Lexus To Counter Germans With Sporty Trim For RX - Isn't There A Bit More To It Than That?

I'm sure it'll appeal to people who like Lexus.

For those who have cited how unstable a Lex SUV feels in an emergency maneuver, of those whose eyes hurt when looking at it, the sports trim might not be enough to get them to change their mind.

For the record, I have held Lexus in high regard for a loooooong time. Then they went off in this weird styling direction. Now you can't get me near their showrooms.

I think the problem is they are looking at what their key demographic would like.

Lexus needs to consider the needs of those buyers outside their demographic if they want to woo new buyers.

I agree I am lost on the "angry bird" styling of models coming out of Lexus. Yes it is unique, but not part of what I want.

I agree with your styling comment - I wonder WHO they are attempting to draw with that cow-catcher grill nonsense

But Lexus - has for me - been a second tier premium car - a sort of Japanese Buick - certainly not a competitor for MB or BMW.

I think the new styling has been geared towards getting a younger demographic in their cars. Getting away from Grandpa's Lexus. Problem is Grandpa does not like it, and it is not appealing to the 30 and 40 somethings. The only ones buying it are people who highly covet reliability over style, or just have zero taste.

Lexus could probably resume absolute domination of the luxury segment if they went back to their bread-and-butter formula of quiet affordable luxury. The ES and RX are their highest-selling cars and neither is overtly sporty. Yes, the IS is solid, but it's in a crowded 2nd tier of sales in its segment with the TLX and Q50, neither of which is overtly sporty either and most buyers are going with the IS250.

On top of that, the F-Sport trims promise high(er) performance, but Lexus' engines, even the new turbo, can't fulfill that promise. Yes, they handle well (at least the IS and GS in F-Sport), but when I'm 3 paces behind the next guy, that doesn't matter.

What Lexus needs? Is to become an affordable luxury brand, just like how all the Japanese products out there are nothing more than affordable appliances.

Frankly, more and more people in the world are waking up to the fact that Japan's radiation problem in the Eastern Japan (Meaning this includes Tokyo) is a serious matter, and the Japanese government is trying so hard to hide this fact. With that in mind, how many people even wish to pay so much for a "luxury" car that comes from the land of radiation?

So just the pricing is all wrong. Why is Toyota so damn arrogant? They really think their cookie-cutter vehicles are worth all that pricing that they ask for? Amuse me. Why even get some crap like Lexus, when there is a greater value with Hyundai? Or even TOYOTA?

And what kind of people mainly buy Lexus? It's the people who "actually" think Lexus is as luxurious as something like Mercedes-Benz which is pretty laughable. Meaning, people who know absolutely "nothing" about cars, but only are worried about reliability.

So my solution is, Lexus should just make, a luxurious version of every Toyota vehicle, like Lexus version of Corolla, Lexus version of whatever, etc. And the price difference between Toyota and Lexus should be only around $200 ~ $5000.

And Lexus' new slogan should be "The luxury that anyone can buy, even the minimum wage workers."

And they will sell their cookie cutter Lexus cars like tons.

Lexus=Clueless

Given that the RX sells (almost) better than its German competition COMBINED, it's the Germans that have a lot to learn. The RX looks better, lasts better, is more reliable BY FAR, and is correctly priced.

OMG you are actually making educated comments. I actually agree with you on this one. Now keep bragging about yourself, because people like yourself show us that you have never had anything and that you have low self esteem and morale.

MDarr, you are right except that it does not look better.

@USNA1999 You are correct that I grew up with nothing--less than nothing really. Dumb luck and circumstance has put me in my current advantageous financial state. Thus, I do not trust money or wealth for it is fleeting. I am blessed and thankful for the abundance that has found me. I am especially blessed that this abundance has come in the arena of cars. I wish only that I had an MBA because it would be much more useful than my PhD.

If you could ever be anything less than an arse hole with the squirts. I'd invite you for a ride in a Tuscan Speed 6 and the Sagaris LS7...among others.

Matt the Moron - - - are you bullying people again?

@MDarringer I might take you on that. As you know I travel all over and I visit Cali quiet often, especially San Diego and Monterey. I used to live in Monterey and still have a few friends up there. Maybe we can share some knowledge especially from my MBA;) I might have a project to run in Avila Beach.
I can only offer you a ride on MB C350. VW Toaureg or Mini but I will let you borrow our place in Ormond Beach.

Matt-The RX has traditionally been the bread and butter for Lexus, but this new redesign is horrendous. No matter how nice the interior looks, I think the long-term sales for the RX will be much lower for this new generation than the one it replaces.

Do you really think this new redesign looks nice?

Agreed. The key to the RX and ES for Lexus is that they are vanilla. I would bet, based on my observations, that the majority demographic for the RX and ES are 60+, living in gated 55+ communities. Nothing wrong with that, per se, but that's not who the Germans are targeting.

@bnillhome, the buzz at the dealer level is white hot.

Matt-What are you basing your opinion "buzz at the dealers is white hot." Are you a Lexus salesman and your local dealership has taken a couple calls about the new model?

Any new model will have buzz when it comes out, especially by fans of the manufacturer that can't see what everyone else can see...that this design is horrendous. I'm not doubting that initial sales for any new model will be high, but my point is that the long-term market share and sales of this new design will be worse than the design it replaces. I don't see Lexus picking up market share with the new RX.

Also, what's the deal with that ugly C-pillar à la Maxima?

Fugly..

Germans understand that you don't hog the left lane and force people to pass you on the right. Germans understand that you park your car between the lines in a parking lot. Germans understand the accelerator is different from the brake pedal. Lexus buyers don't understand any of that. And they still write checks at the supermarket and hold everybody up.

"...Germans understand that you don't hog the left lane and force people to pass you on the right. Germans understand that you park your car between the lines in a parking lot. Germans understand the accelerator is different from the brake pedal..." I guess we Americans have a lot to learn from the Germans then :-)

I would guess a large percentage of Lexus buyers are "moving up" from Toyota. For these customers going from a Camry to a ES is probably a small price to pay. But that difference is due to that fact that the ES uses a Toyota engine, chassis, etc. Point being the added F Sport package would not get me out of my X5. The only "second look" I would give is that looks terrible.

Funny how this is the same crap coming from dimwits who read a couple of car magazines and think that makes them experts. The last time yall said this in 2010 and it went on to be the sales leader again.