I still think Toyota blew it

"BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather" (bugeyedacura) 12/20/2013 at 15:35 • Filed to: None

0

6

The GT86 sedan they keep talking about should have DEFINITELY been the new Lexus IS. I know I've posted about this before, but every time the idea of a GT86 sedan is brought up (MT is posting the story again talking about it coming to Detroit) I can't help but wonder who screwed up that bad back at the home office.

Ian Duer (320b) > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 12/20/2013 at 15:40

1

For what it's worth they screwed the IS up the moment they ditched the I6 MT combo. Could have made it into the Japanese 3 series if they'd have tried properly.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Ian Duer (320b) 12/20/2013 at 15:42

0

I think they leap frogged BMW and gave up on the sport and dropped into Merc territory where the sport/lux side to lux.

brakesnow > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 12/20/2013 at 15:46

1

They absolutely screwed it up for the enthusiasts. But for the other 85+% of the market? They would have hated it. A GT86 sedan would be just that, a GT86 sedan, not the new IS. Very different target market.

Ian Duer (320b) > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 12/20/2013 at 15:47

1

I often wondered what infinity could have done with a Cedric/Silvia derived small sports/lux offering. It's too bad Cadillac and their ATS are considered one of the few legit contenders for the 3-series crown. I sort of feel like BMW has been resting on their laurels too long.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > brakesnow 12/20/2013 at 16:52

0

The other 85% of the market is still buying the German cars. They've alienated their core market for the IS to make a car for people who aren't going to buy it anyway! You can talk about the market, but the market is actually the one letting them down.

brakesnow > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 12/20/2013 at 17:00

0

The core market for the IS was never looking for an overly sporty sedan to begin with. Most IS drivers are looking for near-German levels of luxury and prestige with Japanese reliability at a lower pricepoint. Performance was never a huge part of the equation. I'm not saying it couldn't be part of it in the future, however.