Lexus LS500/LS500h
11-29-17, 08:14 AM
#482
Pole Position
Out of curiosity, why would you think Lexus would ever do this? If I were a betting man, I'd certainly bet "not going to happen" and would place another side bet on "never". Why would they? Lexus has never made an LS coupe. They just launched the LC500 which starts around $93k and is a fairly large coupe already (especially compared to RC). Why in the world would Lexus/Toyota go through the hassle of designing an entirely new coupe when they already have a flagship coupe that is priced within 10% of where the LS500 is priced (therefore where an LS coupe would likely be priced)? Makes absolutely no sense to me. And, not that rumors come true, but I haven't read a single story indicating that Lexus was even considering this or one of those wacky prototypes that never comes to fruition.
Lexus is already in the high-end large coupe game. No room in the portfolio for another one; would be a bad business decision.
Lexus is already in the high-end large coupe game. No room in the portfolio for another one; would be a bad business decision.
11-29-17, 08:22 AM
#483
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
simply does not, as of yet, sell in high enough numbers to be significant competition to the LS.
well most maybe, i love change.
It doesn’t help that Lexus releases the car to the press and then waits forever to release it to dealers.
I don’t see how anybody can say anything about this car is bland lol.
oh and ZERO chance of a v12 LS or a full electric.
i'd put the chance of that at a zero also.
that's what the LC is for.
11-29-17, 08:36 AM
#484
Lexus Fanatic
Out of curiosity, why would you think Lexus would ever do this? If I were a betting man, I'd certainly bet "not going to happen" and would place another side bet on "never". Why would they? Lexus has never made an LS coupe. They just launched the LC500 which starts around $93k and is a fairly large coupe already (especially compared to RC). Why in the world would Lexus/Toyota go through the hassle of designing an entirely new coupe when they already have a flagship coupe that is priced within 10% of where the LS500 is priced (therefore where an LS coupe would likely be priced)? Makes absolutely no sense to me. And, not that rumors come true, but I haven't read a single story indicating that Lexus was even considering this or one of those wacky prototypes that never comes to fruition.
Lexus is already in the high-end large coupe game. No room in the portfolio for another one; would be a bad business decision.
Lexus is already in the high-end large coupe game. No room in the portfolio for another one; would be a bad business decision.
11-29-17, 09:07 AM
#485
Lexus Champion
I have said this before, but about the Camry: Every generation of Camry seems to be the worst and ugliest, until it becomes that last-generation Camry, at which time it suddenly becomes the best, most beautiful car ever. Feel free to substitute any Toyota or Lexus car name for "Camry"; it will all work.
11-29-17, 09:22 AM
#486
Lexus Champion
I disagree with Lexus missing the boat by making an expensive tech-laden LC500h when they should have gone with a PHEV. How many luxury sedan PHEVs are selling? The S500e, 740e and S90 T8 sell in miniscule amounts, and to me they look more like engineering exercises than actual products.
The 740e runs a turbo four with a big battery pack but the huge weight makes it a poor compromise - there's not much battery capacity for long range electric driving and the tiny engine has miserable efficiency from hauling all that weight. The S90 T8 has the same problem. Lexus probably saw all this and decided to go with an evolution of its LHD/TSD system for decent efficiency and more driver involvement.
I'll go as far as saying PHEVs are a dead end unless you have a big 50-100 mile battery pack. This is all pointless anyway because luxury EVs like the upcoming Porsche Mission E will take over from their dino-powered predecessors.
The 740e runs a turbo four with a big battery pack but the huge weight makes it a poor compromise - there's not much battery capacity for long range electric driving and the tiny engine has miserable efficiency from hauling all that weight. The S90 T8 has the same problem. Lexus probably saw all this and decided to go with an evolution of its LHD/TSD system for decent efficiency and more driver involvement.
I'll go as far as saying PHEVs are a dead end unless you have a big 50-100 mile battery pack. This is all pointless anyway because luxury EVs like the upcoming Porsche Mission E will take over from their dino-powered predecessors.
Adding batteries is easy but batteries are heavy. What happens when you throw that much extra weight in a car, not to mention adding that much extra weight out behind the rear axle?
I agree that building PHEVs is a dead end. As you start adding heavy batteries, the question that must be asked is: How much extra electric range could be added if the size of the ICE was reduced (change it so that the ICE only charges the battery but never drives the car) -- or eliminated -- so that the weight eliminated by removing the ICE were replaced by more batteries?
11-29-17, 09:45 AM
#489
Lexus Fanatic
As an engineer I would not say that the European automakers' love of PHEVs is an engineering exercise; I would call it lowest-common denominator auto development, a very easy way to gain high fuel efficiency numbers. Once an automaker has a HEV (hybrid electric vehicle), it is not that difficult to make a PHEV -- just make the battery larger and add a plug. While they were at it, they swapped out the larger engine for a highly-stressed, forced-induction one (to game the Europeans' fuel economy measurement system), and voila, you have a "very fuel efficient", electrified car.
Adding batteries is easy but batteries are heavy. What happens when you throw that much extra weight in a car, not to mention adding that much extra weight out behind the rear axle?
I agree that building PHEVs is a dead end. As you start adding heavy batteries, the question that must be asked is: How much extra electric range could be added if the size of the ICE was reduced (change it so that the ICE only charges the battery but never drives the car) -- or eliminated -- so that the weight eliminated by removing the ICE were replaced by more batteries?
Adding batteries is easy but batteries are heavy. What happens when you throw that much extra weight in a car, not to mention adding that much extra weight out behind the rear axle?
I agree that building PHEVs is a dead end. As you start adding heavy batteries, the question that must be asked is: How much extra electric range could be added if the size of the ICE was reduced (change it so that the ICE only charges the battery but never drives the car) -- or eliminated -- so that the weight eliminated by removing the ICE were replaced by more batteries?
11-29-17, 09:49 AM
#490
Lexus Fanatic
I have said this before, but about the Camry: Every generation of Camry seems to be the worst and ugliest, until it becomes that last-generation Camry, at which time it suddenly becomes the best, most beautiful car ever. Feel free to substitute any Toyota or Lexus car name for "Camry"; it will all work.
11-29-17, 10:03 AM
#491
Lexus Fanatic
https://www.1aauto.com/master-power-...waAjm1EALw_wcB
https://www.ebay.com/i/112424237832?chn=ps&dispctrl=1
11-29-17, 10:58 AM
#493
Pole Position
My prediction is based on the idea that the new platform was designed to build and design multiple and different RWD models with far less cost. To build low volume LC and let's just say higher end LS V8 coupes or even a convertible is much easier than on the past. To jusge the LS line of cars on sales, you need to view all models off the platform to judge success.
11-29-17, 11:00 AM
#494
Lexus Fanatic
They don't need another large coupe. The LC is for all intents and purposes a LS coupe. What they need is a convertible and a high end large 3 row SUV (or new LX) to round out the staple of flagships with new powerful engines. Only then filter the tech down all the way down to the IS.