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

[Ammunition]

At first I hated it. I thought it was ugly as sin, but I've started to like it more and more to the point where if I see one now, all I think is "that is a damn nice car" (referring to the IS 350 F with the mesh grille as per the pic OP provided, and not the whole Lexus line-up). I think it's aggressive, and I think the problem with it (for me) is that all of the chrome trim doesn't fit it. I think if you blacked out all of that awful chrome trim, it would look really good and mean.

I have the same issue with the Tesla - I don't think it's a great looking car, but I've seen a few with blacked-out trim and it's amazing how much better it looks. That could just be me though, as I think chrome trim/garnish looks awful and tacky on just about any car.

[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.

[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.

[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.