Lexus VP Says Lack Of Performance Vehicles Key In Failure To Stop Germans

I think that is a minor part of the problem in addition to lack of inspiring design, and sharing many platforms/components with Toyota which makes Lexus less desirable as a luxury marque.

However Lexus does have reason to celebrate as they nearly matched BMW in sales for January. That Lexus RX is their bread and butter

Wow...ignorance.

Lack of inspiring design? That is only lack of inspiring design for you, the current design language gets a lot of positive comments from many people.

And exactly which Lexus model is sharing many platforms, components with Toyota, except something like ES?

And Lexus already has stated that they are not trying to be the number 1 seller. It's like Bentley or Rolls-Royce, how they do not worry about the sales number.

#1, if you can even call that big gaping hole in the middle of every Lexus Front end AKA spindle grill a design language, go for it

#2, In addition to the ES, nearly all the Hybrid models, the highlander/RX, not to mention their flagship SUV LX is based off the Land Cruiser and GX-4 Runner

#3 Don't ever put Lexus in the same sentence as Bentley and Rolls Royce

#4 In addition to the reasons in my first post, the main reason Lexus lacks the cachet of its German rivals, is lack of heritage or narrative which Lexus Chief, Akio Toyoda, admitted himself

IMO Lexus only needs 1 thing - turboed engines that works as well as BMW's, and the whole thing could change A LOT. I personally defect to BMW simply for that reason, but kept my head clear by leasing than owning, knowing that it won't last well.

AUDI probably shares more platform than LEXUS percentage wise, but no Potato fanboy cares. BMW is sharing platform w/ some TOYOTA in the future, would that stop you from buying BMW?

He put Lexus in the same sentence with Bentley and Rolls Royce. lol!! You Toyota fans are nuts.

Something tells me Lexsucks LOVES nuts on or around his mouth and anus.

Well duh!!! Excuses, excuses and even a 6-year old kid could have told you that not to mention the horrible designs they've come out with lately. I've also seen a lot more negative than positive comments about their current and future design language lately. Look at the new LF-NX Crossover coming out, what a disastrous design nightmare featuring that over sized hideous Predator grill that'll even scare their main market of old retirees when looking at it.

I totally agree with — Car4Life, how could you even put Lexus with Bentley and Rolls Royce in the same sentence that doesn't make any sense at all. Lexus not trying to be the number 1 seller, please get real and do a reality check. They want it just as bad and just like their parent company Toyota wanting to be the number 1 best selling any line or car they make.

I totally agree with — Car4Life, how could you even put Lexus with Bentley and Rolls Royce in the same sentence that doesn't make any sense at all. Lexus not trying to be the number 1 seller, please get real and do a reality check. They want it just as bad and just like their parent company Toyota wanting to be the number 1 best selling any line or car they make.

I think there's a fair amount of excuse-making in saying that Lexus needs higher-performing cars to compete. The fact is, the largest volume of cars moved by the Germans are the lower-positioned cars, i.e., C250, 328i, E350, 535i. In addition, Lexus' highest-moving cars are its most conservative, i.e., the ES and RX. Take out the ES and RX from the sales numbers, and Lexus has a lineup that's in-line with Acura and Audi, but their end-results sales numbers are lower, on par with Infiniti.

Lexus' problem today isn't that much different than Acura's problem: identity crisis.
This, to me, is where the problem lies with Lexus. They dominated the luxury market for 12 years with refined, solid, smooth, quiet, and conservatively styled cars. But they decided to switch things up and it's just not working. Either Lexus buyers don't equate Lexus with dynamic performance or styling, or Lexus' execution of dynamic performance and/or styling isn't working.

And, yes, I don't think their designs have done much to help the cause. The IS and GS are completely anonymous on the road, IMO. They aren't necessarily unattractive, they just don't stand out. And that spindle grille is just not doing it. They just built a brand new Lexus dealership about a mile from me, right across from the Benz, BMW, and Audi dealerships. When you look at the car lots of the 4, the Lexus stands out the least. Seeing all of those spindle grilles compared to the grilles on the Germans, Lexus just looks generic and gimmicky.

cidflekken - well put

The unattractive design speaks volumes, and not in a nice way. One visit to the Lexus web site told me "nothing here for you." But if you think power trumps ugly, give that a try and see what turns up.

You know, it makes sense for the Lexus VP to believe that they need more horsepower to boost sales. Do you think he'd be walking around the factory thinking, "Damn, we make fugly cars! How can anyone stand to look at that grill?" And if he was thinking that, do you think he could say it publicly?

The IS looks way better than a 3 or A4 or even C class.. so I wouldn;t say that all Lexus' look bad..

Lexus is lame. Even their VP knows it.

Lexus may also be in denial or totally blind and clueless to reality.

Reskinning the BRZ and putting a good Toyota engine in it rather than the Japanese Super Beetle engine, would give them an entry level sportscar. The Toyota FT1 should have been a Lexus concept.

"AUDI probably shares more platform than LEXUS percentage wise, but no Potato fanboy cares. BMW is sharing platform w/ some TOYOTA in the future, would that stop you from buying BMW?"

Ok... You do know that the A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, Q5 and all their variants are on a platform (MLB) only used by Audi? A heavily modified version also just started being used on the Porsche Macan. So this platform that has been used on millions of Audis since 2007 and hasn't yet been used on any VW but still you think that Audi does more platform sharing that Lexus???

Lexus's biggest problem has always been style. That is what the general public is after. Not the motoring enthusiasts here. They went from bland, behind the times style to an over the top, high tech look. Audi and BMW have drawn a fine line and been successful with a reserved, sporting look with class and just a hint of modern tech appeal.

Lexus clearly has an inferiority complex. Who cares about the Germans?

Lexus should focus their energy on being Lexus. They have two different customer bases. Toyota can't be everything to everyone and when they try they fail, ending up with a hum-drum final product. Get over it, Toyota. Be yourself. You have more direct competition in your own backyard. Open up your eyes. You can't see the forest for the trees.

@ cidflekken: You could not have put it any better.

And this is in MHO where they should stay if they don't want to alienate their customer base:

-Rolls Royce, Bentley
-Mercedes, BMW
-Audi
-Acura, Infiniti, Lexus and now Cadillac
-Lincoln
-Volvo
-Honda, Toyota, Mazda, Nissan, Subaru and now Hyundai and Kia