Why aren't Lexus selling this in the UK
Discussion
Okay so I kind of know the answer proper F mpdels don't sell well but damn it this IS500 looks & sounds great.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f_19BCNpx0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f_19BCNpx0
Lexus make some dam good looking & well spec'd cars for the Asian/North American markets.
Badge snob crap and very few people buying cars with large petrol engines is ultimately why few end up over here.
Perhaps why Toyota didn't bring the Mark X to the UK, 5 series car for 3 series money. the bog standard version has a 3.5v6 with 300hp , rwd, with same chassis as the Lexus GS.
Then there are the GRMN versions which are rather appealing in my opinion.
Likewise the Nissan G37 Skyline saloon, there was a Best Motoring video of a G37 , Toyota mk X having no problems coping with a BMW 335i, mercedes e350gdi and Audi A6 which when you consider in Japan a Toyota Mark X grmn/Skyline saloon is a decent amount cheaper than the Euro cars, nearly half the price of a BMW M3!
Badge snob crap and very few people buying cars with large petrol engines is ultimately why few end up over here.
Perhaps why Toyota didn't bring the Mark X to the UK, 5 series car for 3 series money. the bog standard version has a 3.5v6 with 300hp , rwd, with same chassis as the Lexus GS.
Then there are the GRMN versions which are rather appealing in my opinion.
Likewise the Nissan G37 Skyline saloon, there was a Best Motoring video of a G37 , Toyota mk X having no problems coping with a BMW 335i, mercedes e350gdi and Audi A6 which when you consider in Japan a Toyota Mark X grmn/Skyline saloon is a decent amount cheaper than the Euro cars, nearly half the price of a BMW M3!
ZX10R NIN said:
Okay so I kind of know the answer proper F mpdels don't sell well but damn it this IS500 looks & sounds great.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f_19BCNpx0
The answer is actually emissions. They can’t work this with EU CO2 regs and probably other particulateshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f_19BCNpx0
I think it's because the USA just gobble up big engine Lexus cars, the RCF and GSF sold in enormous numbers compared to the few hundred they sold here. I guess the cost of petrol could also have an influence there too.
The LC is probably more suited to USA roads than the UK hence the number sold in the USA, I think the LC convertible springs to mind so much better suited to the weather.
So I guess they took a marketing decision and left the UK out, not surprising really as most people in the UK would choose an M car or AMG over the Lexus model as far as I can ascertain.
Just extracted this from a review, this engine is in the current LC 500 that's still for sale in the UK.
Like the IS F, the new IS 500 F Sport Performance is the result of Lexus shoehorning its 5.0-liter V8 under the hood of its compact IS sedan. This engine is indeed the same 2UR-GSE V8 from the original IS F, as well as the subsequent GS F sedan and RC F coupe. In this application, the engine is tuned to produce 472 horsepower and 395 pound-feet of torque, sending that power exclusively to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The LC is probably more suited to USA roads than the UK hence the number sold in the USA, I think the LC convertible springs to mind so much better suited to the weather.
So I guess they took a marketing decision and left the UK out, not surprising really as most people in the UK would choose an M car or AMG over the Lexus model as far as I can ascertain.
Just extracted this from a review, this engine is in the current LC 500 that's still for sale in the UK.
Like the IS F, the new IS 500 F Sport Performance is the result of Lexus shoehorning its 5.0-liter V8 under the hood of its compact IS sedan. This engine is indeed the same 2UR-GSE V8 from the original IS F, as well as the subsequent GS F sedan and RC F coupe. In this application, the engine is tuned to produce 472 horsepower and 395 pound-feet of torque, sending that power exclusively to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Edited by BIRMA on Thursday 20th January 10:21
Edited by BIRMA on Thursday 20th January 20:56
aka_kerrly said:
Lexus make some dam good looking & well spec'd cars for the Asian/North American markets.
Badge snob crap and very few people buying cars with large petrol engines is ultimately why few end up over here.
Perhaps why Toyota didn't bring the Mark X to the UK, 5 series car for 3 series money. the bog standard version has a 3.5v6 with 300hp , rwd, with same chassis as the Lexus GS.
Then there are the GRMN versions which are rather appealing in my opinion.
Likewise the Nissan G37 Skyline saloon, there was a Best Motoring video of a G37 , Toyota mk X having no problems coping with a BMW 335i, mercedes e350gdi and Audi A6 which when you consider in Japan a Toyota Mark X grmn/Skyline saloon is a decent amount cheaper than the Euro cars, nearly half the price of a BMW M3!
Small correction sir - bog standard Mark X's had a 2.5l V6 and prices started at 2,901,000 yen (£18,645) in my brochure. The 4GR-FSE I think was in IS/GS250's sold over here Badge snob crap and very few people buying cars with large petrol engines is ultimately why few end up over here.
Perhaps why Toyota didn't bring the Mark X to the UK, 5 series car for 3 series money. the bog standard version has a 3.5v6 with 300hp , rwd, with same chassis as the Lexus GS.
Then there are the GRMN versions which are rather appealing in my opinion.
Likewise the Nissan G37 Skyline saloon, there was a Best Motoring video of a G37 , Toyota mk X having no problems coping with a BMW 335i, mercedes e350gdi and Audi A6 which when you consider in Japan a Toyota Mark X grmn/Skyline saloon is a decent amount cheaper than the Euro cars, nearly half the price of a BMW M3!
Then you also had the 350's with the 2GR-FSE (same engine as my Crown) with either flappy paddles or manual in the GRNM as above 
Would love the Crown's (same as above but with hybrid and auto's) top end Crown has same drivetrain as the current LS500h but is £30-£40k instead of the £74-£90k that Lexus charge
My experience (and watching those of my friends) with the Euro ones has not been positive, so I don't understand why people believe they've made it buying those.
Most Crown drivetrain parts are in the UK Lexus/Toyota range (therefore emissions can't be the problem) so must be that Toyota know that people won't buy them here seeing as the Camry's recently been discontinued
Edited by TommoAE86 on Thursday 20th January 21:58
Edited by TommoAE86 on Friday 21st January 08:36
ZX10R NIN said:
D4rez said:
The answer is actually emissions. They can’t work this with EU CO2 regs and probably other particulates
I thought this was a similar engine to the LC500/RC-F & they sell both over here, that Mark X GRMN looks smart.It is the same engine, bearing in mind Lexus only sold less than 70 GSF's in the UK (I'd argue that it is far superior to this) so it looks like a four door four seater V8 engined Lexus isn't very popular, so that must have had an influence on the decision.
Enclosed is a video by Savagegeese who are so good at reviewing cars.
They do mention that this car was requested by Lexus USA for the American market.
https://youtu.be/d3b8gwp8fQI
Edited by BIRMA on Friday 21st January 15:15
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