New Lexus GX

[spwolf]

That is so unfortunate. Outside of the Land Cruiser, they've done a poor job keeping models fresh in that area. 4Runner is 5 years old, a revision of the original from 2009 and closely related to 120 based generation from 2002. A 2020 4Runner facelift seems possible, hopefully based on MY 2020 GX plans.

Maybe GX might now be offered in JDM from mid-2019. Six years between FACELIFTS is terrible product cadence and shows how much poor pride in their product they had while developing it for MY 2014 (planned to discontinue), to barely have another facelift many years later.



They have plainly been doing a terrible job with managing product cadence, resting on their laurels, considering I had firm confirmation that the 4Runner and GX had no future back in December 2014. Surely after reviewing sales performance of 2014, things changed gradually and by end of 2015, they realized it had to stay in production and needed real attention sooner than GA-F.

You were spot-on in reference to up to three years ago "being in flux", good prediction there. Clearly you know a good deal, as I can see it being reality that the 2020 model entered planning in 2015-16 and requiring some good time to execute by mid-2019.

It is not ground up new, but will require some lead time to get it right, since it may not even move to GA-F until I am middle-aged, someone currently in his late 20s. :sleeping:

The 2016 LX entered planning parallel to the 2012 200 updates and was essentially half-way done with development by late 2013. Several months later, they began showing it to employees in 2014 and released it in late 2015. Something like this GX update, was frozen last year ahead of its mid-2019 Job 1 date.

The amount of time they are spending on new models anyway is unfortunate without some decent updates beforehand, as the U.S. market 4Runner isn't a failure, yet it is neglected as much as the GX as compared to Prado. I hope they do not just update the GX and leave 2020 4Runner as-is.

I already do not like the next Supra, plus so many things outside of LC 500 are not impressing me. In having the means to buy any Lexus I want from CT to LC 500 and LX, ditto for Toyota x2, I didn't want another GT-R in the Supra.

On the 4x4 end, I strictly buy or use Toyota when in Africa and hate having to wait for better products from them as satisfactory replacements to our 150s and 200s. The fact that the 300 isn't going to be out until 2020 is VERY annoying, because it pushes back other models below it.

Seems like Toyota is just waiting for Ford to show their hand with the P702 F-Series for Tundra, thus holding back anything close to it (300, 180 Series).

If I may, I want to apologise for a series of my posts often being somewhat jumbled and full of typos. Between voice-to-text and auto-replace/auto-correct, clearly my tablet and laptop often don't agree with what I have to say and take a mind of their own.

For Supra and LC, obviously their point is to be brand halo vehicles that are still purchasable, unlike LFA... I just hope it wont be too much BMW. Thats my concern, not the price.

As to the new BoF platform obviously they put it at the end of the line, likely because they also planned to launch new engines for it, which is not a bad deal.

While nobody likes to wait, I kind of like it, because doing it later means they will learn from their mistakes and get their priorities right. Their latest models are really smartly done, from C-HR to Corolla Hatch, they are doing it right. I expect finally a good interior in next LC150 and 200, good suspensions, not just QDR.

 

[MichaelL]

The thing is they seem to be selling every GX and LX they sell so they continue to soldier on while they take their time figuring things out. I find it stunning Lexus can manage to sell 2k GX's a month with no marketing and it is an older product while the GS which got pretty amazing reviews, a marketing push and now they sell 600-800 a month. The GX has one engine and is one way, the GS has multiple engines and options and it didn't matter.

Crazy world we live in lol....

It is amazing the current love affair consumers have with SUVs. I don't get it. People are sheep, I know, but I wouldn't have imagined it to this extent.... I would take a GS over a GX or a LX all day long. What does an SUV really give you if you aren't towing? Shitty gas mileage, no handling, slow, bad braking, etc... people have issues. The "cool" factor I guess...

 

[Ian Schmidt]

What does an SUV really give you if you aren't towing? Shitty gas mileage, no handling, slow, bad braking, etc... people have issues. The "cool" factor I guess...

SUVs are better on those things than they were 10 years ago (which leaves out the GX and LX for the time being), and the Grand Cherokee even has a decent interior now. And of course CUVs are fully competitive with sedans on mileage, handling, and braking.

 

[MichaelL]

SUVs are better on those things than they were 10 years ago (which leaves out the GX and LX for the time being), and the Grand Cherokee even has a decent interior now. And of course CUVs are fully competitive with sedans on mileage, handling, and braking.

CUV are not fully competitive with sedans, take a close look. I did it for the 4 cylinder Camry and RAV4, gas mileage wasn't close, about 10 MPGs less on the freeway, worst braking, and handling. I believe the engines aren't currently identical but close enough to get a general comparison. Physics are physics, SUVs are heavier, not as aerodynamic, and higher off the ground... none of these things help it's numbers.

Maybe I should look at the A4 and the Q5 as I know those drivetrains are identical... maybe I will tomorrow.

 

[CIF]

It is amazing the current love affair consumers have with SUVs. I don't get it. People are sheep, I know, but I wouldn't have imagined it to this extent.... I would take a GS over a GX or a LX all day long. What does an SUV really give you if you aren't towing? Shitty gas mileage, no handling, slow, bad braking, etc... people have issues. The "cool" factor I guess...

Well the "sheep" so to speak are mostly buying crossovers. Yes true body-on-frame SUV sales are increasing, but not as much as crossovers. Crossovers are the new station wagons. I've been saying this for years (not just on this forum), I've been saying to everyone I know in real life as well.

I can't speak for anyone else, but strictly for myself there are a variety of factors as to why I would choose a GX or LX over a GS. Not saying I don't like the GS, I love the GS of course. Just trying to bring some logic into this discussion. So for example, as much as I would love to own a GS, for me it's just not realistic. Maybe if I lived in Japan, or a country that has great, glass-smooth roads. Here in Canada, many many roads are as bad as third world countries. Full of potholes, undulations, and ruts. Some roads are even worse than that. Some roads in Canada look like they're straight out of a war zone. I haven't traveled extensively in the US, but from what I hear many roads are fairly mediocre to poor in many States, and aren't getting much better.

On top of this, in many cities in Canada there is constant road construction from Spring to Fall. A lot of this is due to poor road engineering, but I digress. Construction often brings lots of dust, its own rough road conditions, and various debris and small hazards that sometimes wind up lying on the road. So given all this, I simply would not have the stomach to subject my GS to such conditions (were I to own one now). If I were to own a GS, I'd want to drive it often, not just once in a blue moon.

Lastly, extreme weather conditions are gradually becoming more common unfortunately. Things like huge snowstorms, or floods are becoming more prevalent all across the world, including North America. Trying to drive a GS through a huge snowstorm or flood would be very problematic.

Back to the GX or LX. Looking at reality, the reason I would want either one over a GS would be ground clearance, off-road/extreme condition prowess, thick tires with large sidewalls (depending on the trim you get), and durability, durability, durability. Now to be honest I'd switch the LX in the comparison here to a Land Cruiser, just because the LX has become very on-road oriented with its low profile tires. But the point stands, the GX or LX/Land Cruiser are absolute tanks. Built to take on the toughest roads in the world (especially the Land Cruiser) day in and day out. Living in a third world country? No problem. Experiencing some extreme weather conditions that most other vehicles cannot handle? No problem. Need to drive through a war zone? No problem. Live in a first world country like Canada, yet still end up needing to navigate third world road conditions? THIS is why I would get a GX or LX/Land Cruiser over a GS.

To end off my post, some anecdotal evidence. I have a friend who owns a brand new GS 350 F-Sport AWD. He only drives it occasionally.

 

[MichaelL]

I appreciate your input. But I think cars can handle rough roads and bad weather and snow just fine. Many people have been using cars in these conditions for years. At the next of the day buy what you like and feel comfortable with, the only one that matters is you and if you are happy with your choice.

I have driven cars all my life, roads in the US are garbage too. I haven't had any issues or come across situations were an SUV was necessary. Grew up in New England and live in California now. Drive to Tahoe often in the winter, in a car or wagon, no issues.

 

[Levi]

I appreciate your input. But I think cars can handle rough roads and bad weather and snow just fine. Many people have been using cars in these conditions for years. At the next of the day buy what you like and feel comfortable with, the only one that matters is you and if you are happy with your choice.

I have driven cars all my life, roads in the US are garbage too. I haven't had any issues or come across situations were an SUV was necessary. Grew up in New England and live in California now. Drive to Tahoe often in the winter, in a car or wagon, no issues.

If cars could handle bad roads, it is because they had more ground clearance than today's SUVs/CUVs, which are all lowered for better handling, they had high profile tires for roads, and not rubber bands for showrooms and ttey were more simple with less things to go wrong. You can call UX/NX/RX buyers sheep, but GX and LX are a different type of car. RX buyers do not cross-shop with a GX, thus the need for Lexus make a 7 seat RX, because they would not buy the 7 seat GX. And as we see, GX sales do not get hurt by RX L sales.

 

[Rob_LexusTech]

i absolutely adore the GX, as its one of the last true NA v8 body-on-frame box SUVs left, and the world needs the GX! but dear god its long in the tooth. how many years have we heard "THIS IS IT!! THIS IS THE LAST YEAR OF THE GX!!" yet every year, another one is made. its so 2010 it hurts and desperately needs a redesign, but do you really think its going to stay the way it is through 2020? REALLY?? i hope it isnt replaced with some FWD 6 cyl crossover..

the GX is a battle ax in all the right ways. its rugged, dependable, and is timeless looking. its also much more capable of stuff then most owners will ever know. just TRY to get one stuck. you wont. (my avatar is a 17 GX, sitting in a giant mud pile 8 feet high from a dredged lake). try getting away with that in another luxury SUV..

could the LF-1 be the next GX????

 

[CIF]

I appreciate your input. But I think cars can handle rough roads and bad weather and snow just fine. Many people have been using cars in these conditions for years. At the next of the day buy what you like and feel comfortable with, the only one that matters is you and if you are happy with your choice.

I have driven cars all my life, roads in the US are garbage too. I haven't had any issues or come across situations were an SUV was necessary. Grew up in New England and live in California now. Drive to Tahoe often in the winter, in a car or wagon, no issues.

Yeah for sure, I respect people doing what works for them.

I mean it's all relative right? Depends on your priorities, and also the type of owner and driver a person is.

If cars could handle bad roads, it is because they had more ground clearance than today's SUVs/CUVs, which are all lowered for better handling, they had high profile tires for roads, and not rubber bands for showrooms and ttey were more simple with less things to go wrong. You can call UX/NX/RX buyers sheep, but GX and LX are a different type of car. RX buyers do not cross-shop with a GX, thus the need for Lexus make a 7 seat RX, because they would not buy the 7 seat GX. And as we see, GX sales do not get hurt by RX L sales.

Great point. Useless journalist/media criticism aside, it's interesting that some current Toyota and Lexus models still, but more commonly older Toyota and Lexus models have/had rather high ground clearance for car models, and wheel gap. While aesthetically many haters constantly criticized this, it was done for a very practical purpose. Now car models from Toyota and Lexus are becoming a bit more specialized, simply due to market necessity. However on some models the higher profile tires, relatively higher ground clearance and large wheel gaps still remain. That makes those models practical and usable in a variety of markets and weather conditions.

 

[Levi]

The GX will never have the onroad manners of the X5 because the GX is a BOF SUV and the X5 is a crossover.

Stumbled at that post. Not really directed at the OP, but this is a common saying, used by all journos/media/GermanCarFans. That is an apples to orange comparison. Their on road manners are different, because these cars have different purpose, not forgetting one is more durable. Latest new Mercedes G Wagon reviews, indicate it drive very well on roads now, even if it yet has a solid rear axle. A lot really has to do with what the vehicle was built for. The new G Wagon, while practically off-road capable, is no more built for off-roading. The front axle lock is available for marketing purposes only. They could even have left the switch and not installed the locker, but crazy Russians would find out.