LEXUS ON A PRODUCT OFFENSIVE

Lexus, spurred on by parent Toyota’s renewed enthusiasm for cars, is off on its own charge for 2012. The Japanese premium brand has been shadowing its German counterparts for years now, due to several reasons, including apparent lack of product. Those days are suitably numbered.

For starters, the year 2012 will see a number of redesigns coming to the fore. Already we witnessed the brand new GS 350 at the 2011 Johannesburg International Motor Show (JIMS). That car launches in Mzansi next year. Following that will be reworked versions of the IS 250 and LS 460, probably in late 2012 or early 2013. In addition, Lexus says every model will now be offered with the option of hybrid power.

Then in 2014 the all-new RX SUV will debut to challenge the likes of Audi Q7 (all-new shape expected in 2012), Mercedes-Benz ML (new shape) and BMW X5.