Filed under: Trends, Coupes, Hybrids/Alternative, Sedans/Saloons, SUVs, Crossovers/CUVs, Lexus, Toyota
The future of Toyota and Lexus: Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes
In order to become the world's largest automaker you need a gameplan, and Toyota's apparently got one. AutoWeek has peered into its crystal ball and consulted each one of its inside sources to chart the changes at Toyota and Lexus over the next five years. Here's what they foresee for the Japanese juggernaut minus vehicles that have recently been introduced or substantially redesigned.
TOYOTA
- Prius – Redesign for 2010 or 2011 with plug-in capability, still odd looking
- Corolla – Redesign delayed until 2008 to combat Honda Civic and Mazda3
- Matrix – Redesign after Corolla in 2009, destination vehicle for Scion owners
- Camry Solara – Killed after 2008, coupe could return by 2010
- Supra – Not going to happen, all rumors to the contrary false
- Sienna – Redesign for spring 2009 with hybrid version
- Highlander – Redesign for 2008 on larger Avalon platform
- FT-SX – New large crossover for 2008 similar to Chrysler Pacifica
- Tundra – 2007 model arrives in January, heavy-duty versions possible
- Sequoia – Redesigned for 2008 on new Tundra platform
- Land Cruiser – Reengineered version arrives in 2008
[Source: AutoWeek]
LEXUS
- IS250/350 – Coupe variant for 2008 (What about the IS500?)
- LS460 – 2007 model about to bow with LS600hL hybrid version
- SC430 – Redesign in mid-2007 to compete with BMW 6-Series
- LF-A – Arrives late 2007, early 2008 with 500-hp V8
- RX350/400h – Redesign in early 2008 to compete with larger Acura MDX
- JX470 – For mid-2007 built off GS platform to compete with Infiniti FX35/45
- Small crossover – RAV4-based luxury mini-ute being considered
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Sid 11:40AM (8/15/2006)
The Toyota list is interesting. Apart from the Prius and the Corolla/Matrix duo, every other vehicle is large vehicle.
As for Lexus - Even more SUVs. And I can't believe they're keeping SC around. We'll...it gives the 6 Series good company. Both are ugly and overpriced.
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rwdmtparkingonly 11:41AM (8/15/2006)
Looks like I'll be hanging on to my MR2 Spyder for a long time.
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Big Al 11:45AM (8/15/2006)
Maybe Toyota should consider some ch-ch-ch-changes that would result in less rr-rr-rr-recalls.
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Corey W. 11:50AM (8/15/2006)
Supra – Not going to happen, all rumors to the contrary false
D@MN!!!
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Kowell 11:51AM (8/15/2006)
They forgot to add.... "all of wich will continue to be americanised, grow to 125% of their current size, gain 50Hp or more, lose 40% of their fuel economy and gain 5k minimum in base sticker price."
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Lucas 11:53AM (8/15/2006)
What ever happened to the performance? We all might not want supras, but we might want a mr2 with cajones, a celica all-trac, or even a new variant of the trueno or sprinter to bring back the non vanilla ages. Toyota styling has become pergatory.
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38off 12:04PM (8/15/2006)
Wow -- they are departing from their standard practice of a 5 year re-design schedule. For example, current Prius model goes 6-7 years, the Sienna goes 6 years, and the Corolla 6 years. Their cars are going to be a little more "stale" than they have in the past, but perhaps they need to do this to improve quality or some growing pains. Anyone have any insights?
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aliasfox 12:22PM (8/15/2006)
Toyota's designers can't keep up with the five year schedule (that's why we're getting so many yawn-mobiles with big butts), so they're moving to six and seven year schedules to give them time to design something different.
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UpIrons 12:33PM (8/15/2006)
My answer to #7, pure speculation on my part of course, is that maybe Toyota is finally realizing that even though they CAN produce a new car design in 5 years or less, they start to lose business by doing this nowadays. It worked well when everyone was leasing but I believe that leases are down compared to longer term car loans. Well it stands to reason that if you wait until your car loan is in its' final year before buying your next car (when you would possibly have some equity for trade) then you might decide to wait even longer since "toyota came out with that new design last year".
I know a few people who purchased an Accord and are not happy that Honda redesigned it again before they are even done with their loan and now they're not even in the market because the Accord is already a year into it's new design, so why not wait until the next go around and get the new Accord design in 3 years-that is their reasoning anyway.
I just don't think it makes sense anymore for automakers to come out with complete redesigns so often when your typical car loan is 5 years. It makes more sense to hit those return customers up every 5 years with your new design so that everyone's happy.
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N Z K 12:36PM (8/15/2006)
>>FT-SX – New large crossover for 2008 similar to Chrysler Pacifica
Isn't that what the Highlander is already supposed to be?
And doesn't it seem like an awful lot of these lineups are targeted to compete with a specific model from another manufacturer? I guess Toyota's line of thinking is roughly: "Why do your own market research when other companies can do it for you?" May save some money, but nobody could possibly regard Toyota as a company at which innovative thinking is given any sort of encouragement, their hybrid program aside.
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Oshawa forever 12:41PM (8/15/2006)
Bla Bla Bla Bla...
More boring cars and truck...
Toyota will never change. They must put out the ugliest card and trucks I ever seen.
P.S don't forget the recalls.
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GrowUp 12:50PM (8/15/2006)
A bunch of larger vehicles...they really do want to be the next GM, huh?
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Lee Gibson 12:58PM (8/15/2006)
In other words...YAWN. Absolutely nothing worth looking at.
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Tom Petrov 1:00PM (8/15/2006)
" I guess Toyota's line of thinking is roughly: "Why do your own market research when other companies can do it for you?" May save some money, but nobody could possibly regard Toyota as a company at which innovative thinking is given any sort of encouragement, their hybrid program aside.
"
I have to agree with you here. Not sure if it is intended or not, but Toyota can watch how the market shifts to different vehicles. For example, Toyota is abondoning the LX470 for a cross over FX type truck while GM is struggling to sell their Escalade. It makes more sense for Toyota to let the LX470 die than redesign it and the die. Total waste of money.
Also, Toyota is in a great position to watch how consumers react to the Camaro before they bring out the Supra once again.
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Robert Aitchison 1:03PM (8/15/2006)
Damn I have to wait till 2009 for a hybrid minivan? I guess they figure the current Sienna is already selling well with the Odyssey as it's only real competition. I had heard an earlier rumor that we were talking about a mid 2007 introduction on the current platform that I liked a lot better.
I admit it does seem odd that they are making most of their cars bigger at a time when fuel economy is a bigger selling point than it has been in 30 years.
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goodduck 1:15PM (8/15/2006)
I think some of these "rumors" are a bit off.
The supra is not really being killed. its going to return as the lexus LF-1 in a few years. They have been testing prototypes at the nurburgring.
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Richard Warren 1:21PM (8/15/2006)
You know what's interesting here? The increase in life cycle. Anyone old enough here to remember 3 year life cycles, that would have been the domestic companies.
While you are thinking about that, remember when they were bitched at as changing too often.
Remember when everyone wanted FWD and bitched at the domestics for not having it? Now everyone wants RWD again and they are bitching that the domestics don't have it.
Everything changes and nothing changes. Life cycles are just that, not what we decide but what they decide.
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Charles S 1:31PM (8/15/2006)
I'm not in a market for a Truck or a Sports car, so I can care less if the next Tundra/(ex)Supra is more or less "exciting" compare to next Hummer, Charger, or Camero. It doesn't matter what a few may like or dislike about a certain brand of cars; this post is not about Toyota's popularity.
This is a list for potential buyers who may be ready to buy a few years down the road.
If I was in the market for a new Minivan today, now I know Sienna won't get a new update til 2009. I see this list as a guide, not as an opportunity to whine, cause people got nothing better to do but huff and puff about brand loyalties.
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funksobruva 1:41PM (8/15/2006)
Spring '09 for the hybrid van...
Oh well: Gotta make the Passat wagon last another year past the original plan.
Anyone wanna tell my kids they gotta wait longer for the integrated Xbox 360???
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JZeke 1:53PM (8/15/2006)
I dont see new Scions in that list. However Toyota has stated that all new Scions will replace existing models. That would form Scion's brand continuation strategy. So wheres the forecast on that?
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