LFA event, putting a Lexus badge on the prototype, etc.
They are trying to force Toyota's hand.

If it were me, Lexus dealers across the USA should start a class action lawsuit against Toyota.
Their messaging on models and roadmap ahead to their stakeholders and partners is tantamount to fraud.

 

[Kelvin2020]

This car was originally the LC F, then became LFR, and finally reborn as the GR GT.
Toyota might just be the industry’s most elegant thief, stealing dreams while earning applause.

 

[F1 Silver Arrows]

Levi is right this is Lexus USA seeing the writing on the wall and going into death throes.
Same thing with the giant LFA event, putting a Lexus badge on the prototype, etc.
They are trying to force Toyota's hand.

If it were me, Lexus dealers across the USA should start a class action lawsuit against Toyota.
Their messaging on models and roadmap ahead to their stakeholders and partners is tantamount to fraud.

Do you really think a case could be built on this? I would be worried about retaliation and Toyota threatening to shut down funding.

 

[ssun30]

I don't think dealers have any hard feelings against Lexus when they have record sales year after year and most of their cars have no discount. Last time they revolted to get a 3 row SUV and they now get the TX, probably the most profitable car for them to sell. They don't need to train their employees since the cars just sell themselves.

Lexus is repositioned as a brand for easy money. They have built enough reputation over the decades that their customers no longer care what they make. If you look at the brand from the perspective of dealers, there's never been a better time. Toyota barely spend any effort to design the products, dealers barely spend any effort to sell the products, consumers barely spend any effort to do the research and cross-shop. It's a win-win-win situation.

 

[Levi]

I don't think dealers have any hard feelings against Lexus when they have record sales year after year and most of their cars have no discount. Last time they revolted to get a 3 row SUV and they now get the TX, probably the most profitable car for them to sell. They don't need to train their employees since the cars just sell themselves.

Lexus is repositioned as a brand for easy money. They have built enough reputation over the decades that their customers no longer care what they make. If you look at the brand from the perspective of dealers, there's never been a better time. Toyota barely spend any effort to design the products, dealers barely spend any effort to sell the products, consumers barely spend any effort to do the research and cross-shop. It's a win-win-win situation.

Toyota’s delusion…. Instead of building Lexus on the reputation of Toyota, they have held Lexus back. But Toyota is loosing slowly loosing market not to BEVs, but to Chinese ICEVs (PHEVs). Is the not long Lexus will be doing well, current sales records are momentum, nothing more. Once momentum drops it will be too late.

 

[CRSKTN]

I don't think dealers have any hard feelings against Lexus when they have record sales year after year and most of their cars have no discount. Last time they revolted to get a 3 row SUV and they now get the TX, probably the most profitable car for them to sell. They don't need to train their employees since the cars just sell themselves.

Lexus is repositioned as a brand for easy money. They have built enough reputation over the decades that their customers no longer care what they make. If you look at the brand from the perspective of dealers, there's never been a better time. Toyota barely spend any effort to design the products, dealers barely spend any effort to sell the products, consumers barely spend any effort to do the research and cross-shop. It's a win-win-win situation.

This strategy does not work beyond short term.

Also dealers dont invest capital expenditures in dealerships based on how much theyre making today, they do it on their forward projections for the next 3 to 5 years at least.

If I was a dealership owner I would be losing my mind that now I have to a constantly changing **** show of plans, combined with new offerings targered at China.

The TX and other SUVs are going to age quickly, and Lexus will not meaningfully reinvest in it or plan for a new generation.

Expect to see the current lineup also age out of relevancy with mediocre refreshes if anything at all.

More likely is they sell a combination of aging legacy models and whatever Chinese focused models they think are a lazy sell.

 

[mikeavelli]

This car was originally the LC F, then became LFR, and finally reborn as the GR GT.
Toyota might just be the industry’s most elegant thief, stealing dreams while earning applause.

I guess I can talk more about the LC F as I’ve seen it, touched it and seen under the hood and immediately said I’ll take it. My heart still aches we didn’t get one.

With this new car I am scared I will be priced out. I gotta sell more lemonade at the lemonade stand lol.

 

[Kelvin2020]

I guess I can talk more about the LC F as I’ve seen it, touched it and seen under the hood and immediately said I’ll take it. My heart still aches we didn’t get one.

With this new car I am scared I will be priced out. I gotta sell more lemonade at the lemonade stand lol.

Mike, I truly appreciate you sharing this with us. Knowing that they were so close to making it happen, only to give up in the end, makes me feel even more disappointed now. They really did let us down, and let down everyone who had been waiting and believing in them.

 

[mikeavelli]

Mike, I truly appreciate you sharing this with us. Knowing that they were so close to making it happen, only to give up in the end, makes me feel even more disappointed now. They really did let us down, and let down everyone who had been waiting and believing in them.

It was wonderful . Was not allowed to take any pics.

 

[Tyronne M]

Mike, I truly appreciate you sharing this with us. Knowing that they were so close to making it happen, only to give up in the end, makes me feel even more disappointed now. They really did let us down, and let down everyone who had been waiting and believing in them.

Thanks Mike for sharing this with us.

Just curious ... was there ever an LS F? Are you allowed to say?

 

[Kelvin2020]

Thanks Mike for sharing this with us.

Just curious ... was there ever an LS F? Are you allowed to say?

There was never anything official, but rumors had been floating around in Japan since 2021, maybe even earlier. If LC F had actually happened, I would've believed they were serious about going through with it. But in the end, none of it ever came to pass.

 

[mikeavelli]

Thanks Mike for sharing this with us.

Just curious ... was there ever an LS F? Are you allowed to say?

Never saw any pics or heard anything more than conceptual but I’m also not privy to most conversations. The LS F tho would have been another must have cough cough my wife lol.

 

[CRSKTN]

Thanks Mike for sharing this with us.

Just curious ... was there ever an LS F? Are you allowed to say?

😶‍🌫️😶‍🌫️😶‍🌫️

😶‍🌫️😶‍🌫️😶‍🌫️😶‍🌫️😶‍🌫️😶‍🌫️😶‍🌫️

😶‍🌫️😶‍🌫️😶‍🌫️😶‍🌫️😶‍🌫️😶‍🌫️😶‍🌫️😶‍🌫️😶‍🌫️😶‍🌫️😶‍🌫️

🙊

 

[ssun30]

Are there other examples of a highly anticipated product getting cancelled when development is 95% done?

 

[supra93]

I’m guessing the front end will look similar to this?

 

[Gor134]

Are there other examples of a highly anticipated product getting cancelled when development is 95% done?

Hyundai Portico was production ready and cancelled around 2010. Idk if it was highly anticipated though 😂

The Jaguar XJ and V10 NSX are also examples, both were months away from auto show debuts. I still wish Honda would showcase the NSX in a museum or something, but they choose to keep it concealed from public.