Toyota/Aisin working on an 8-speed Automatic Transmission?
For their "Premium Products"?
Wonder what "Product" it would appear in?
Wonder how far along in development it is if it leaked all the way to Edmunds.com? You can't even see the grill of future Lexus products until showtime, but Toyota execs are passing out quotes on 8-speeds?
Quote from Edmunds: Targeting the New Mercedes S-Class, Lexus Reveals All-New LS Taking the fight right up to the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7 Series sedans is the all-new Lexus LS, one of this year's big surprise reveals. Having just launched the Lexus brand in Japan, parent company Toyota is eager to get its flagship model into the marketplace. Distancing itself from the Mercedes look for which it has been criticized, the new LS, which is headed for a 2006 debut, employs stylish new lines which will help to give the brand a stronger identity in a genre where image is everything. The new model is fitted with a 4.6-liter V8 and gets a four-wheel multilink suspension. A 5.0-liter V8 hybrid model is expected in showrooms a year after the LS.
Hi all I was about to head out for the auto show right now and I am quite excited to see as to whether the flagship concept would match any of the spy photographs posted on the forum so far. As promised I would do my best (if possible tonight) to report all of the major findings I observe during the auto show. However it’s possible that I might postpone my posting until late tomorrow since there already couple of my old colleagues have invited me for dinner and I am not sure as to when can I am back home after all of this is over. On the other hand, from what my recent understanding, there are two separate magazines in Japan which has the same article related to the future LS model. However since a lot of them have already sold out (may-be b/sc of the auto-show) I have to wait at least this Thurs or Fri before I can obtain my own copy. In terms of the sketches many of you are arguing, many people back in my home country think these are reliable photographs despite they understand these pictures were modified by the computer. I am not sure the underlying reasons behind such rumours (may-be I haven’t examine their forums closely. But I am sure I can find this answer a few hours for now In addition I have already the pictures (the autoexpress one) to a couple of my old colleagues who still work in Toyota and ask them whether this would be closely resemble to the flagship concept they are about to show me? Unfortunately for those of you who believe this photographs are reliable pictures, they simply laughed at these photos and think of them as some kind of car that is coming from an another manufacturer or a distant planet. Since these people are very trustworthy and honest people, I don’t think these autoexpress photos would be the ones you can really trust with for now. But we would going to know it very soon
Anyways I really need to go now and hope to see you all soon
Nexus, babe, I think you might be overlooking a little thing called "Optional Equipment".
Anything that nice would be optional, as a "Euro Suspension", or "Sports Suspension", or may not even be available at launch, just an addition in 2008.5-9, once the novelty wears off.
Lexus is dusting off the cubbard, not loading up! Expect more than new style and a 4.6.
"I like the idea of the bose suspension concept but they don't even make good car stereos so how can they make suspensions? "
As much as I dislike the company as a whole, thats not really true. The systems in the Infiniti M and Audi A6 are very good. The "Acoustimass" home systems are made out of $5 paper drivers and a couple of bucks worth of plastic and LDF, but the car division has done some good systems.
I just checked out the Japan Lexus site. It shows three cars IS, GS, and SC. No LS. So they need the LS ASAP. The GS has two versions 350 and 430 which does not make sense at all since both make the same HP. So you know that a bigger GS engine is around the corner with 350+ HP to replace the 430. But the bigger engine will not arrive until the new LS is out. So the LS is closer than we think. Probably, a couple of months after MB S.
We are now one day away from the new LS unveiling. If you check out Lexus Japan site, you can see the outline of 3 vehicles which will be unveiled tomorrow.
In the middle in the distance is obviously the GS. I have no idea what the big profile to the right is. But what's the deal with the profile to the left and the side rear view mirrors half way up the A pillar? This looks like a concept vehicle, not something production ready. :confuse:
I believe the one to the left to be the new LS, although not sure what that large silhouette to the right is....in any event, the GS is clearly the farthest back, and to the left I believe is the LF-A so the big blog to the right is the new LS. I think this site will have the live reveal at 12.30 am eastern time, since tokyo is 13 hours ahead I believe and the premier is supposedly happening at 1.30 pm Tokyo time.
I read some commentary on Slashdot about the Bose suspension, and watched a video clip. Some of the comments claimed that the suspension required a lot of electrical current to operate, which sounds plausible. The video looked dangerous--can you imagine driving over a four-inch deep pothole and having absolutely no feedback whatsoever from the car? I'm not saying it wouldn't work if they firmed it up a little, but the stability control will be working overtime if they leave it tuned like that.
From newspaper Japan Times "Meanwhile, Toyota's Lexus got off to a stellar start, with combined orders for the GS and SC models in the first month reaching 4,600 -- nearly four times the automaker's monthly target." The new LS will be in Lexus showrooms very soon and, in my opinion, will be a big hit.
" the new LS, which is headed for a 2006 debut, employs stylish new lines which will help to give the brand a stronger identity in a genre where image is everything."
Does this mean Edmunds has seen the car?? As well it lends support to a spring 2006 debut. A new LS and a new S out at the same time does not bode well for anyone else in this segment.
I was looking at pics of the GT-R prototype on this site,... was RANDOMLY hoping to find something close to a concept sketch of the LS and found THISSSSSSSSSS!!! Bottom line: KSADJHFIAESHDL(O*YEIU@QHIQLUWHD!!!!
The article reads (translated into english with google):
As for the Toyota Motor Corporation 39th Tokyo motor show (general open day: October 22nd of 2005 - November 6th) with the photograph of the concept car " rec suspension LF-SH which " is released was released. You say " the future image of the premium car of new age " was shown.
As for body size with total length 5060× full 1875× total height 1465mm, as for wheel base 2970mm. It made 4 wheel drive in the V type 8 cylinder engine combining hybrid mechanism. In addition, you say accident as much as possible up-to-date technology in order to evade is loaded.
Everyone can send donations to me if they feel obliged.
NOTE: 2005/10/19 【東京モーターショー】&#- - - 12488;ヨタ、旗艦セダンの「- - - 524;クサスLF-Sh」写真を公開(09:44) (The Japanese writing did not translate into characters in this post, however this is the link I clicked randomly, as I did not see the "LF-Sh" designation in amidst the writing. This is dated for tomorrow.)
I'm satisfied with this product. Very modern. To me, the rear is the most impressive, very Luxurious looking. But there's that bulge on the trunk that resembles a bit of the Volvo S80. Hope that will go away on the production version. I also like how the side profile looks but change that colour man. This time, the LS looks like a $70,000 car. We need more shots on different angles and of course, the interior. So guys, what are your thoughts?
...the front 3/4 that is. It reminds me a lot of the stately appearance that the current generation LS has. Now that angle looks much more modern and sexy. A very nice turn-out.
I will reserve my final judgement for showtime, though. Something tells me that the interior will knock us off our feat!
Awesome car particularly from the front and rear as per the photos shown. Side profile is good but would be better still if they don't wrap the taillights around as much as shown there. It gives a tad too much of a 5-series look and it's simply due to too much of that wrap around. I expect the interior of this car is going to blow us away. Overall the car is beautiful, stately, elegant, muscular, athletic and sporty all at the same time. If that's the car they pulled off a big winner as it will attract plenty of Euro buyers and will not turn off any of the existing owners.
Good find, it looks like the real thing so all the photo chops that we been seeing have been fairly close i.e. rear lights, mirrors on the doors, the built in exhaust pipes, rear door treatment, and the not so hot rear wrap around lights. Overall it is beautiful. The front is aggressive and hi tech and the rear shines like a star. We know the inside will be vintage Lexus beautiful but more importantly functional and intuitive something the Germans cannot even come close. Even Audi which makes great looking interiors but they are not even remotely intuitive. Have you tried to change gears in the manual mode on an A8- the gear lever is located to the far right as if the passenger is supposed to change the gears for you! It is the little things on the inside that make driving a Lexus more enjoyable, comfortable, and safe. It looks real and production ready with the exception of the exhaust pipes and the grill. The only thing that make me a little uneasy is the length of the car. It is too short! If this is the LS600h with a long wheel base, it does look not very long at all. So is it real? What do you guys think?
That looks so much like a stretched 2006 IS350. It certainly has the genre imbued within this prototype. I sure hope that this is NOT the final production car. I'd like to see the rear tail a little rounder, less square-ish.... more closer to the new Avalon rear. The wrap-around lights should be tappered off much better... i.e., less wrap around. The front is awesome, the car looks sporty, elegant, luxurious, muscular... all the adjectives in Len's post.... Overall, a looker and a winner... Now would someone post a pic of the new S and this LS side-by-side for a real comparo ??? Mike, do you want to do us the honors of this side-by-side 2007 S-v-2007 LS profile ?
Where do you see a 7-series in that car?? I can't stand the 7-series design. It's massively ugly and as in-elegant as it gets. This is a knoclout car in that photo as far as I'm concerned and not at all like the 7-series..
Wait, is that the same 7 Series that recently got freshened?
Is that the same 7 Series that now has headlights that look like they were stolen off an IS300, and tail lights that resemble the *current* as well as Gen 2 LS?
Oh you mean *that* 7 Series. :P
Btw, I LOVE the new LS. It's proportions are so right, the car is so many things (listed wonderfully by others above) all at the same time.
I cannot wait to see the final production model, and the final interior.
I'm not knocking it - I like it very much. I'm just saying, the first thing that came to mind when I saw the pics was, 7-series imitation. The high beltline and butt are dead ringers from the side, for the 7, IMO.
The Lexus wins, absolutely no contest. The Benz looks soft and pudgy, with wheels not big enough for the arches. The Lexus looks taught, muscular, agressive. I love it.
If they both come out at the same time, MB better knock$20K off their price. The S does indeed look dated already and it's got a 6-7 year run ahead of it, plus those wheel arches look worse and worse everytime I see them..
...the one thing I do not like about the new LS is the rear taillights. They should be more like GS taillights. This is the only thing that bugs me! nvbanker actually (and I hate to say it) said it right; 7-Series taillights. Everything else is fresh and original. The front is the best in the biz and I will curse if somebody says it reminds them of so-and-so.
Actually, (opinion now changed upon further inspection) the more that I think about it, it isn't 7-series taillights! The taillights for the new LS look somewhat tacked on and less thoughtful than the placement of say, the GS taillights. Now that's why they might remind somebody of a 7; they look sort of just placed there.
What the rear treatment should have looked more like:
Gotta love that GS. Best looking Lexus in my opinion; looks better and better each time I see it.
I would like to see some more "motion" in the rear end. The front looks very agressive, but the back looks like it is just "sitting" there. Anybody else feel the same?
Overall, the new LS is a big hit in my mind. I have a hunch that this car is very near production and that only a couple tweaks to the exterior may be in store for the LS.
PS - S-Class= :lemon: ... The rest of the world will be in awe of the LS.
My personal opinion is that it's an improvement over the current car. Yet I am not overwhelmed, and I'm not even sure I prefer the exterior styling over the new S.
I agree with nvbanker, the new LS reminds me somewhat of the 7.
I think the beltline is a little too high, actually.
At least it is more distinctive than the current version.
Anyway, exterior styling isn't all that important to me. I will probably buy one as soon as street prices become competitive.
man i still think the 7 series and new S class are better looking. man those 2 cars have such nice exteriors. lexus always has the interior but they haven't advanced with the exterior.
The link is fully active now and oh what fun! And guess what--it's hybrid and AWD!
Note the slight wheel flares, but they are integral to the front end design, not slapped on like on some other model that will remain nameless.
But no pics of the interior.
And what's the third headlight? A highly placed fog light? I don't get that.
But overall looks mighty fine. So much for my predilection for keeping cars for a long time - I may have a low-mileage '05 available for someone sooner than I had planned. Which raises a question: will the new model devalue the traditional high resale value of the old ones?
... I totally take back my comments about the styling of the LS regarding the rear end. I am watching the video now for a second time and now in the high bandwidth mode so I can post up pictures of some absolutely striking shots of the new LS.
Everyone check out the new LF-A video for the Tokyo Motor Show flash presentation on the Japanese Lexus website. You get to hear the sound of the engine in the LF-A.... the V10... amazing. Such a snarl!!!
Wow... beautiful car... I too still have some concerns about the rear end.. but I had similar concerns when I first saw the IS picutres- but that has sicne been taken care of.
Even if S were same price as LS, LS still will win this one again not just for its interior but the exteror as well. Man, S looks so dated compared to LS. Let see what merc has to say.
Looks even better this morning. My one gripe remains the over-wrap of the tail lights on the side. Otherwise it looks stunning from the front and rear to me. That car is just over 199" and it's the SWB. So the LWB may end up as big as 205". As well that is going to have an enormous trunk. At last we also have the end of the AWD question as well.
This looks a lot more like the origina LFS design than the GS does. I always thought that initial design was an LS design.
Lexus - let us see the interior please.
OAC - this is very close to the car that you put up in June and it has that same stance.
Now the bad news - It's going to be a lot hotter than the 2001 car and harder to get particularly in AWD hybrid form.
I must say that this is a great looking car. When I was comparing the IS and BMW3, I concluded that the IS is head and shoulders above the exterior design and makes the BMW look like an ordinary car. I have not seen the IS in person but I have seem the BMW and is a great looking car. So that leaves me to believe that IS will be gorgeous in person. Now I feel the same with LS, the new S, and the 7. LS makes them look like ordinary cars on the outside. We all know about the inside, reliability, and service of Lexus is the best of the bunch. I am sure when my lease runs out on my 04 LS I am signing up for the AWD LS long wheel with all the options. Now will it be the V8 LS460 with 350HP or V10 LS500 with 400HP! I don't think the LS600h would be out in a year. If it was, it would make my decision harder on which one to get.
The new LS is still in concept form, but I think it will turn out to be very close to the pics autospies had a few weeks back and were circulating on the net. The front grille and headlights are obviously concept form and the rear lights might be as well. Overall, a nice car, but I have to admit I was expecting more. I was really hoping Lexus will hit a homerun here with the design, which I don't feel they have done. Lexus has once again opted with the conservative, but I can't blame them since no other company knows their current owners best and clearly Lexus wants to retain them.
I have no doubt that the interior will be beautiful once it's revealed, and hopefully the horsepower will be there as well. I must admit that I am wondering what could have been, but maybe things will change once I see this car in person.
I don't get your point. Those are official Lexus pictures and you think the car will instead look like autospies pix in final form? IMO - what you are seeing is 95%+ of what the final car will look like. I find it a stunning car with a perfect balance of sport and elegance and Lexus hasn't hit a home run with this car - it's hit a grand slam - IMO.
Gary - the old LS400 from 2000 held up well. I wouldn't worry too much about resale value.
What I'm saying is the headlights are not production version, they are obviously concept and so is the grille. Those will change, and they could turn out to look like the autospies pic from the front. Look at the side profile of that car, looks exactly like the one here.
Anyway, that pic has been circulating around the net for some time and I don't want to give too much credit to autospies for posting it b/c I'm sure they were not the first to discover it, but claim they are. But the front will get some treatment for production.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I hardly think Lexus has hit a grand slam with the design. They promised to make a splash with this car, in my opinion they have not.
This is the only thing I saw out of autospies until today. That's concept to me as it lacks real side mirrors and has a protype grill. I don't expect much to change at all in the unveiled car. I think the grill you see is the grill you'll get and I won't be surprised at all if this car is on the market in April.
It wont look anything like that. Those pictures are of the "old" LF-S. It was just a concept showing L-finesse styling, and hinting at where the GS, IS, and LS were going. The LF-S was out BEFORE the new GS! There is NO PRODUCTION VEHICLE based on it.
Comments
For their "Premium Products"?
Wonder what "Product" it would appear in?
Wonder how far along in development it is if it leaked all the way to Edmunds.com? You can't even see the grill of future Lexus products until showtime, but Toyota execs are passing out quotes on 8-speeds?
It's in The Next LS, BANK ON IT!!
DrFill
Targeting the New Mercedes S-Class, Lexus Reveals All-New LS
Taking the fight right up to the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7 Series sedans is the all-new Lexus LS, one of this year's big surprise reveals. Having just launched the Lexus brand in Japan, parent company Toyota is eager to get its flagship model into the marketplace. Distancing itself from the Mercedes look for which it has been criticized, the new LS, which is headed for a 2006 debut, employs stylish new lines which will help to give the brand a stronger identity in a genre where image is everything. The new model is fitted with a 4.6-liter V8 and gets a four-wheel multilink suspension. A 5.0-liter V8 hybrid model is expected in showrooms a year after the LS.
So... no bose suspension?
I was about to head out for the auto show right now and I am quite excited to see as to whether the flagship concept would match any of the spy photographs posted on the forum so far. As promised I would do my best (if possible tonight) to report all of the major findings I observe during the auto show. However it’s possible that I might postpone my posting until late tomorrow since there already couple of my old colleagues have invited me for dinner and I am not sure as to when can I am back home after all of this is over.
On the other hand, from what my recent understanding, there are two separate magazines in Japan which has the same article related to the future LS model. However since a lot of them have already sold out (may-be b/sc of the auto-show) I have to wait at least this Thurs or Fri before I can obtain my own copy.
In terms of the sketches many of you are arguing, many people back in my home country think these are reliable photographs despite they understand these pictures were modified by the computer. I am not sure the underlying reasons behind such rumours (may-be I haven’t examine their forums closely. But I am sure I can find this answer a few hours for now
In addition I have already the pictures (the autoexpress one) to a couple of my old colleagues who still work in Toyota and ask them whether this would be closely resemble to the flagship concept they are about to show me? Unfortunately for those of you who believe this photographs are reliable pictures, they simply laughed at these photos and think of them as some kind of car that is coming from an another manufacturer or a distant planet. Since these people are very trustworthy and honest people, I don’t think these autoexpress photos would be the ones you can really trust with for now. But we would going to know it very soon
Anyways I really need to go now and hope to see you all soon
T. Kiyonaga
Anything that nice would be optional, as a "Euro Suspension", or "Sports Suspension", or may not even be available at launch, just an addition in 2008.5-9, once the novelty wears off.
Lexus is dusting off the cubbard, not loading up! Expect more than new style and a 4.6.
DrFill
I like the idea of the bose suspension concept but they don't even make good car stereos so how can they make suspensions?
As much as I dislike the company as a whole, thats not really true. The systems in the Infiniti M and Audi A6 are very good. The "Acoustimass" home systems are made out of $5 paper drivers and a couple of bucks worth of plastic and LDF, but the car division has done some good systems.
http://lexus.jp/ms/
Can't wait.
"Meanwhile, Toyota's Lexus got off to a stellar start, with combined orders for the GS and SC models in the first month reaching 4,600 -- nearly four times the automaker's monthly target."
The new LS will be in Lexus showrooms very soon and, in my opinion, will be a big hit.
" the new LS, which is headed for a 2006 debut, employs stylish new lines which will help to give the brand a stronger identity in a genre where image is everything."
Does this mean Edmunds has seen the car?? As well it lends support to a spring 2006 debut. A new LS and a new S out at the same time does not bode well for anyone else in this segment.
My guess.
The article reads (translated into english with google):
As for the Toyota Motor Corporation 39th Tokyo motor show (general open day: October 22nd of 2005 - November 6th) with the photograph of the concept car " rec suspension LF-SH which " is released was released. You say " the future image of the premium car of new age " was shown.
As for body size with total length 5060× full 1875× total height 1465mm, as for wheel base 2970mm. It made 4 wheel drive in the V type 8 cylinder engine combining hybrid mechanism. In addition, you say accident as much as possible up-to-date technology in order to evade is loaded.
Remember THESE headlights???
link title
Everyone can send donations to me if they feel obliged.
NOTE: 2005/10/19
【東京モーターショー】&#- - - 12488;ヨタ、旗艦セダンの「- - - 524;クサスLF-Sh」写真を公開(09:44) (The Japanese writing did not translate into characters in this post, however this is the link I clicked randomly, as I did not see the "LF-Sh" designation in amidst the writing. This is dated for tomorrow.)
I talked to the Lexus dealer today and they were a little more conservative about delivery saying September of next year.
"You can't even see the grill of future Lexus products until showtime"
I will reserve my final judgement for showtime, though. Something tells me that the interior will knock us off our feat!
It looks real and production ready with the exception of the exhaust pipes and the grill. The only thing that make me a little uneasy is the length of the car. It is too short! If this is the LS600h with a long wheel base, it does look not very long at all. So is it real? What do you guys think?
That looks so much like a stretched 2006 IS350. It certainly has the genre imbued within this prototype. I sure hope that this is NOT the final production car. I'd like to see the rear tail a little rounder, less square-ish.... more closer to the new Avalon rear. The wrap-around lights should be tappered off much better... i.e., less wrap around. The front is awesome, the car looks sporty, elegant, luxurious, muscular... all the adjectives in Len's post.... Overall, a looker and a winner... Now would someone post a pic of the new S and this LS side-by-side for a real comparo ??? Mike, do you want to do us the honors of this side-by-side 2007 S-v-2007 LS profile ?
Is that the same 7 Series that now has headlights that look like they were stolen off an IS300, and tail lights that resemble the *current* as well as Gen 2 LS?
Oh you mean *that* 7 Series. :P
Btw, I LOVE the new LS. It's proportions are so right, the car is so many things (listed wonderfully by others above) all at the same time.
I cannot wait to see the final production model, and the final interior.
2007 LS (we hope)
so what do you all think of these cars ????
Actually, (opinion now changed upon further inspection) the more that I think about it, it isn't 7-series taillights! The taillights for the new LS look somewhat tacked on and less thoughtful than the placement of say, the GS taillights. Now that's why they might remind somebody of a 7; they look sort of just placed there.
What the rear treatment should have looked more like:
Gotta love that GS. Best looking Lexus in my opinion; looks better and better each time I see it.
I would like to see some more "motion" in the rear end. The front looks very agressive, but the back looks like it is just "sitting" there. Anybody else feel the same?
Overall, the new LS is a big hit in my mind. I have a hunch that this car is very near production and that only a couple tweaks to the exterior may be in store for the LS.
PS - S-Class= :lemon: ... The rest of the world will be in awe of the LS.
I agree with nvbanker, the new LS reminds me somewhat of the 7.
I think the beltline is a little too high, actually.
At least it is more distinctive than the current version.
Anyway, exterior styling isn't all that important to me. I will probably buy one as soon as street prices become competitive.
The link is fully active now and oh what fun! And guess what--it's hybrid and AWD!
Note the slight wheel flares, but they are integral to the front end design, not slapped on like on some other model that will remain nameless.
But no pics of the interior.
And what's the third headlight? A highly placed fog light? I don't get that.
But overall looks mighty fine. So much for my predilection for keeping cars for a long time - I may have a low-mileage '05 available for someone sooner than I had planned. Which raises a question: will the new model devalue the traditional high resale value of the old ones?
Wow... the car is gorgeous.
Honestly, never seen anything like this.
Enjoy! :shades:
This looks a lot more like the origina LFS design than the GS does. I always thought that initial design was an LS design.
Lexus - let us see the interior please.
OAC - this is very close to the car that you put up in June and it has that same stance.
Now the bad news - It's going to be a lot hotter than the 2001 car and harder to get particularly in AWD hybrid form.
I have no doubt that the interior will be beautiful once it's revealed, and hopefully the horsepower will be there as well. I must admit that I am wondering what could have been, but maybe things will change once I see this car in person.
Gary - the old LS400 from 2000 held up well. I wouldn't worry too much about resale value.
Anyway, that pic has been circulating around the net for some time and I don't want to give too much credit to autospies for posting it b/c I'm sure they were not the first to discover it, but claim they are. But the front will get some treatment for production.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I hardly think Lexus has hit a grand slam with the design. They promised to make a splash with this car, in my opinion they have not.
http://www.autospies.com/article/index.asp?articleId=5229&categoryId=1