Wait until next year, says Lexus to the competition
11-16-11, 02:57 AM
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Wait until next year, says Lexus to the competition
http://www.4wheelsnews.com/lexus-say...erms-of-sales/
Mark Templin, Lexus General Manager, is positive that next year will be a "big year," citing that four redesigned Lexus sedans will be launched in 2013. The statement is in response to the critics who said that the glory day have ended for the luxury division of Toyota. In an interview, Templin stated that they are "back up and rolling really good." In reality, the 13-year streak of Lexus as the bestselling luxury brand in the U.S. will end this year due to the recalls, the earthquake in Japan, the massive flood in Thailand, the strengthening of the Japanese yen, and a fallow product cadence.
The current year will end with Lexus in third place in the prestige-brand U.S. sales race. Through October, it sold 153,739 units, a 16 percent decline. Mercedes-Benz led the race at 206,632 sales, while BMW was second with 199,552 units. Much of Lexus' decline was because it had blown out its inventory just prior to the March earthquake in Japan, where all Lexus models are built except for the RX 350. Due to the brand's reliance on a production base in the country, its inventories were adversely affected until last month. Lexus expects that it would only be in the first quarter in 2012 that its days' supply would come near to what dealers need.
However, as mentioned, Templin gave a positive outlook for next year. He did not disclose a target volume for 2012, but he forecasted that U.S. sales of luxury cars will increase by 100,000 units next year. He further stated that all four of Lexus' core sedan lineup will be refurbished, beginning with the GS 350 and GS 450h sport sedans coming in February. They will then be followed by the revised variants of the ES 350, IS 250 and 350, and LS 460 and 600h. In early 2014, the refurbished volume-leading RX 350 crossover will arrive. [source: Autonews]
The current year will end with Lexus in third place in the prestige-brand U.S. sales race. Through October, it sold 153,739 units, a 16 percent decline. Mercedes-Benz led the race at 206,632 sales, while BMW was second with 199,552 units. Much of Lexus' decline was because it had blown out its inventory just prior to the March earthquake in Japan, where all Lexus models are built except for the RX 350. Due to the brand's reliance on a production base in the country, its inventories were adversely affected until last month. Lexus expects that it would only be in the first quarter in 2012 that its days' supply would come near to what dealers need.
However, as mentioned, Templin gave a positive outlook for next year. He did not disclose a target volume for 2012, but he forecasted that U.S. sales of luxury cars will increase by 100,000 units next year. He further stated that all four of Lexus' core sedan lineup will be refurbished, beginning with the GS 350 and GS 450h sport sedans coming in February. They will then be followed by the revised variants of the ES 350, IS 250 and 350, and LS 460 and 600h. In early 2014, the refurbished volume-leading RX 350 crossover will arrive. [source: Autonews]
11-16-11, 11:49 AM
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I think the LS will have Full Model Change (all-new model) since the current model (XF40) has been out since 2006.
So yeah, I think it has been six years already and this epic vehicle has remained solid throughout time.
It looks like any new updates will revolve on the upcoming 5th generation model
So yeah, I think it has been six years already and this epic vehicle has remained solid throughout time.
It looks like any new updates will revolve on the upcoming 5th generation model
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11-16-11, 04:10 PM
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Lexus is doing the 7 year model change like the germans, right? The 6 years was better..
11-16-11, 04:17 PM
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I'm not liking these long 6/7 generation life cycles, especially when they're recycling powertrains. It's hard to gain marketshare when everything in the lineup is 5/6 years old. They need to stagger their product introductions so their lineup won't grow stale every couple of years, plus it's easier and better to market one product at a time.
11-16-11, 08:20 PM
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Its amazing the attention Lexus is getting for being down one year out of 11. I don't recall the media writing tremendous articles of praise for Lexus when it kicked *** for 11 years. The sky is not falling. In comparison some other luxury brands are really sucking right now.
I think he means the entire segment is going to grow by 100k, not just Lexus.
Leave the short 4/5 year cycles to clueless struggling luxury brands. I don't want a car that changes often, otherwise I'd buy a Civic. It doesn't even help, the M37/56 changed in 5 years and sales stink.
The LS is world class.
I'm not liking these long 6/7 generation life cycles, especially when they're recycling powertrains. It's hard to gain marketshare when everything in the lineup is 5/6 years old. They need to stagger their product introductions so their lineup won't grow stale every couple of years, plus it's easier and better to market one product at a time.
The LS is world class.
