jruhi4

I think this is one of those rare cases where Autoblog oversimplified the original Automotive News story, which is this one:

Lexus cancels annual U.S. dealer meeting
by Kathy Jackson

DETROIT -- Lexus has canceled its annual dealer meeting this year to save costs for the company and dealers.

Division General Manager Mark Templin said that instead of one big meeting, Lexus executives will hold four regional meetings.

"Our dealers want to be in their dealerships working," Templin said during an interview here at the auto show. "And we want them in their dealerships.

"This will save them time and the cost of airfare. …We will save a substantial amount of money but will put it back into things like marketing."

Lexus' U.S. sales fell 21.0 percent last year, but the division retained its position as the No. 1 U.S. luxury-vehicle brand, narrowly ahead of BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

Lexus is introducing two vehicles this year -- a dedicated hybrid sedan and a small IS coupe convertible. In addition, the company's best-selling RX crossover has been redesigned.

Templin said he thinks those three vehicles will help revive sales. Each will get a strong advertising launch, he said.

"When we start to see growth again, the near-luxury is where you will see it," Templin said.

Although Lexus will be cutting costs this year, he said, the customer will not feel it.

"We will not be backing off any customer amenities," such as dealer loaners, Templin said.

Toyota Division also will not hold a 2009 annual dealer meeting. Toyota says it will save about $1 million by holding regional meetings.

http://www.autonews.com/article/2009...901120271/1018

IS-SV

A good 2008 for Lexus US considering the economy. Maybe they can increase market share during the downturn.

Iceman

That's a much different story (regional meetings taking the place on one big nationwide event), and I think a better decision. Lexus still needs to treat all their employees well, and throwing them a little bash once a year is hardly a ridiculous extravagance. And like I said before, it lets the corporate guys tell the dealers how valued they are and to pep them up for what will certainly be a tough year (but that doesn't have to be a horrible year, unless they abandon all the things that made Lexus great, like over-the-top customer service).

flipside909

Actually the 3GS was released for sale on February 2005 as a 2006 model and the 2IS on October 2005 as a 2006 model.

IS-SV

Okay, so they were both model year 2006.

So when do the replacements for GS/IS come out, model year 2011 or 2012?

jruhi4

Model year 2012, with an outside chance that one of them (most likely the IS) could be pushed back to model year 2013.

IS-SV

So a 7 year model run, similar to Mercedes on it's last C-class. If the IS is again derived from the GS maybe it will be the model delayed.

LexBob2

Interesting dilema. If it worked out that way, you'd think with the IS being the volume model of the two, it would be best to update that one first vs. the slower selling GS

jruhi4

I actually think that it makes more sense to delay the IS, for a couple of reasons:

1) With ever-tightening Corporate Average Fuel Economy laws and carmakers starting to finally get serious about making sure cars lose weight, it makes sense to revamp the larger, heavier, thirstier GS first.

2) Most of all, while the "regular" IS sedan would thus be on a 7-year cycle, its variants would be on a more regular, shorter cycle (5 years for the IS F and 3-4 years for the IS C).

IS-SV

Sounds like the IS might benefit from a mid-cycle freshening, preferably a significant one that is more than just usual face lift. (horsepower bumps, 8 speed auto tranny, 19" wheels on sport package, etc.)