Overclocker

TOKYO — Toyota's upscale Lexus brand, as part of an ongoing expansion of its product portfolio, plans to introduce at least one more luxury crossover and is considering the addition of a smaller near luxury crossover based on the recently redesigned RAV4.

The proposed compact Lexus CUV would be positioned as a smaller sibling to the popular RX 330 and would be targeted at Acura's Accord-based RDX, which goes into production this summer. Sources familiar with Toyota's plans say the company could bring the smaller Lexus, which as yet has no name, to market as early as 2008.

The compact Lexus crossover would be built on Toyota's new MC global midsize platform, which also underpins the '07 Camry and '07 ES 350 sedans. The same platform will be used as the foundation for the 2009 RX 350, which replaces the current RX 330 in fall 2008.

Supplier sources say Toyota is also studying a proposal to consolidate production of the three Lexus vehicles — the ES 350, the RX 350, and the new compact crossover — at its new plant in Woodstock, Ontario, in 2008-'09.

The Lexus brand is planning to add a high-end crossover vehicle, based on its 2003 HPX concept, in 2008. The all-wheel-drive CUV, which will share its underpinnings with the IS sedan, will be imported from Japan and will be positioned to compete with the Infiniti FX.

What this means to you: Lexus continues to expand its lineup of people movers.

Source: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...cleId=109352#2

encore888

Interesting....so the JX still replaces LX...VX is still the midsize? A CX?

XeroK00L

Wow...so in the end Lexus will have 3 crossover SUVs and 2 truck-based SUVs while its competitors have at most 2. I hope Lexus would extend the same spirit to its car lineup.

GFerg

To its coupe line up would be more specific. I'm ready for many more 2 doors.

Gojirra99

I went in to pick up a new key cover for my Lexus this morning, & I talked to a salesman who told me that a 2 door IS coupe (non-convertible) is in the drawing board, & that it should be available by summer next year. Not sure how reliable this info is, but he told me he heard it from a product specialist from Lexus Canada.

Incendiary

Everybody laughed at me, but I will receive my comeuppance!

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ight=lexus+suv

jrock65

I've been wondering for a while if/when this would happen. The compact luxury CUV market seems to be the segment that everyone is trying to get a piece of and Lexus usually likes to be in on the action.

The segment would compose of:

MB MLK
BMW X3
Audi Q5
Acura RDX
Infiniti CX
Lexus ??

GFerg

Hope its true...sounds good to me.

Incendiary

Land Rover will probably come out with a successor to the Freelander.

GFerg

^^^Yep and so is Volvo. They are to be built off of the same platform. Freelander and XC50. Should be put into production 2 years from now last time I heard.

Incendiary

Dude, you live in N. Philly? Whereabouts are you? I've heard horrible things, like it's almost worse than E. Baltimore...

Lil4X

Driven by the latest spike in gas prices many manufacturers are taking a hard look at the CUV as an alternative to yet another econobox. Drivers have proven to prefer many of the SUV features, the higher seating position for easier entry/exit, the sporty appearance more flexible cargo space not rigidly devoted to passengers, and as George Carlin claimed, it gives a way to carry our "stuff" with us.

I really like the rendering of the little Lexus. If based on the successful new RAV-4, it won't be THAT much smaller than the RX. I know that renderings ALWAYS look longer and lower than the production article (from the drawing it approaches the height of a civic), still very nice indeed.

Aviation buffs will recognize that reversed shark fin of an antenna as a steal from the Mooney!

PhilipMSPT

iTrader: (5)

Maybe it should be badged as an IS sports-cross? Perhaps the IX?

GFerg

haha....oh boy. Yea I'm in N. Philly. Temple University. Broad & Cecil B. Moore area. Yea a lot of things go down here, but at times can be overrated. Temple cops can keep most of the stuff under control on and about a 3-4 block radius around campus. Walk any further...watch out for stray bullets. LOL. Worse than E. Baltimore?? Murder capital of the US I hear?? Nah. Ive been out there a few times, I think yall got it real bad.

Faraaz23

maybe the GS300's new 3.0L V6 doesn't have to go to waste after its dumped for the 3.5 soon. Or do you think this will be using a version of the new 3.5 as well?