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So Lexus is running out of two-letter combinations to name their vehicles....now they have to start on three-letters?
IMO, we have enough alphabet-soups in the vehicle-ID business.... Lexus should probably take a cue from Lincoln and start using actual names.
Lincoln is in the minority (very small minority) of lux automakers to use real names--and they have historically used real names. And they colossally messed up going alphanumeric, so it makes sense for Lincoln to abandon alphanumeric (actually...just alpha for Lincoln).
Lexus has never done this in their history. Why on earth would the do it now? What would it get them other than customer confusion?
Going to 3 letters from 2 may make sense. The number portion of the alphanumeric for Lexus (and many other makers) no longer has the same relevance to engine displacement that Lexus naming convention had in the past. So maybe there is a move to drop the numbers?
It would appear to me that there are a lot of predictions and assumptions here. All I see that is solid is that Lexus trademarked the name "LBX" in Europe but we don't really know what that is. Unless I am missing something, the thought that this is a CUV down a size from the UX is nothing more than a guess. Not that it couldn't happen, but given that this doesn't follow Lexus' traditional naming convention of two letters followed by 3 numbers, makes me wonder if this trademark isn't for something other than a new automobile. They do off-the-wall projects sometimes.
The LBX is supposed to be based on the Toyota Yaris Cross - a slightly smaller sub-compact CUV than the CUV UX, based on TNGA GA-B, as opposed to TNGA GA-C.
Could LBX stand for L, while the B in BX codes for a full BEV powered CUV?
However a bit strange because the L in LBX should then code for a full size battery powered crossover like the LF-1 Limitless.
The LBX is supposed to be based on the Toyota Yaris Cross - a slightly smaller sub-compact CUV than the CUV UX, based on TNGA GA-B, as opposed to TNGA GA-C.
You're right JDR; the article only implies maybe, and not definitely.
Traditionally, midsize Highlander used midsize Toyota K platform, and now GA-K platform.
While compact RAV4 used compact Toyota C platform, but now uses midsize GA-K platform with Highlander too.
Meanwhile the Toyota C-HR and Lexus UX subcompact CUV now use the compact GA-C platform with Corollas.
However, there is a new sub-compact SUV slightly smaller than the C-HR and UX that shares the sub-compact GA-B platform with the Yaris - called the Toyota Cross.
So I thought this forthcoming Lexus LBX might be the one?
Again, not that it couldn't happen, but this seems like nothing other than conjecture about a trademark. This could also be whatever they come up with for a 3 row CUV, or a minivan, or a hoverboard...
Lincoln is in the minority (very small minority) of lux automakers to use real names--and they have historically used real names. And they colossally messed up going alphanumeric, so it makes sense for Lincoln to abandon alphanumeric (actually...just alpha for Lincoln).
Lexus has never done this in their history. Why on earth would the do it now? What would it get them other than customer confusion?
Not sure, though, that that argument makes a lot of sense, either. 3-letter alphabet soup often causes more confusion than it solves. We saw that with several automakers....among them Acura, Mercedes, Cadillac, and Lincoln, although Lincoln has done something about it.
10-15-20, 11:26 AM
Renderings Preview the Forthcoming Lexus LBX
