Lexus Sedans Must Evolve to Avoid Extinction
Top exec acknowledges that traditional Lexus sedans will eventually be a thing of the past.
For decades, the luxury sedan stood alone atop the mountain of automotive distinction. It was the car everyone strived for, worked toward, and acknowledged as the ride of those who had “made it.” You could even tell just how far someone had climbed the proverbial ladder by which level of luxury sedan they were driving. But as they often do, somewhere along the line, things changed.
The meteoric rise of the SUV has left sedan sales sagging. This shift in customer preference came about as crossovers began to offer everything sedans do, albeit with more space and even some towing capability. Crossovers these days handle more like cars, offer a higher driving position, and provide a comfy ride. They’re even easier to get in and out of.
Automakers are well aware of this shift. Lexus sedans currently account for a mere 29 percent of the automaker’s total U.S. sales. Total car sales tumbled 35 percent in the first quarter of 2017 alone. And Toyota Motor Corp.’s global branding chief Tokuo Fukuichi acknowledged in a conversation with Automotive News that the future of Lexus sedans seems clear cut: evolve or die.
“Unless we can really offer a sedan experience you cannot have with an SUV or crossover, I think the sedan may not be able to survive if it does not evolve,” Fukuichi told Automotive News at the Shanghai auto show. “At a certain point of time, the traditional, square, three-box sedan will go away.”
Fukuichi believes that a “sedan experience” must include sports car-like handling and sharper steering response, like the forthcoming LC coupe. The automaker intends to adopt these characteristics into future sedan models, as well as the new LS’ fastback styling. Today’s luxury buyers are more casual in nature. Therefore, sedans must reflect that by moving away from the traditional three-box body style.
It’s also worth pointing out that Fukuichi believes there is a case for a Lexus station wagon as well, in the mold of the new Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo. “Personally, I would like to have a Lexus wagon if we had enough resources,” he said. “Maybe not as tall as an SUV but not as short as a wagon. There could be some optimized packaging. If we’re going to do it, it can’t be just an ordinary station wagon.”
It’s true that the future of sedans looks rather dim at the moment. But its also clear that Lexus won’t let them die that easily. And for us enthusiasts, the combination of fastback styling and sharper handling is just icing on the cake.
