06' Lexus GS(56k)
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Cap'n Jack
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- GoldMineGutted
Reminds me of a 6 series BMW.
- 6,546
- matthewjlcoleman
Nothing reminds me of anything front and back, but the side view reminds me of a Nissan 350Z with a slight jut-out rear.
I don't like it, however. Never been into Lexus.
I don't like it, however. Never been into Lexus.
- 1,578
Hmm the c-pillars are too fat for my liking, still looks clean and new, nonetheless.
- 1,803
- mr_pushrod
So much better than the old one, that looked pretty nasty. Could do with a more defined boot though, looks a bit like a hatchback, lol.
- 55
If they're not copying Merc, they're copying BMW.
I'm not crazy about it. The current gen Acuras look far better, IMO.
I'm not crazy about it. The current gen Acuras look far better, IMO.
Sage
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The BFB (Big Fat Butt) aside, I wish Lexus would choose a damn style for their lineup... the current "big-thing" in automotive design, especially amongst luxury manufacturers, is to make every car in the lineup have very strong design ties (Acura's trapezoidal grille and stubby rears; BMW's Bangle shtuff; Mercedes' twins headlamps, triangular rear lamps, and body texturing along the sides; Dodge's mix of angular and curvy styling and prominent crosshair grilles; Volvo making every car look exactly alike; Audi's new grille and move towards anti-Bauhas [sp?] body styling; etc.). Toyotas/Scions/Lexuses are all over the map though, and don't seem to have anything in common (except that the grille on this matches the grille on the RX330). I really wish Toyota would work on establishing a company-wide identity. Maybe it doesn't matter. I don't know.
- 506
it's not too bad. could be worse.
- 6,546
- matthewjlcoleman
Sage
I think it does matter. Every car should have common features that people can point out and say "That's a Dodge!", etc. I do agree it seems that Lexus/Toyota don't have much in the way of a trademark in their designs, but I never thought of it in detail. You make a good point, Sage. That's probably why I don't like Lexus, or hardly any Toyotas. I don't know.
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- matthewjlcoleman
Bangleized?
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- Alabamamania
What troubles me about the new GS/Aristo is that it's going to get all the new trimmings of the latest generation ES and the LS. Which means SmartKey technology, air conditioned seats, HID headlamps, LED lights all around, and and nicer wood trim. It will also beenfit from the 3.3-liter variable-valve timing V6, rather than the Supra-based I-6 which dates back to 1985.
What does that really mean to me, the Lexus Consultus? Well, 2nd-gen GS prices will fall, and I'll be in a used one in no time...Yay! The drawback is that lots of stupid little failures will creep their way into the GS lineup, which means the once-near-bulletproof GS will suffer all the same maladies that the latest-gen ES and LS suffer...too many parts to go wrong! And if they put the transmission from the ES into the GS, I'm going to quit right on the spot.
Thankfully, I hear the tramnsmission will be the 6-speed auto sourced from the LS430. Hopefully, a real manual will be offered. Only about one driver in a thousand has ever asked me about the button-shifters on the steering wheel spokes on their IS300 or GS300. E-shift might as well not even exist on these cars, nobody would notice if it were missing.
I hear the GS will eb on sale as an '06 this coming spring. Hopefully, the RX400h hybrid won't steal all it's thunder.
There! I didn't even mention that it looks like an overpriced Nissan Maxima!
What does that really mean to me, the Lexus Consultus? Well, 2nd-gen GS prices will fall, and I'll be in a used one in no time...Yay! The drawback is that lots of stupid little failures will creep their way into the GS lineup, which means the once-near-bulletproof GS will suffer all the same maladies that the latest-gen ES and LS suffer...too many parts to go wrong! And if they put the transmission from the ES into the GS, I'm going to quit right on the spot.
Thankfully, I hear the tramnsmission will be the 6-speed auto sourced from the LS430. Hopefully, a real manual will be offered. Only about one driver in a thousand has ever asked me about the button-shifters on the steering wheel spokes on their IS300 or GS300. E-shift might as well not even exist on these cars, nobody would notice if it were missing.
I hear the GS will eb on sale as an '06 this coming spring. Hopefully, the RX400h hybrid won't steal all it's thunder.
There! I didn't even mention that it looks like an overpriced Nissan Maxima!
PublicSecrecy
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Actually i was just thinking today as I walked home from school and darted into traffic how almost all Toyota's look different from each other. I mean, the new Camry has the lipcurvy swoopyass thing on the front, the new Corrolla is kind of easy to point out because of body customization that Toyota is offering and the Vitz/Echo hatchback is easy because well...its tiny as hell (for a NorAm'n car anyway). But what stylish design cues do they all have in common? Not headlights...not grilles...oh wait- i know! The badge! 
PublicSecrecy
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skip0110
doesnt the new camry have that? they look pretty feline and stretched if you ask me.
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I'd like to know, when did logos become passé?Sage
This is the sort of thing that bothers me about auto manufacturers and designers: they feel there must be an identity between the various models. In the end, it makes "the cheap car in the line-up" look too much like a "wanna-be-flagship", and similarly, cheapens the effect of the style of the top-of-the-line car for the marque.
The other pointless aspect of the design identity is that by the time the same fascia is plastered on all the cars in the line-up, some swoopy (or in some cases, ugly) new concept car comes along, and all the cars in the lineup suddenly look outdated. The identity of the marque changes in a scant 3 years; it's always playing styling catch-up and providing it's own competition in terms of design.
PublicSecrecy
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They still have that, dont they? The 2004 Toyota Camry's headlights dont seem too far off from that description. Unless you're referring to much earlier models (ie. pre-1990). Which btw, still run better than a 2 yr old chev.
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Nice looking vehicle.
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- skip0110
I'm sure many people remember when Mazda's used to just say "Mazda" on them and likewise for Toyotas and Nissans. I would say this went out of fashion between 1987 and 1989.pupik
There is something to car identity. To non-enthusiasts (like my parents) all the cloned sedans lookthe same to them--be it a Sonata, Camry, Accord, Civic, Corrola, etc. But they all immediatly recognize the distinctive corporate "faces" of BMWs, Mercedes, etc. Whether you like Bangle's styling or not, you have to admit that it is distinctive and can be recognized from a half a block away.
A good example of a corporate face that I think has a good chance of strengthening a car line is the back-end of Chevy's new Cobalt coupe. It shares the quad round taillights with the 'Vette (and the ads play off this too) and I think this will draw sales without diluting the 'Vette's image. And they look fairly good on it too, I daresay. But, as you mentioned, this "corporate identity" think can go horribly wrong too. Just look at that silly little Sunfire that thinks it is a WS6 Firebird.
Sage
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Well, I definitely agree that it can be taken much too far – for example, the Mercedes lineup is a bit too cookie-cutter, especially with the SL cars not looking any more spectacular than the lower models. I was mostly lamenting the total lack of visual identity. Look at Dodge – no one can say that a Neon looks like a Magnum in any respect, but both have the crosshair grille, which is sort of the Dodge "stamp". That's what I mean... I should be able to identify a car's manufacturer by more than a 3"x3" badge. I can identify an Apple product by its white or aluminum design; I can identify a Jansport backpack by its two-pocket design; Vans (shoes) can be identified by their flat-sided design. Design identity helps establish a brand, which isn't totally necessary (Toyota's doing fine without one), but it seems like a logical move to me.pupik
PublicSecrecy
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Wasnt the car identity recognition issue also brought for the new Ferrari F430 as well? I just seem to recall people complaining about how all Ferraris look the same, while they never even considered what "brand identity" is.
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- matthewjlcoleman
All Ferraris don't look the same to me...
PublicSecrecy
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They dont all look the same i know, bot earlier someone was complaining going "omg blah blah blah Ferraris all have the same design wah wah wah dont they have any imagination why do all their cars shae the same head/tail lights fenders" etc. I was just pointing out brand identity.
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- matthewjlcoleman
Look at the F series, and then Maranello, Testarossa, etc. How about Modena or something? I mean, this person obviously doesn't know Ferraris.
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