How about this? What if Lexus is actually trying to reinvigorate the brand, and actually build cars to meet demand, to stay updated and to not rest on their laurels?
Cynical of me to say this, but if they had been on the ball more, they would have updated it for MY 2018 and not MY 2020. We are in Year 5 of the facelift already, that appeared in September 2013 and yet they waited another 6 years, when the related Toyota Land Cruiser Prado got an update last year.
In terms of the IS, the 4IS can't come soon enough and even that is on target for MY 2021. They are no longer resting on their laurels, but I have to wonder what happened between the lines exactly to be taking so long in some areas? The LX is getting VERY old and may enter the next decade as-is from what I hear about the 220X programme development the next gen.
This might be a forced refresh to keep the GX relevant. Isn't the Prado already on its second refresh?
Yes it is. Both for the GX being a forced refresh and Prado being on its second refresh. I see for some reason I mistakely forgot to fully clarify that I did not believe it was TNGA-F related. Usually I consider the term refresh to mean a very light update, so in this case it sounds like a heavy facelift (as I said "a la 2016 LX").
Another refresh would be fine, IMO. GX has no real competition at this point, so a little nip/tuck would be great for the next ~2 years.
Lol, that sounds a little passive aggressive against TMC. Like you're saying Toyota not push the J150 beyond 2021. The amout of changes sound like they spending a lot of money, which is what
I hate more than anything regarding these kind of models. Lots of investment plainly means ¥¥¥/$$$= years upon years to get ROI.: unamused: 2 years will not suffice for them, as seen with the 2013 LS and 2016 LX. They want 4 years, instead of just doing a light update and redesigning in 2021 for MY22. August 2019 will be 9.5 years after it went on sale in January 2010. (SMH)
They are pretty much trying to buy more time on the current 150 platform versus committing to a new one quickly enough by 2020-21. It would be fine if just coming this year but that's not even coming till another year and a half and then add years onto that, making it 5 years from now before a TNGA GX. I'll have to deliberately lose interest in the prospects of the GX, as that is too many years to pay close attention to the future of it.
I hated how a bait-and-switch happened with the 4LS mega facelift and then having to wait another 5 years to hear about an actually NEW LS, not to mention the 2 year period no one knew what was happening with it from 2012 to 2014. Not sure why they keep favouring elongated lifecycles for every model they sell with a base price above $50k USD (includes rounded amounts) . The more attentive customers will move on if you keep selling the same generation vehicle for 15 years, like many did with the 4LS.
amount of work they do on facelift also tells us how long it will take until full redesign.
And this is what I feared the most. In a perfect world, they would've lightly refreshed it for MY2019 and redesigned for MY2022 in spring 2021 (reveal in 2020). This just means we are probably 5 years out from a redesign that truly does this model some justice as seen with the new Camry in example vs 16 year old K platform basis.
They are some rumours that LX and T-LC are just going to be refreshed again, as against a needed redesign. I'd not believe them, but I cannot pretend it isn't a possibility. The LS 460 was on sale for 11 years, with 2 facelifts. The longest luxury T-LC generation ran 9.5 years, yet this one might push 15 years. Shame.
Last GX refresh did wonders but I can't help but the sales person mixing it up potentially with the limitless?
No, no. I don't see how one can mix anything up like that in this case, where one is essentially a larger rear wheel drive version of the RX in execution (if not that instead switching from 760X to 650B?) and this one is pretty much something that looks obviously different from that as a body-on-frame SUV. Not mention, krew and I already highlighted that is many more years away, to the point it would be extremely odd to show it so early. The date for the vehicle in question, is most likely August 2019 and was referred to as the GX specifically.
Your viewpoint doew remind me of back in 2014, when news of a "redesigned"/"all-new" LX came about for the 2016 model year from ignorant sales personnel, not being investigative enough. Myself and a few others were quick to debunk that belief based on the rather rapid timing of the changes not falling in line with internal development at Toyota. We were in the end proven right when photos began leaking in "mid 2015".
A GX that looks more like the current LX, is plainly a GX and unlikely to be a GA-F product based on the date of launch and not using a new styling language. Definitely isn't a RWD CUV based on the description.
