More than oncein its astonishingly successful 15-year history, Toyota
Now here's theworld's richest car company to try again, with the debut of its L-Finessedesign philosophy on the 2006 Lexus GS sports sedan.
According to KenTomikawa, the president and CEO of Toyota Canada Inc., Lexus is making thischange to keep up with its new crop of buyers, who bring different demands tothe table.
''Once, a Lexuswas a very visible statement to others of its owner's success,'' Tomikawa says.''It was, and often still is, a status symbol for the affluent. Butincreasingly, affluent buyers are looking inward, desiring brands that reflecttheir own sense of values. Lexus is responding to this important shift in itscustomer base with a refocused emphasis on design and technology to createunique Lexus sophisticated performance.''
To that end, thenew GS and the other Lexus cars and SUVs will embrace the L-Finesse designapproach, which Tomikawa says ''embraces three elements:''
-incisivesimplicity for simple yet modern and striking styles,
-intriguingelegance for stylish yet warm and civilized designs, and
-seamlessanticipation of customers' needs and desires.
In Tomikawa'sview, the new design is ''strikingly different from previous Lexus models.''
From an ''architecturalstandpoint,'' the GS is supposed to mark a ''move towards a more sculpturaldirection...that is artistic, dynamic, simple... yet intriguing.''
A wheelbase that's51 mm longer results in short overhangs on the new GS, and that is supposed to ''createa wide, powerful stance. A long hood, pulled-back cabin and slingshot windowsrecall classic sports car proportions and the vertical grille surrounded byfour independent headlamps connects the new GS with the outgoing model, butwith a futuristic look.''
There will betwo versions of GS on sale inCanada
From the smallerengine, the GS will develop 245 hp and 228 lb-ft of torque. With the V-8, buyerscan expect 300 hp and 325 lb-ft or torque. Both engines will send power to the groundthrough a six-speed automatic with a sequential manual-shift mode.
For the firsttime, GS buyers will be able to add all-wheel-drive to the mix, but only as anoption in the GS 300. The base six and the 430 will be rear-wheel-drive.
Tomikawa thinkthe introduction of all-wheel-drive on a Lexus sedan for the first time is a bigdeal inCanada
As thepowertrains suggest, the GS is about more than just style. Stuart Payne, thedirector responsible for Lexus inCanada
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According to KenTomikawa, the president and CEO of Toyota Canada Inc., Lexus is making thischange to keep up with its new crop of buyers, who bring different demands tothe table.
''Once, a Lexuswas a very visible statement to others of its owner's success,'' Tomikawa says.''It was, and often still is, a status symbol for the affluent. Butincreasingly, affluent buyers are looking inward, desiring brands that reflecttheir own sense of values. Lexus is responding to this important shift in itscustomer base with a refocused emphasis on design and technology to createunique Lexus sophisticated performance.''
To that end, thenew GS and the other Lexus cars and SUVs will embrace the L-Finesse designapproach, which Tomikawa says ''embraces three elements:''
-incisivesimplicity for simple yet modern and striking styles,
-intriguingelegance for stylish yet warm and civilized designs, and
-seamlessanticipation of customers' needs and desires.
In Tomikawa'sview, the new design is ''strikingly different from previous Lexus models.''
From an ''architecturalstandpoint,'' the GS is supposed to mark a ''move towards a more sculpturaldirection...that is artistic, dynamic, simple... yet intriguing.''
 |
There will betwo versions of GS on sale in
From the smallerengine, the GS will develop 245 hp and 228 lb-ft of torque. With the V-8, buyerscan expect 300 hp and 325 lb-ft or torque. Both engines will send power to the groundthrough a six-speed automatic with a sequential manual-shift mode.
For the firsttime, GS buyers will be able to add all-wheel-drive to the mix, but only as anoption in the GS 300. The base six and the 430 will be rear-wheel-drive.
Tomikawa thinkthe introduction of all-wheel-drive on a Lexus sedan for the first time is a bigdeal in
As thepowertrains suggest, the GS is about more than just style. Stuart Payne, thedirector responsible for Lexus in