Whether you realize it or not, most manufacturers have a halo car, be it Ford with the GT, Chevrolet with the Z06 and the upcoming ZR1 or Nissan in bringing us the GT-R. They know that the halo isn't for everyone, but the intent is to infuse the rest of the lineup with the excitement that the halo car produces.
Of course the high end makers aren't immune to the halo effect, in fact it could be argued that the benefit for these makers is much larger in that the price points tend to be higher across the board, and the impact of a big hitting halo car can trickle down throughout the entire lineup creating excitement and buzz that might not have existed prior.
BMW is aware of this fact which helps explain the forthcoming CS. While the 7-Series has been the hot topic this weekend, truth be told the real excitement is when the CS is shown to the public. Of course BMW is not the only one out there with a halo car in the wings, Porsche and Aston Martin both have fast sleek 4-door sedans coming our way as well that will compete with the BMW CS and help drive traffic through showroom doors.
Lexus seems to be the lone man out on this one though. Granted the LF-A has been shown in both coupe and convertible form, however the fact remains that a sleek 4-door sedan from Lexus would go a long way to shake off the current perception of Lexus being a very well built, but boring automobile. Exciting is not a word most use to describe Lexus, but what if a halo sedan was brought to market to compete with the BMW CS, Aston Rapide and Porsche Panamera.
Of course Lexus is mum on this subject, but I can't help but think that if enough people sounded off on the idea, the development folks at Lexus might start taking a serious look at this rapidly developing segment of the market. Lexus quality and refinement wrapped in a sleek coupe like sedan, the very concept is one that would be a winner from day one. Given the technological leader Lexus tends to be, I would even go as far as to suggest that it could be developed with Hybrid technology to further set it apart in the segment as well as the market.
The fact is the BMW CS, Porsche Panamera and Aston Martin Rapide are all coming to market, wouldn't it be fun to see what a Lexus version would look like. I for one think Lexus should get busy and show the world what it is capable of. Imagine a fast, fun, sleek luxurious 4-door coupe from Lexus showcasing the best of what Lexus has to offer in terms of technology.
Sounds like a winner to me, but what do you think?
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