Gojirra99

That's already a given that a 2012 model year will debut some time in 2011.

5-year cycles only for the ES & RX because they share platform with Toyota models, they just can't redesign the Toyota version with new engines, etc., without doing the same for the "luxury" version that's supposed to be better.
I think luxury models that charge a premium should have a more enduring design, I think shorter cycles actually cheapens the model. You don't want to pay a lot for a luxury car that will be outdated too soon. Making little upgrades with the same body style over a longer period of time is the way to go.
I definately think 5-year cycle is too short for a luxury brand car (as I said, they can't avoid it with the RX, ES). 6-year is just about right, but anything more than 7-year probably is a bit too long nowadays.
I think the 90's S-class lasted ~10 years with the same body style, & the previous SL-class lasted 12 years. They are not doing that even for the new S-class now. The W220 S-class had only a 7-year cycle, but some have reported the current SL-class won't be completely overhauled until 2012 or 2013, which means it still would have lasted 9 to 10 years.

TRDFantasy

IIRC, the 1st gen GS and LS had 5 year model cycles. Then again, Lexus had a lot less models to focus on at that time.

I guess some of us just want a more competitive GS ASAP .

But I agree about luxury cars having enduring designs. The cars should be continually updated with little things though. I'm glad Lexus will be doing little updates more often.

RON430

Wonderful how much speculation there is about models five years from now and horsepower envy. Several stories about bimmer in the last couple of days have them scrambling to get some development alliances working and how Lexus has caught them flat footed with hybrids. Evo tested the new M3 and even their editor made a comment that the thing averaged 11mpg over the time they had it. Now admittedly that was driven hard but if those were imperial gallons in the UK and you drive one of those here it is going be at 10mpg at most. That may not discourage the true performance buyer but if you're going to get 10mpg, you might decide to get something other than an M3. And if you are just a casual buyer, you might not find the performance worth the tradeoff for the fuel bill to commute.

The next five to ten years could prove very difficult for car makers as the horsepower envy meets the reality of gas prices. Toyota/Lexus isn't stupid and with the now escalating CAFE standards, you would have to guess that if, and it's a big if, Lexus goes that way that they will be looking at that decision very carefully. They haven't played the hp game so far and their sales aren't doing badly. I'm sure someone will bring up that you could spread some of the costs of the LF-A's engine by putting a detuned version of it in more models but it will all depend on how many Lexus thinks they can sell IMO. Personally I would rather see them spend more money on suspensions than finding ways to have models with less mileage five years from now. Not interested in any fantasies about fusion powered valvetrain or some such nonsense. If you are a pure petrol motor and you make 500hp, that's a lot of petrol. Without going hybrid there aren't very many more efficiencies to be wrung out of motors. Of course you could put a ridiculous rear end gear in it and turn 1000 revs at highway speed. You could at least claim a theoretical 250 mph top end speed if you find a couple of dozen miles of road to get there..

LexFather

They have been dropping a new car or SUV every year since 2000. The IS-F we didn't even think about while we saw GT-R and new NSX concepts. The IS-F will be sold before both.

Lexus is a cautious company but still not that bad.

UberNoob

detuned V10 @ over 500hp, nice
i can see tuners retuning it to get back what was originally in the LF-A or more

btw what number is the LF-A supposed to have
550hp range?

TRDFantasy

Strictly rumours and speculation right now, but it would make sense for LF-A to carry an exclusive output or have some differences between the rumoured GS-F engine. The LF-A is rumoured to have anywhere from 520 - 600HP.

GSoup

Seems the 4G GS is dropping in 2011 and the GS-F to follow in 2012

http://www.motortrend.com/features/a...012_lexus_gs_f

RON430

Interesting comment about the engine being maybe the V-10 or a twin turbo V-8. Hard choice. Sharing the V-10 does spread the costs and the plumbing for a TT isn't cheap but it makes you wonder if the performance potential and mileage might favor the TT?

DASHOCKER

iTrader: (2)

500hp will be a thing of the past in 2012 like 300hp is now. Who is willing to wait that long for 500hp when there are cars on the market with that performance now ?

bjoraker

My hope from all of this planning by Lexus is that the next version of the SC430 will have the oomph to compete with these more sedate cars featuring huge power increases. AND, of course, the next SC430 is just around the corner, supposedly... Unless, the SC430 successor is going to be just another humdrum convertible with a deemphasis on sportiness.

DASHOCKER

iTrader: (2)

If this is the design of the 4th gen GS, it looks great! Hear me Lexus? I will put my name on the list from now

bjoraker

This thread has died now that the moderators have moved it from the SC430 section where I wanted it to where it is now...

There really was no need to move this thread from there. I was making a direct reference to the power of the sc430 being overwhelmed by these supposedly lesser vehicles.

Please move it back

TXSTYLE

iTrader: (1)

Cars will be flying by then.

bjoraker

QUOTE=TXSTYLE;2891279] Cars will be flying by then.[/QUOTE]

Point is, I would like to hear some good horsepower news about the sc430... THAT is the point of the post, not that a car with 500hp will be available in 2012... SC430 news is just not out there, but these kinds of updates to other cars makes me think the SC430 will get a substantial hp update next model - which is soon.