bmer

LOL But we are still talking about luxury vehicles here so I don't think the customer base in under 30-year-olds is too large.

Centurion

I know, it was popular a while ago because of the hybrid option just like the Prius. You've busted Bruce, you're an incloset fan of the RX. It's time to confess.

I'm looking forward to the new model with more attitude.

Bruce

Rubbish.

I hate the RX! (seriously...)

As am I. Hopefully the RX will have some sort of style next time around.

Osnabrueck

The IS is a critical dose of youthful accessibility in a brand whose range is otherwise quite staid. From the looks of things, the forthcoming RX will break out of the box with some expressive styling, and will probably shed a good deal of the its current vanilla image.

A problem for Lexus is also one of its greatest strengths: The ES. It's boring, its sensible, it's flys in the face of everything you'd expect from a German luxury brand - something of a necessary evil in the Lexus range.

But save the IS, there's little else in the Lexus range that's cause for posters on dorm walls. The LS is mature but not flashy, the GS is just sorta there, the SC feels old as hammer pants...

Ah that SC. It needs to be reinvented and repositioned if they want today's trucker-hat wearing emo-wank to be tomorrow's Lexus buyer. What Lexus has lacked for the past 7 or so years is a sexy coupe. The SC is expensive, boring and evokes images of stuffy, wine-sipping post-menopausal Laguna Beach sea hags.

While it's all well and good for Lexus compete in league with the SL, which the current SC attempts. It's far more important for them to have a Infiniti GS-type of vehicle, which grabs headlines and turns necks. We love our entry-level luxury coupes, and the absense of one is deafening in the Lexus range. And - come think - the exact same thing goes for Acura.

The IS F is an important step in the right direction. But until Lexus is willing and able to throw together a sports coupe (or roadster, for that matter) in the $40k range, they can forget about being regarded as a youthful brand.

Merc1

Arguably the IS doesn't fit the bill either, being overshadowed by the 3-Series and G35 at every turn. I've said for years that if Toyota/Lexus didn't have great quality great customer service (Lexus, not Toyota) they would be in trouble. There is simply not a single lust object from the Yaris to the LS600hL for me. Toyota knows how to build sports cars and they need to get back to doing that. Lexus needs a coupe, a real GT, a sports car and large luxury coupe/roadster or some other bodystyle/configuration that hasn't been thought of before. Mercedes has the CLS, BMW the X6, Infiniti the FX, Audi the R8. Lexus needs something other than quality and soft riding bliss. If Lexus would build something enthusiasts around the world lusted for the Germans would be in trouble.

M

Osnabrueck

The dirty little open secret is that the overriding majority of Lexus sales are generated by the ES sedan and RX SUV. Without those two models there would be no Lexus, and without the rest of the range, Lexus could still sustain itself on sales of the ES and RX alone.

In other words - Lexus thrives on delivering vanilla cars to vanilla consumers.

The IS has been critical in morphing Lexus away from this stigma, becuase it has styling and performance credibility. It's hasn't transformed Lexus, but it's a well-placed stab in the right direction.

Bottom line though - Lexus can't be seen as a fashion-forward brand when they lack a proper coupe. They need one yesterday. And they need one that deliver style at an attractive price point, not another SC coupe with its unbalanced price/content/caché proposition.

Casting all this aside though - the manner with which Lexus handles itself isn't of such grave concern to Toyota. Lexus has tremendously strong sales in the US, and is one hell of a cash cow - especially when you consider that many of the vehicles in the Lexus range are repurposed Toyotas. Lexus could rest on its laurels and continue to do great business for a long time to come.

So I guess my conclusion is, yes - Lexus lacks youth appeal. However, this isn't the same grave problem it is for Lincoln, Cadillac and Buick. Lexus has an open option to just stay put.

cawimmer430

cawimmer430

And the scary thing is that both of those are as Toyota as you can get! The RX is a rebadged Toyota Harrier and the ES is literally a glorified Camry.

For some reason, I secretly dig the ES. Design wise it's nothing special but interior wise it looks like it's like the GS: the best Lexus interiors hands down. I don't like the LS interior, seems a little overrated if you ask me.

I do think the IS has done a good job of attracting younger buyers. When you hear young people talk about Lexus, it's usually the IS they're referring to. The IS provides younger buyers with something different than a BMW 3er, Audi A4 etc.

My question is, do Lexus IS buyers, when they get older, go to a Lexus ES/GS, or do they switch to another brand? Would be an interesting survey.