Photo: Lexus
Japanese automaker and Toyota luxury division Lexus has confirmed plans to build a new model in Japan starting late next year.
The new vehicle will be built at the Kyushu plant to make up for the 50,000 Lexus ES 350s being shifted to the company’s facility in Georgetown, Kentucky starting 2015. Kyushu will continue to build the ES 350, ES 250 and 300h hybrid to meet global demand.
While Lexus refrained from revealing any details about the new model, including the name, the automaker’s Executive Vice President, Mark Templin, did say we might see either a sports coupe or a crossover SUV coming out of Kyushu in 2015. However, a coupe is more likely to happen, since the RX covers no less than three segments. On the other hand, a coupe could reach out to younger buyers on a market that’s “important in terms of what it does for image”.
"The RX actually does triple duty today. It covers its own segment, it covers a smaller [crossover] segment, and it covers a larger segment," Templin said. "The coupe market is about the same size in the United States and Europe. It's not an enormous market, but it's an important segment in terms of what it does for image. I think a coupe could change perceptions of our brand and make us a more emotional brand and potentially reach younger buyers."
Back in late March, Lexus has filed trademark for the GS F moniker, which is rumored to be used for a successor for the high-performance IS F model. Not exactly a hint, but who knows?
Story via Automotive News
While Lexus refrained from revealing any details about the new model, including the name, the automaker’s Executive Vice President, Mark Templin, did say we might see either a sports coupe or a crossover SUV coming out of Kyushu in 2015. However, a coupe is more likely to happen, since the RX covers no less than three segments. On the other hand, a coupe could reach out to younger buyers on a market that’s “important in terms of what it does for image”.
"The RX actually does triple duty today. It covers its own segment, it covers a smaller [crossover] segment, and it covers a larger segment," Templin said. "The coupe market is about the same size in the United States and Europe. It's not an enormous market, but it's an important segment in terms of what it does for image. I think a coupe could change perceptions of our brand and make us a more emotional brand and potentially reach younger buyers."
Back in late March, Lexus has filed trademark for the GS F moniker, which is rumored to be used for a successor for the high-performance IS F model. Not exactly a hint, but who knows?
Story via Automotive News
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