bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

Struggling to reconcile these two points. Accord and TL have similar drivetrains and a 3 series is RWD so how does 3 series not 'hold a candle' to Accord or TL?

LexBob2

If the ES (Camry) and RX (Camry/Highlander) aren't "real" Lexus', that doesn't bode well for the LX and GX (Toyota based SUV's).

That would leave the LS, GS, IS & SC as the only "real" Lexus'. Hardly enough volume to support an entire division. Last year ES & RX represented 56% of total sales. Add in LX and GX and you have nearly 65% of Lexus sales.

Och

iTrader: (3)

Well, the GX and LX originated on the much more expensive platforms, but the ES and RX started out as a 20K car. I know they are substantially differentiated, and the last gen ES had the interior that's was even better than GS, but it just doesn't appeal to me.

GS3Tek

iTrader: (8)

I've seen 2 already roaming the streets.

The front grill is pretty generic, chrome borders with black mesh, unlike those ugly vertical grill lines.
Front looks like a bigger RL and the rear does look like the I35 taillights.

Overall, it look pretty good

marshmallo

I've driven them many many times and I am inclined to agree with Och...

Although as spwolf points out FWD has tremendous advantages in packaging.
Everyone thinks that the ES loaners I get are roomier and bigger than my GS

LexFather

^^^ Dimension wise, the ES is bigger inside and out than the GS.

I actually can't wait to drive one of these things...

marshmallo

Also, no drive train tunnel is a huge advantge. That makes rear seating way
more comfortable.

Koma

iTrader: (3)

I never understood this but why do some FWD cars still have a tunnel that goes through the middle of the car? My parent's 95 ES300 has the tunnel, my 92 Celica had the tunnel.

Och

iTrader: (3)

I guess it also works as a reinforcement for the unibody?

RON430

Got to put the exhaust somewhere, the tunnel should at least be smaller than you would have with RWD.

spwolf

exaust routing... and actually, all of the newest FWD toyota's dont have it anymore and they make great point of that.

PsychDoc

I sure as hell know I would have.

Maxed out it comes in at $36k.

368hp and pretty much every bell and whisle a kid at heart could want.

I'm pretty sure I know what my next car is going to be!!!

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/08/d...kes-things-up/

ES350Bob

That car is HOT!!!!

As long as it is quiet riding inside and decent interior it is on my very likely to be next car short list.

You can see profiles of it and more at
http://www.hyundaigenesis.com/


Note it has it's own website, so I think they are launching their own luxury division with this as a start.

RXSF

i dont think its going to be its own luxury division just because of its own site. the IS-F has its own site. its just a minisite.

as for the car, i wouldnt buy it if it cost 30K. call me brand concious, but no matter how good it looks, its still a hyundai and a hyundai in my book is no car worth buying

tC350

No matter how nice it is, I could never, ever trust a Hyundai.....not since my sister's 98' Sonata, that car was the biggest pile of poo Ive ever seen.