Lexus ES to be Discontinued (In Austrailia at least)
11-07-05 | 11:52 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 127
Likes: 0
Lexus ES to be Discontinued (In Austrailia at least)
According to a news piece by Lexus Australia when releasing the new IS250, the ES range is to cease production to make the entire Lexus range either Rear Wheel Drive or All Wheel Drive.
"The Lexus ES300 will also be discontinued, confirming the entire Lexus range as either rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive."
http://www.lexus.com.au/about/newsde...ew=news&id=206
"The Lexus ES300 will also be discontinued, confirming the entire Lexus range as either rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive."
http://www.lexus.com.au/about/newsde...ew=news&id=206
11-08-05 | 12:21 AM
#2
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: SoCal
Local dealer in US told me that there's be new totally re-designed ES300 coming out in april next year... of course, the question is, which source is more reliable? Besides, Lexus down under might have different intentions than up here 
11-08-05 | 07:34 AM
#3
Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,496
Likes: 6
From: AL
The Lexus ES3 will also be discontinued
Considering Lexus probably wouldn't be around in the shape it's without the early ES's floating 50-80% of the sales till the RX's (Also camry based) took over the #1 slot!
You don't exactly kill off one of your yearly best sellers for no reason!
On the other hand if he's talking about the huge '06 Camry platform redesign - then his wording sucks. No. New generation? Yes!
The Camry platform has always been capible of AWD - which has been proven with the factory AWD Celica drivetrain being put on the gen2 Camry & modified by the factory to fit gen 3 & gen 4.
Even now, RX / Highlanders / Harrier / Kludgers, which are Camry platform, use the Camry drivetrain & have FWD, or AWD.
RWD? No. They're never going to change the Camry plaform to rear wheel drive.
AWD? Yes they've done it before & could easily offer it at any time.
11-08-05 | 08:09 AM
#4
Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,029
Likes: 1
From: California
Originally Posted by Pheonix
ES sales have never been huge in Aus so it makes since. Keep in mind from here on out I speak from the North American viewpoint. ES / Windom's are not sold worldwide. Even if yall don't get them, we still do!
Considering Lexus probably wouldn't be around in the shape it's without the early ES's floating 50-80% of the sales till the RX's (Also camry based) took over the #1 slot!
You don't exactly kill off one of your yearly best sellers for no reason!
On the other hand if he's talking about the huge '06 Camry platform redesign - then his wording sucks. No. New generation? Yes!
The Camry platform has always been capible of AWD - which has been proven with the factory AWD Celica drivetrain being put on the gen2 Camry & modified by the factory to fit gen 3 & gen 4.
Even now, RX / Highlanders / Harrier / Kludgers, which are Camry platform, use the Camry drivetrain & have FWD, or AWD.
RWD? No. They're never going to change the Camry plaform to rear wheel drive.
AWD? Yes they've done it before & could easily offer it at any time.
Considering Lexus probably wouldn't be around in the shape it's without the early ES's floating 50-80% of the sales till the RX's (Also camry based) took over the #1 slot!
You don't exactly kill off one of your yearly best sellers for no reason!
On the other hand if he's talking about the huge '06 Camry platform redesign - then his wording sucks. No. New generation? Yes!
The Camry platform has always been capible of AWD - which has been proven with the factory AWD Celica drivetrain being put on the gen2 Camry & modified by the factory to fit gen 3 & gen 4.
Even now, RX / Highlanders / Harrier / Kludgers, which are Camry platform, use the Camry drivetrain & have FWD, or AWD.
RWD? No. They're never going to change the Camry plaform to rear wheel drive.
AWD? Yes they've done it before & could easily offer it at any time.
considering the North American sales numbers on ES models, their survival is pretty much gauranteed
11-08-05 | 03:35 PM
#6
Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,496
Likes: 6
From: AL
LoL!
Na, the ES aint going anywhere, but we all do must take note that the ES / Windom isn't sold & has been pulled from some markets because it doesn't sell well.
So it does make since for AUS / NZ to drop it. They should probably drop it from GB if they haven't yet.
Na, the ES aint going anywhere, but we all do must take note that the ES / Windom isn't sold & has been pulled from some markets because it doesn't sell well.
So it does make since for AUS / NZ to drop it. They should probably drop it from GB if they haven't yet.
11-08-05 | 03:51 PM
#7
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,411
Likes: 1
From: Hells
Originally Posted by Pheonix
ES sales have never been huge in Aus so it makes since. Keep in mind from here on out I speak from the North American viewpoint. ES / Windom's are not sold worldwide. Even if yall don't get them, we still do.
The ES has always been a car in its own category. There isn't really any other cars that offers the room and comfort that the ES has(30-35k). The 3 series, IS, C class, G35, and TL are all more sports oriented. The ES really only concentrated in luxury aspects.
Also, remember the only other car that really compared to the ES is the Infiniti I30, which is discontinued.
Last edited by vin 78; 11-08-05 at 05:56 PM.
Trending Topics
11-08-05 | 05:38 PM
#8
Lead Lap
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 567
Likes: 0
From: GB/KW
Originally Posted by Pheonix
They should probably drop it from GB if they haven't yet.
Needless to say, it would be great to have an AWD ES...but then again, the RX wouldn't really serve much of a purpose, unless one wants the extra space the SUV offers.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Curated Content Editor
ES - 7th Gen (2019-present)
3
08-23-18 06:27 AM
funcrusher
ES - 1st to 4th Gen (1990-2006)
0
07-10-18 03:31 PM
