SPIED: Nabbed RED Handed! FIRST Pics Of The Newly REFRESHED Lexus LX — Is Its New Look HELPING or HURTING?

When Lexus first introduced the spindle front grille, the company made a point to tell everyone that this look would be coming to ALL of its products. The company led off with a rather conservative take and now it's in full stride taking no prisoners.

Like it, or not, the L brand is spreading the very aggressive styling of its latest design language across its portfolio of products.

But instead of debuting these looks on all-new products like the all-new RX, the company is patching up its currently existing lineup. Take a look at the LS and you'll see what I mean.

The latest Lexus to receive the very sharp treatment is the new LX. Spied at what is clearly a port, the newly refreshed LX gets MUCH more aggressive looking for what we believe is the 2016 model year. The front grille looks a bit like a razor and the headlights are integrated into it with a very large LED "swoosh."

While there's only one shot available right now, we're left scratching our heads: Does this new look HELP or HURT the aging LX?

Compare it with previous iterations of the LX model, below.

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MDarringer - 8/9/2015 7:22:41 PM

+2 Boost

Why are they bothering? In North America last year they sold less that 5K units of this while the Mercedes GL sold almost SIX TIMES better. Even factoring in the Land Cruiser sales, it isn't doing well.

I still say Toyota should make Land Cruiser a brand sold through Lexus dealers and give them products capable of running with Land/Range Rover.

Because the face of the Land Cruiser is so big, when they put the Lexus face from the sedans onto it, the result is ridiculous.

GMCadillac - 8/9/2015 8:08:36 PM

-1 Boost

I agree. And I also don't see why Japan even thinks they have any chance in the luxury market.

If you want the best, then you go for European. If you want something cheaper and still somewhat luxurious in an American way, you go for American.

But honestly, no one even takes a look at Japan when you want something luxurious. I personally have never seen any Lexus LX on the road, even though I have seen like one GX which was a new model.

I mean, you look at this ugly thing and all I can say is, I'd take the Escalade. No thank you, Lexus.

GMCadillac - 8/9/2015 8:09:51 PM

-2 Boost

Not to mention this Japanese crap looks like an Acura, which is just laughable.

GMCadillac - 8/9/2015 8:22:06 PM

0 Boost

And I am not sure who is deboosting my comments. Maybe some angry owners of Lexus, Infiniti, Acura or whatever the hell they are called pfft

MDarringer - 8/10/2015 8:59:16 AM

+7 Boost

I disagree that if you want the best you go European. If we're talking reliability, then Lexus and Acura win hands down over the Europeans. If we're talking performance, then Lexus and Acura aren't completely in the game. Moreover, Cadillac is definitely in the game.

llaroo - 8/9/2015 7:25:33 PM

+2 Boost

just another example of so called designers not having a clue. They came up with a mask for all Lexus products and stuck it on all their models, and the results are horrendous on virtually every model. Fire them all !

MDarringer - 8/10/2015 9:00:28 AM

+2 Boost

I happen to like the look on the RC/RCF and if the LC comes to market looking like the concept it will be stunning, but the face does not work universally.

jeffgall - 8/9/2015 7:28:56 PM

0 Boost

Gets uglier with every generation....period

GMCadillac - 8/10/2015 12:18:02 AM

0 Boost

I know what you mean. This SUV looks like, some Japanese anime character or something lol

TheSteve - 8/9/2015 7:38:05 PM

-3 Boost

I sure hope somebody likes it. When I was shopping for an SUV early this year, Lexus was the first place I went. Their unattractive (to me) styling overshadowed everything positive about them. Yech.

MDarringer - 8/10/2015 9:08:23 AM

0 Boost

When we had one kid, the wife wanted an SUV so she and a friend went shopping. She was smitten with a Lexus GX and there was no way in hell I was going to let her buy that horrid death trap. She informed me of her choice and suggested I test drive it. I did an emergency lane change maneuver in it to show her just how bad the dynamics of it are and she was terrified--and very little terrifies this woman. We then went down the street and test drove a Mercedes GL and did the same maneuver without any untoward drama. She was quickly sold on the Mercedes.

Toyota Land Cruisers may be Third World tough, but they are certainly not a good base for challenging the Europeans.

Maulvader - 8/9/2015 8:08:19 PM

+1 Boost

Looking like a Japanese domestic market design from the 90s with sharp creases and angles. NOt very appealing.

Ironic how Land Rover is rumored to have used Lexus LX as a template for updating the Ranger Rover, and now Lexus looks in desperate need of doing the same.

GMCadillac - 8/9/2015 8:17:33 PM

-3 Boost

I mean, nobody wants to be a loser, right? Even the Japanese don't want this junk. When they have money, they want the best of the best, meaning they prefer BMW, Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Mercedes-Benz, Rolls-Royce, etc.

And people say "Oh, but Lexus is reliable". That's what some poor ass people would say. Lexus is not even all that reliable to begin with. I mean who even sees Lexus as a "luxury" brand?

The American luxury brands like Cadillac and Lincoln may not be as good as European in general, but when it comes to competing with Lexus, Cadillac and Lincoln are far more appealing, all thanks to their Escalade and Navigator.

So ya, LX? No Thanks.

MDarringer - 8/10/2015 9:11:32 AM

+10 Boost

@GMGadillac You are dead wrong about Lexus' reliability. If you compare warranty incidence rates, Lexus owners are back at the shop much less than BMW, Porsche, Audi, and Mercedes. If you must have European, go with Mercedes first then BMW and if go with a VWAG product, be prepared to be close friends with the service writer.

GMCadillac - 8/9/2015 8:25:49 PM

-2 Boost

Look at all those deboosts. Wow, angry owners from Tokyo or something lol!

knowitall1985 - 8/10/2015 10:49:25 AM

+6 Boost

Your being deboosted is because your an idiot. The LX470 is the best large suv on the planet. This truck is sold all over the world for a lot more money than they bring in the U.S. so that's why only 5k come to the US... The new one already has a waiting list....

GMCadillac - 8/10/2015 4:13:22 PM

-3 Boost

Yes, sir. I hope you are happy with your Japanese "luxury" SUV that might have been made with radioactive stuff that came from Fukushima. lol!

I will gladly take the Escalade, to enjoy all the American goodness, when you can enjoy your anime luxury SUV lol!

cidflekken - 8/9/2015 10:42:51 PM

-1 Boost

Why does it look like a half-assed photoshop?

TheSteve - 8/10/2015 12:48:43 AM

-4 Boost

You know, Lexus claims their customers site the new styling language as one of the main reasons they bought a Lexus. I wonder how true that is, because not too long ago, Lexus was one of the Big Three luxury automakers. Today, they're Number 4, passed by Audi.

TheSteve - 8/10/2015 12:49:35 AM

-2 Boost

Typo: "site" -> "cite"

cidflekken - 8/10/2015 2:22:20 AM

+2 Boost

Are you talking about the US? Lexus is a solid #3, very closely trailing Mercedes' #2 spot. Audi is far behind all three. Even worldwide, Lexus isn't even close. AND, Lexus just won the luxury sales race last month in the US. Not sure where you see they are #4 and Audi has overtaken them, but not in this country and not on this globe.

cidflekken - 8/10/2015 3:55:04 AM

0 Boost

Ugh. let me re-write that. (see what happens after i watch a horrible movie - Fantastic Four)

So, TheSteve, in the US, Lexus is in a virtual race for the top spot with BMW and Mercedes. They are currently #3, closely behind the Germans. Audi is far behind them in the #4 spot. Worldwide, Lexus is indeed behind all the Germans, but they are not as global a brand either. But, to your point of Audi "passing" them, I don't believe Lexus has ever challenged for the worldwide sales leader since they aren't as global a the Germans.

GMCadillac - 8/10/2015 4:02:32 AM

-5 Boost

The whole sales success of Lexus comes from their cheap Toyota-ish cars like Lexus ES and RX. As far as I know, they apparently make up over 60% of the entire sales number of Lexus.

Meaning, what kind of people buy Lexus? People who can't afford the maintenance costs of the luxury German (and other European) automobiles, or the people who don't care much about cars and want to buy something Toyota that is not a Camry, meaning just wanting some appliance tool that gets the person from A to B.

And thanks to this, Lexus is only seen as a bland brand.

Not only that, if you have 80,000 dollars to spend, would you really want to buy something that comes from "Japan", the land that is known for mostly cheap stuff, anime and Fukushima radiation?

The Japanese obviously can never beat the Europeans, and I just don't see how this junk will sell better than a Cadillac Escalade, either. The American luxury is back, and Detroit & NYC need to prove that the American luxury is better than some anime "luxury" brand.

GMCadillac - 8/10/2015 4:17:39 AM

-4 Boost

I knew some guy who owned a Lexus RX. I asked him how the car is, and he said

"Well, it's not really better than a Mercedes. But well, it moves."

Dr550 - 8/10/2015 3:20:18 AM

0 Boost

Grady Seasons from The Color of Money: "It's like a nightmare, isn't it? It just keeps getting worse and worse."

carloslassiter - 8/10/2015 7:04:40 AM

+1 Boost

I hate Lexus styling and would never buy one of their vehicles because of it.

MDarringer - 8/10/2015 9:01:04 AM

0 Boost

You clearly never drove a last-generation ISF. That car was a HOOT.

valhallakey - 8/10/2015 9:04:44 AM

+1 Boost

The only Lexus that nose kind of works well on is the LF-LC which is a hyper styled vehicle. Certainly does not work on this SUV. I hope Lexus keeps trying though as the Japanese have as much potential to make great cars as anyone. Some of their past designs have been quite beautiful - Honda/Acura NSX, Mazda RX7 from the early 90s, Datsun's 240Z (yes designed largely by an ex BMW), 80s CRX and Civic, mid/late 70s Celica... They certainly can build nice looking cars but seem to be in a slump currently, perhaps with too much focus on home market tastes that don't translate well to the rest of the world.

sahasahara16 - 8/10/2015 10:38:50 AM

-1 Boost

there's ALOT more than one picture

https://instagram.com/hamad1two3/

MicrosoftUser - 8/10/2015 11:04:09 AM

+2 Boost

PURE UGLINESS at it's worst!!! This SUV just gets uglier and uglier not to mention more and more awkward and way over done with each new generation BIG FAIL. Lexus is trying way to hard to make something horrible looking look better BUT the more they try the worse it gets. This SUV has way to many strange bumps, lines, shapes that don't flow or enhance it's looks which seems to be the direction Lexus is going with all they're cars and SUVs and this LX is a perfect example of that. That front end is way over the top in it's class for being super ugly and again way overdone and super busy looking. Lexus is desperately trying to make this SUV look good and failed now it looks both strange and ugly.

MicrosoftUser - 8/10/2015 11:06:47 AM

+1 Boost

Hawk - 8/10/2015 11:25:04 AM

+2 Boost

Wow, that's one ugly-assed front end..

carsnyc - 8/10/2015 12:57:18 PM

+2 Boost

Revolting. I can't imagine having to see it everyday as an owner.

tesla - 8/11/2015 11:28:19 AM

+3 Boost

Whenever I see a current generation on the road I laugh. This new one is beyond ugly. It might give the Pontiac Aztek a run for its money.