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"Clements said Lexus and parent Toyota Motor Corp. have set this stir-things-up agenda for the next few years:
A new distinct design specific to Lexus, to be seen first in the 2005 GS 430 and evolving from there.
A redesign of each car line by spring 2007.
All-wheel drive availability with the redesigns.
The addition of a flagship above the LS 430.
The creation of a factory performance division, akin to Mercedes-Benz's AMG."
The ES330 is the "ultra-lite" version.
The RX330 is the "family-lite" version.
The ES and RX pay the bills because those buyers want to be coddled in their cars and don't care how fun it is to drive. They want a refined, comfortable cabin, with technology and reliability.
Which leaves us to continue our speculation... Isn't that more fun anyway ???
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I just want to refresh ourselves of the actual posts by these gentlemen....
yamamurakelvin, "2007 Lexus LS" #316, 16 Jun 2005 10:49 pm
There seemed to be some air of knowingness to their posts that makes me want to believe them.
Or am I just gullible ??? Please re-read these posts in the link here....
Probably a couple of Japanese auto enthusiasts having some fun. Anyone of importance in the development of a car like the LS will be in the den of secrecy secured by employment contracts or non-disclosure agreements. Above all they'd be banned from making comments in public forums or internet sites and most certainly to the press - and let's remember this is Toyota we are dealing with and they are as top secret as it gets in this industry. So why post on a public board viewed by a couple of dozen or so posters and maybe another couple of dozen readers - and with nothing to gain financially or emotionally. You've got to realize that building a new model like that is akin to acquiring a public company. Having led such an acquisition I know what that secrecy is like. The leader and a few others know what is going on and the rest are supposed to be in the dark. But that is impossible over the long run. Some of the people under me had no idea of what they were researching (at least not the end game) but a handful figured it out. So one Monday I met with the ones I suspected knew and told them they'd be gone in 24 hours if I suspected any leaks. Later I met with the larger group and said the same thing - albeit the departure would be for different reasons. As for the LS there are so many tidbits around that someone could carry on a charade. What was really telling is they knew nothing about the 8 speed tranny or the 12cyl supercar. On top of that you have not one, but a few and they are involved in different - supposedly secret projects. Moreover, Japanese employees toe the line about as well as or better than anyone in the world. You go there often enough, so you probably know that first hand and a lot better than me. I never bought their story, which is why I rarely commented on it - with them or the board.
That's a possibility. Yet I am still inclined to believe them. If they provide some more details and the predictions (and their earlier predictions) turn out to be correct, then we will know whether Ken and Kevin are who they say they are.
OAC - atre there deputy titles in Japanesse companies?
When I looked over your link I also noted that Kelvin was part of his user name and that's also how he introduced himself. But after that it magically became Kevin. I'll bet the last names they chose are real names of Toyota personnel though.
Syswei - These guys also seem to monitor the Japanese boards which is where they may well be picking up the rumors of what will be on the car. They had a lot of generalizations and "might be's" in their posts. That doesn't sound to me like people in the know. People in the know are very matter of fact about things.
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http://www.thecarconnection.com/Enthusiasts/Spy_Shots/Spy_Shots_Lexus_LS_460_LS_460h.S178.- A9342.html
My car is due in for service. I'm going see if I can get some news from the dealer.
Boo. :sick:
All kidding aside, the way you can tell is by the shaved fenders to allow for a bigger car underneath to fit the sheetmetal of the LS 430. Clearly, the new LS 460 is a much wider car because the wheelbase doesn't fit in the 430 shell. This is indeed the 460.
I can't wait until I see this car! I am more excited to see this car more than any other car. Well, it will be interesting to see how the next generation ES, SC, and uber-IS turn out...
I'm sure the next gen Camry will be on display also. I fully expect the LS to be there but what I'm equally interested in is to see if the HPX, next gen LX or GX makes this show as well.
OAC, good friend - Any trips to Tokyo in the next 30 days??
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Autoshows/CityIndex/articleId=106043
And one more - but you may need PW access for some of this.
http://www.tokyo-motorshow.com/show/2005/english/public/outline/index.shtml
I would also imagine that the new ES 350 would be unvailed as well.
Thx
http://www.emarketingrealestate.com/charm.htm
I have no big problems with the styling of the LS; it has a lot of prominence in its appearance. A few tweaks here or there would do it for me but on the other hand I would also appreciate a full overhaul of the exterior which is due. The shaved fenders indicate a much wider stance, as well as the larger, low profile wheels. I am expecting a big change in the exterior styling and I think people will be shocked, but in a good way.
I don't know how relevant this is. I think it looks like an Acura RL. I hope the real thing looks nothing like this.
http://www.autospies.com/article/index.asp?articleId=5229&categoryId=1
Also odd is the fact that it says the car is expected to cost 55,000 GBP. If I am not mistaken, that is lower than the current list price in the UK.
Thanks, Len. Truly appreciated....Been travelling some, and then to Europe in a couple of weeks. I will check out the suggestions you gave. My friend (an MD) just moved to NJ (East Hanover) and his family and mine are real close. My kids want NJ for the great school, and my boss suggests Moorestown (where his family lives). I guess I have until next Summer to move, so plenty of time to go house and location hunting....
BTW, those LS sketches are no where remotely close to the real thing. The real thing was posted a while back on this forum....You will see that I am vindicated with the sketch nexuslexus posted way back in June/July on this forum.
Here's a decent local map of the area around Princeton. I'd be at war with myself about the Princeton area vs. Bucks County if I was in your shoes. Princeton, Princeton Junction, Lawrenceville and to a slightly lesser extent Plainsboro are real upscale towns. I don't know Moorestown at all. The big money is in Princeton along with great restaurants, the university and a lot of charm. Bucks county on the other hand is more quaint and rural but absolutely gorgeous and is also very upscale. Keep me posted and anything I come up with I'll e-mail onto you. BTW - the I95 on that map is not the NJ Turnpike of the famous I95 corridor. This I95 runs south into Philly. Somehow the NJ Turnpike (which is likely the green road on the far right) loses its I95 name in central NJ and instead becomes "TO 95" as a route back to I95 that then goes down thru Baltimore and DC. Of course none of that matters to any New Jerseyan as it simply is "The turnpike" to us.
http://www.lawrencevillemainstreet.com/maps.htm
There is practically no L-Finesse in the side profile. Definitely not a "swept-back" profile of something "in motion" like the L-Finesse design philosophy is supposed to imitate.
This is a much more likely LS, which I like very, very much
I've never been more excited for a car unveiling. I can only imagine what the interior will look like. Best in show. :shades: