Lexus has one major whole in its lineup – a three row crossover and apparently one Toyota exec is wishing that wasn’t the case.
Lexus has one major whole in its lineup – a three row crossover and apparently one Toyota exec is wishing that wasn’t the case. Jim Lentz, Toyota’s North American CEO recently revealed that he feels that it would have been a wiser choice for Lexus to have built a three-row crossover instead of the new RC coupe.
“In hindsight, if I was making this decision 10 years ago, seeing what I see today, the three-row [crossover] probably would have been the better play to come out first,” Lentz stated.
Sales of the RC coupe are off to a decent start with 4,258 units sold in the first four months of this year, but a three-row crossover would have brought in even higher numbers. Lexus does offer two three-row SUVs, the GX and LX, but they are old-school truck based SUVS. Lexus hasn’t revealed when it will release a more car-like three-row crossover, but Lexus division chief Jeff Bracken stated last year, “We feel like we’re missing a 35,000-units-a-year opportunity. We’re working hard to rectify that.”
Related: All-new 2016 Lexus RX debuts with a more dynamic look
Lexus may finally be working on a new three-row crossover, but one model that isn’t in the works is a Mercedes-Benz CLA or Audi A3 rival. Lexus has no plans to release a model below the $30,000 mark, according to Lentz. “Luxury cars cost a certain dollar amount for a reason. I don’t want to cheapen my cars just to offer a lease that’s $20 a month less.”
Source: Automotive News
