Lexus On The Rampage- Will The Passionate Pursuit of Perfection Finally Trump The Ultimate Driving Machine?

IS-F, LFA, LF-CC, GS 350 F, and LS-F and even TMG Sports 650.  It all sounds like alphabet soup to the uninformed, but it is music to the ears of the hard core Lexus enthusiast.  It is beginning to look like the days of being a luxury barge for those one step from the  grave may be over for the luxury brand.

These models model mentioned above actually have bite to back up the bark, and they are in the showroom now or are destined to be in the not so distance future.  Lexus is changing, and you can thank the vision of none other than Toyota's visionary leadership. They now are embracing performance and are hell bent on changing the stuffy Lexus brand into a world class performance leader.

Oddly enough this change in course, this is also occurring at the same time BMW is targeting sales in leu of the purist.  A front wheel drive BMW would be a laughable proposition a decade ago, and now the word from Munich is there will soon be no less than 20 different FWD models bearing the BMW crest in the next decade.  Is the "Ultimate Driving Machine" in danger of becoming an endangered species the victim of corporate bean counters?

It is hard to believe, but these arch rivals are targeting the opposite end of the spectrum, and are  on an epic collision course targeting each other’s audience.

I seriously doubt a few years ago we would have foreseen this unfolding of events, but it appears the writing is on the wall.  With that in mind we have to ask you, the best and the brightest.  Has BMW to lost that cutting edge? Will Lexus to be reinvented as a performance brand?

Will The Passionate Pursuit of Perfection eventually trump the Ultimate Driving Machine?

Lexus - 12/1/2012 12:13:07 AM

+4 Boost

I am a big fan of the new or current BMW 5-Series especially, the 5-Series with the Sports or M package. But Lexus GS picture in this post look a lot meaner than the BMW 5-Series. I would be happy with either one.

Lexus - 12/1/2012 12:20:37 AM

+4 Boost

FYI, earlier this year the current Infiniti M56 already beat the current BMW 550i in a comparison where they said the Infiniti M56 is more fun and engaging to drive than the BMW 550i.

cidflekken - 12/1/2012 1:26:31 AM

0 Boost

They better hire new designers if they truly want to rule it all. Their current designs, specifically the GS and LS, leave tons to be desired. Not only do sports/luxury buyers want to be seen flying by, they want to be SEEN in their cars.

Personally, I have no idea why they want to target BMW/Audi when they already were stomping the competition in sales with their luxury-oriented machines. All they are going to do is overcrowd this segment with performance-oriented machines, which will probably leave Mercedes to laugh all the way to the top of the sales charts as the only luxury brand catering to the luxury tastes of the rich, in non-AMG models.

cidflekken - 12/1/2012 1:30:02 AM

+3 Boost

Then again, BMW is going the opposite direction of their previous sporty offerings, so it may be irrelevant. They may end up just switching places in the marketplace.

USNA1999 - 12/1/2012 8:05:44 AM

0 Boost

I think they are both awesome cars. As of now, one there two will be my next car when it comes to trade my LS.

PUGPROUD - 12/1/2012 8:19:05 AM

+1 Boost

While Toyota has a way to go to be the enthusiast's car of choice and I'm a big time BMW fan, it will eventually happen. The reason is simple, clear and demonstrated numerous times in history. The most successful companies are the ones driven by the will, passion and autocratic determination of one man. Rockefeller at Standard Oil, Jobst at Apple, Porsche at Porsche, Piech at VW, etc etc. The current head of Toyota, Dr. Tatsuro Toyoda, is a family member with unquestionable
control of the company. What he wants done gets done...no committees, no challengers to his authority, no one to second guess him, no one to dare undermine his wishes/demands, etc etc. He is young, energetic but most of all he is committed to building exceptional cars that enthusiasts want to buy. He will get his way and eventually get there because there is nothing and no one in his way. Count on it.

dlin - 12/1/2012 11:42:59 AM

-1 Boost

Lexus is almost on par, but BMW is still leading on engine. I understand Toyota wants to reinforce the advantageous image of Hybrid, but they need to start offering FI 4-cylinder.

dlin - 12/1/2012 12:02:05 PM

+2 Boost

Honestly speaking, since when is BMW a choice for 'purist'? Since Porsche starts to make sports sedan, I suggest BMW sell logo of 'the Ultimate Driving Machine' to the former for more money!

Dr550 - 12/1/2012 1:51:28 PM

+1 Boost

I think BMW made a mistake not making the "8 series sedan-CS concept" from 2008. They also need a X7 large SUV and a "M"7 series. I understand about being "green" and new emissions laws, but these autos will keep a lot of critics quiet.

enthusiastx11 - 12/1/2012 2:11:45 PM

+1 Boost

help me out here...2 of those models are several years old, 1 is new, and 2 are years away from production. how is this a 'rampage?'

skytop - 12/1/2012 6:25:48 PM

0 Boost

Lexles' PPP will not trump BMW UDM. Lexles will just wet itself with so much pee.

Any intelligent person knows that perfection is an illusion. Is something that can never be attained. Therefore, Lexles efforts are doomed to failure.

SanJoseDriver - 12/1/2012 8:35:09 PM

+1 Boost

I always liked both brands, but I think Tesla is going to smoke BMW and Lexus' midsize offerings with the Model S, and then go after the 3 series and IS with their Gen3 platform.

LexSucks - 12/3/2012 10:28:33 AM

-2 Boost

The Same Tesla that needs to borrow money to stay afloat?

dodgedart - 12/3/2012 10:15:40 PM

+1 Boost

Let's check back on the Tesla platform in one year. Look at the current resale value, then sniff the smoke- is it BMW? Lexus? The Tesla Platform? Loans? Will it be covered under warranty? Should be interesting. BMW and Lexus will still be here.