26 Votes

Predicting a Super-Luxury Lexus

Sauceboy01 submitted on 10/11/2006 Official Bell & Ross Timestamp: 8:29:11 PM

34 user comments | Category: Spy News | Source: www.autospies.com

Tag Link: Lexus

Back in 2004, Lexus execs said they were considering extending the company's reach further into the six-figure luxury category with a new, higher-end flagship.

Not as much a Maybach beater, they said, as something in the vicinity of $100,000+. While some agree the car they were referring to is likely the hybrid-drive LS600h flagship for 2007, others say there's an even more luxurious model in the works. Since we love Japanese car magazines in the direct inverse to our access to them (on the East coast), we turn to one such rag's spec-image predictions for a clue, or just a laugh. Take it with a grain of salt and a Katakana-to-English translator.

Source: Carspyshots

About the Author

There are only a few things I truely Love in life//Automobiles are one of them.
— Sauceboy01 (View Profile)

User Comments

I don't like the headlights.
— EL34 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/11/2006 8:38:18 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

It's Maybach with a Nissan Maxima nose.
— rocker (View Profile)

Posted on 10/11/2006 8:45:48 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

As I remember this horrible p-chop was made from an Infiniti M photo.
— chewy (View Profile)

Posted on 10/11/2006 8:47:41 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

God man, I posted on that site right after that stupid picture was posted saying that the picture was from freakin over two years ago! WHY?!!!!!
— Hyundai (View Profile)

Posted on 10/11/2006 8:48:07 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

probably because most people haven't seen it.
— Sauceboy01 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/11/2006 8:56:26 PM | | Votes: 1

wow, Super luxury is in RED, only for US customers lol
— pchera01 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/11/2006 9:10:49 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

You honestly think Lexus approved this monstrosity of a photoshop job?
— Hyundai (View Profile)

Posted on 10/11/2006 9:25:05 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Yep, it looks like one of those cheap toys/keychains that you get when you put a quarter into a vending machine.
— Hyundai (View Profile)

Posted on 10/11/2006 9:40:46 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

This photo is an slap in the face to Toyota.
— Terminal10 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/11/2006 10:05:20 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

My friend is thinking about buying a loaded S550 (I referred him to the LS460, too, because he's more into comfort), and apparently, it has a dual-rear seat, too. The rear seats are adjustable with foot rests, and it looks like a joy to be chauffered in.

I don't think this option is very exclusive to Lexus, but it's quite nifty- in November 2004, at the new A6 event at my local Audi dealership, they were letting people sit in a loaded A8L W12. It had a dual rear seat, and it was loaded with luxury features. Dual DVD players that could play 2 different DVDs at once, a remote control in the rear armrest that could not only control the massage seat function, but had an MMI knob on it to control all of the car's fuctions (!), and it even had an electric extendable footrest that I've seen in Maybachs.

All are ultra-luxurious in themselves, and I don't think Lexus needs to build a car like this. The LS600hL will be exclusive enough.
— S4cabriofox (View Profile)

Posted on 10/11/2006 11:41:35 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

And how long would that take for the Phaeton (I mean A8) to have all of that stuff to break? I'm guessing a couple of months. And I'm being generous too.
— lexusis350 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/12/2006 2:07:52 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

"And how long would that take for the Phaeton (I mean A8) to have all of that stuff to break? I'm guessing a couple of months. And I'm being generous too."

You are an IDIOT!

You're just asking for me to call Lexus rebadged Toyotas!

You guys always defend Lexus when people call them ToyLex, and yet you are being a complete hipocrite.

Go sit in an A8, and you'll get a taste of heaven.

By the way, CR and JD Power aren't all they've been made out to be. Two friends have A8s- one got a complete lemon, and was replaced by an angel from Audi (no problems at all). The worst problem the other one has had was the passenger seat heater failing, and that's the ONLY problem they've had.

My car apparently has a "Poor" rating for reliability. I've had it for a year and a half- not a single glitch or creaky faucet. The same applies to all the other Audis I have.

However, my wife's Lexus's true colors are showing true. The design wears thin, and the car just feels less substantial than the German SUVs (excluding the POS ML350).
— S4cabriofox (View Profile)

Posted on 10/12/2006 9:47:18 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

You've only had your Audi for a year and a half and you're saying that it is reliable. You're the idiot. Everyone knows a reliable car will last several years. Even several decades. I bet you'll be singing a different tune when you POS Volksauid breaks down in two years. And an A8 is a rebadged Phaeton. Here's proof: http://autos.msn.com/research/compare/photocompare.aspx?
c=0&n=3&i=0&tb=0&ph1=t101506&ph2=t100133&dt=0&v=t100133
&v=t101506&r=1
There's a few differences, but not much.
— lexusis350 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/12/2006 11:02:50 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Oh yeah, I have sat in an A8. I like the LS430 a whole lot better. Maybe that's because it's really a disguised Volkswagen. I know what you're going to say, a Lexus is a disguised Toyota. Well, here's the thing, Toyota is way better than Volkswagen.
— lexusis350 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/12/2006 11:04:22 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

Yea... for stealing its sales! Hyuk! Hyuk! Hyuk!
— Hyundai (View Profile)

Posted on 10/11/2006 10:35:37 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

That looks pretty good. If the LED daytime lamps were glass covered and more grouped together it would look better. But I don't think this will be the final product. It has too much of a futuristic look to it. Maybe in 10 years though.
— lexusis350 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/11/2006 10:42:13 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1

This isn't even anything Lexus released.

It was an Infiniti M45 photoshop (the current gen). Look at the C-Pillar; it clearly has an overdone Infiniti-esque Hoffmesiter kink, with the M's profile. They used the Maybach for the slab-sided paint job, and they probably took those ugly headlights off of some futuristic Lexus concept.

I doubt there will be any "final product".
— S4cabriofox (View Profile)

Posted on 10/11/2006 11:43:36 PM | | Votes: 1

Another example of Lexus taking ideas from Mercedes/Maybach. It clearly looks like their ripping off Maybach in the "super-luxury" segment. Lexus has definately made a mark in American luxury market. However they can't simply jump into a market that consists of Maybach, Bentley, and Rolls Royce.

They should concentrate on their latest LS and see how it does against the S class, 7 series, and A8 before leaping light years ahead.

Main difference between this potential super-luxury Lexus and the rest is heritage. The Big III (maybach, rolls, & bentley) have many years of heritage. Lexus simply do not.
— Agent63 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/11/2006 10:53:44 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -6

Agent63 - Maybach had a pre-revival life of 19 years, comparable to Lexus, which is already on its 17th. Purchased by Mercedes-Benz after the war, making its post-war years uncredible to its "heritage". It was not until 1997, when DaimlerChrysler reintroduced the brand under new management. Thus, the second generation of the Maybach name. If the 6 brief years of Mercedes engineering can be called heritage, I question your ideas of lineage.

Similarly, Rolls-Royce, in your terms of heritage has been long dead. What heritage you see on the road today is pure BMW engineering badged as another brand. What is the heritage in that?
— macrocaus (View Profile)

Posted on 10/12/2006 3:50:04 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Well thanks for the history report. However, the name itself, would define how high grade the materials should be in an ultra-luxury saloon. Whether it's under new ownership or management, the name should still live up to it's "old" image.

Yes, BMW owns Rolls, and Volkswagen owns Bentley, but the name speaks volumes and the quality is still up to par just like it's previous models.

You have some good points there but my main point is that Lexus is on it's 17th year. Quite young in it's "luxury" market, not ultra-luxury. They have leaped to to great standards but as for now they must work to refine what they offer and then jump into the SUPER saloon market. One in which they are not too familiar about.

The design of this concept clearly looks like a rip off of the Maybach. However, if any Japanese company is to make it up to the Ultra-Luxury market, it would be Lexus. They are capable just not yet. Now having that said, IMO people would still buy an A8 or S class over this Maybach/GS/LS mixed all together.

The Euro's are king when it comes to Prestige, quality, luxury and image. Lexus, Infiniti, & Acura have yet come close to the Euro's. They are extremely close though. Don't get me wrong, I love Lexus too so it's not biased towards any particular brand.
— Agent63 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/12/2006 8:12:17 AM | | Votes: -2

Looks like Maybach, but that's not good for Lexus, they should be unique!!!!
— OBSERVER1984 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/12/2006 5:01:22 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

WTF? dats a total rip off...
— M53R (View Profile)

Posted on 10/12/2006 7:39:36 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

With the LS600hL I think Lexus will already have their $100,000+ car.

Something like that ridiculous photoshop would be totally not needed by Lexus.

Aren't Mybach sales slipping too?
— answer (View Profile)

Posted on 10/12/2006 11:17:10 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

It looks alot like the Mybach. And that is the reason why it will fail.
— BM3W (View Profile)

Posted on 10/12/2006 11:46:35 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2

Change the gril, make it a bit longer, firm steering and it hock it up with all the toys and it will kick the Maybach's ass.
— Designer1 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/12/2006 2:10:03 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Rumors!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
— AUDBMLEXMRC (View Profile)

Posted on 10/12/2006 2:46:01 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Looks Maybachish to me. Is it a photoshop?
— BMW530i (View Profile)

Posted on 10/12/2006 3:52:53 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

S4cabriofox,

I don't see ANY Infiniti in that design. I have a picture of this red car on my wall, and of the 600H right next to it. Thet are almost identical in profile. No Infiniti influence that I can see.
— mitchatlexusofmarin (View Profile)

Posted on 10/12/2006 5:29:57 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

The window line. Look at the window line. Like most other luxury brands, Infiniti and Lexus have copied BMW's Hoffmeister kink- but Infiniti's is more obnoxious. See how it's bigger than a Lexus kink, like the Infiniti M?

This isn't even a real Lexus design; why are you defending it?

And that red color is UGLY IMHO.

I'm just tired of the LS already... maybe when I see it on the road that will change, but it's pretty boring to look at.
— S4cabriofox (View Profile)

Posted on 10/12/2006 9:51:27 PM | | Votes: 1

Photochop!
— KeyserSoze (View Profile)

Posted on 10/12/2006 7:12:55 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Photochop!
— KeyserSoze (View Profile)

Posted on 10/12/2006 7:13:27 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Photochop like everyone said.
— watisthat (View Profile)

Posted on 10/13/2006 2:29:09 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

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Predicting a Super-Luxury Lexus

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