I don't know what to make of the recent Lexus "predator face"

[vh_supra26]

Originally Posted by Smoke Destructer

I actually dig the spindle grills. They do look much better in person. Looking forward to checking out an RC in person and in the wild. The little Nike swooshes I'm less taken with however.

X2, as stated before, their sales are up. So consumers are liking it.

Other the other hand, sales tanked when Honda did the bird beak for the Acuras.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by vh_supra26

Well here's the full line up. I don't think it looks that bad.

It's OK on the crossovers/trucks and is much better when its broken up by the bumper, but still it's just too much grill.

I don't think its the worse thing you could do to a car, but I have a personal bias towards how a car looks head-on (the way most people see them) and it doesn't take much for it to go from win to meh to lose for me.

For example, I think the small change to the front of the current Gen Camaros this year makes a world of difference. If I owned a 2013 I would have been tempted to trade it in for a 2014 just for that reason. Same for the FR-S vs BRZ. The BRZ front end is a non-starter for me. If they shared front-ends, I would not have bought either.

But it is pure personal preference.....

[vh_supra26]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

It's OK on the crossovers/trucks and is much better when its broken up by the bumper, but still it's just too much grill.

I don't think its the worse thing you could do to a car, but I have a personal bias towards how a car looks head-on (the way most people see them) and it doesn't take much for it to go from win to meh to lose for me.

For example, I think the small change to the front of the current Gen Camaros this year makes a world of difference. If I owned a 2013 I would have been tempted to trade it in for a 2014 just for that reason. Same for the FR-S vs BRZ. The BRZ front end is a non-starter for me. If they shared front-ends, I would not have bought either.

But it is pure personal preference.....

Yes, I agreed its all personal preference. IMO its not bad, much better than what Acura is doing.

For years people complain that Lexus has played it safe. Their design was boring. And now that they have done something out of the box and surprise surprise, people are still complaining. With it comes down too it Lexus isn't going to make 100% of the population happy. But sales are up so I think it is safe to say the new design is successful so far.

[Turbo95eg6]

They should go all out and make the whole bumper with the mesh. Can't get any uglier.

[gymratter]

Originally Posted by Turbo95eg6

They should go all out and make the whole bumper with the mesh. Can't get any uglier.

lol, have you been to your local Acura dealer lately? talk about ugly...

[Levi]

Lexus grill is probably the greatest thing that happened in the auto industry. For the spindle grill I'd take a Lexus over any German car.

[gymratter]

Originally Posted by LSxJunkie

In other news, they REALLY screwed up the front of the GS. The IS is still somewhat soft and flowing. The GS is all hard, awkward angles.

looks really is subjective. if you look at the GS' sales number it doesn't reflect your opinion.

Lexus GS
2012: 22,160
2013: 19,742
2014: 12,123 (YTD)

Infiniti Q70
2012: 9,130
2013: 5,283
2014: 2,997 (YTD)

Acura RL/RLX
2012: 379
2013: 5,053
2014: 2,292 (YTD)

[vh_supra26]

I think over time the new face of Lexus will start growing on people.

It kinda already has for me

[tahdizzle]

I liked it, Until.....

[thatfilipinoguy]

You guys should see the Toyota Crown grille, it's the first time I have seen it when I was stationed in Japan.



Essentially the same style, just a different shape.

[LSxJunkie]

Originally Posted by gymratter

looks really is subjective. if you look at the GS' sales number it doesn't reflect your opinion.

Lexus GS
2012: 22,160
2013: 19,742
2014: 12,123 (YTD)

Infiniti Q70
2012: 9,130
2013: 5,283
2014: 2,997 (YTD)

Acura RL/RLX
2012: 379
2013: 5,053
2014: 2,292 (YTD)

Lexus is trying to fry bigger fish. The "midsize" luxury sedan market has a few other contenders. Lexus may be beating the other Japanese brands, whose midsize cars have always sold horribly (seriously, I see zero RLs and about 1 M35/50 a week), but they certainly aren't beating the Germans. (The British are not, and have never been a contender in this race.)


BMW 5er

2012

56,798

2013

56,863

2014 YTD *

33,293

MB E-Class

2012

65,171

2013

69,803

2014 YTD *

41,244

Audi A/S/RS6

2012

18,998

2013

22,428

2014 YTD *

13,730

[MokSpeed]

Originally Posted by vh_supra26

Other the other hand, sales tanked when Honda started becoming completely tastless and ugly after the RSX and S2000.

Fixed for you.

[gymratter]

Originally Posted by LSxJunkie

Lexus is trying to fry bigger fish. The "midsize" luxury sedan market has a few other contenders. Lexus may be beating the other Japanese brands, whose midsize cars have always sold horribly (seriously, I see zero RLs and about 1 M35/50 a week), but they certainly aren't beating the Germans. (The British are not, and have never been a contender in this race.)


BMW 5er

2012

56,798

2013

56,863

2014 YTD *

33,293

MB E-Class

2012

65,171

2013

69,803

2014 YTD *

41,244

Audi A/S/RS6

2012

18,998

2013

22,428

2014 YTD *

13,730

Actually depending on what year you are looking at the RL/RLX and Q70/M didn't always have bad sales. its just been those past few years that sales have hit rock bottom.

Um you do know the sales of the GS are right there with the Audi A6/S6...

Audi A6
2012: 18,998
2013: 22,428
2014: 13,730 (YTD)

Lexus GS
2012: 22,160
2013: 19,742
2014: 12,123 (YTD)

The 5 series and E class are a different story. Lexus doesn't have the "prestige", history, or the fan base that MB and BMW has. also keep in mind that Lexus doesn't currently offer a coupe or drop top GS like how MB does with an E class. they also don't offer the GS in a wagon form or in F trim yet. but for a company that just started selling cars in the early 90s they are doing pretty good. And this is coming from a BMW M owner.

Again, you may think the GS is ugly and thats fine. You are entitle to your opinion. Lexus is happy with how its doing, and I also think its sales are pretty decent for a Japanese luxury automaker that only offers it in one body style and with only two drivetrains.

And if you think the GS is bad, go check out the new redesign CTS vs the carryover GS.

CTS
2014: 8,047 (YTD)

GS
2014: 12,123 (YTD)

[serialk11r]

Originally Posted by vh_supra26

I think over time the new face of Lexus will start growing on people.

It kinda already has for me

I love this one in particular.

Yes it's kind of too much grille, but it has more style than Audi's similarly gigantic grille.