Daily Slideshow: Lexus Won't Offer a Sub-$30,000 Vehicle
Lexus sees no point in selling itself short by offering a vehicle under thirty grand, but will this measure help or hurt the brand?
What can you get for your money?
Previously competitors like Audi and Mercedes-Benz offered models for under $30,000 with the A3 and CLA to entice entry-level buyers to their brand families, however, Lexus has no plans to follow suit. If you're wondering what will be the cheapest amount of money someone would have to pay to get that L brand on the grille of a new vehicle then wondering no more since that figure is around $35,000. The model you'd be receiving is none other than the new UX crossover when it goes on sale later this year.
Leave it up to Toyota
During an interview with Jeff Bracken, Executive Advisor to Toyota North America’s Lexus Division, the soundbite behind this article was born. "We have no plans to go down below $30,000," said Bracken. "Toyota can cover that price range for us.” Mr. Bracken also warned against expanding the Lexus lineup to compete against its German rivals, saying "We also don’t see any value in having a lineup as deep as Mercedes-Benz and BMW."
A futuristic SUV
While Bracken's statement on a littered lineup is correct I can't seem to figure out why Lexus is producing so many crossovers at the detriment of sedans. With the incoming UX later this year there could be another vehicle coming in the form of an SUV dubbed the LQ or LM that will slot in right above the RX. If you don't remember seeing anything about the rumored LQ, then click right here for the LF-1 Limitless Concept. The decision makes sense on paper with the introduction of crossovers and SUVs since they make money hand over fist but for driving enthusiasts, it's the fodder that makes you scratch your head and wonder what the world is coming to.
The lineup could use an EV
Other rumors going about in the mill is a possible return of the CT as a fuel cell vehicle in the near future to go head to head with the Tesla Model 3. In an interview with Autocar, Lexus's European boss Pascal Ruch did confess that the brass is considering a proper rebirth of the CT, as the brand looks to offer a forward-thinking vehicle. “The size of the segment the CT competes in is still very significant. At the moment, I see the UX as delivering additional volume, not necessarily replacing the CT. We’ve just updated the CT, so we have at least two more years of sales to make an evaluation from. There is no rush to make a decision.” That update that Ruch is speaking of happened to the model that continues to live on overseas since the CT was discontinued in the States. "There has been no official announcement, but I would say that we would eventually have an electrified option," said Bracken. "It could be a plug-in hybrid, an EV, or a fuel-cell vehicle."
The Lexus of tomorrow
Quiet as kept, while Lexus is adding models it is also thinking of cutting others for some room. News broke recently that the brand has been looking at the beloved IS and GS sedans at some point in the future. The Lexus GS has already been phased out in Europe where it is currently the slowest selling sedan in the lineup. While the IS seems more like a surprise the entry-level sedan by the end of May had only sold 9,279 units while the BMW 3 Series had sold over 20,000 units in the same period.
So what will happen next year? How will Lexus pivot to take on competitors and serve consumers more efficiently?
Only time will tell.
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