No way. Yes, the first few months, sales may be higher, but after 6 months, RX will take the lead again. RX appeals to more folks that are typical Lexus owners.
Lexus NX may challenge RX for brand sales leader
http://www.autonews.com/article/201...allenge-rx-for-brand-sales-leader-outside-u-s
Automotive News said:TOKYO -- The new Lexus NX compact crossover, already racking thousands of orders in Japan, may unseat big sibling RX as the luxury brand’s top global nameplate. At least outside the U.S.
The NX went on sale in Japan on July 29, and the company has already booked 8,000 orders in the home market, Lexus International Executive Vice President Mark Templin said.
That compares with an initial monthly forecast of 700 here.
The company has also already notched a year’s worth of orders in Hong Kong and Taiwan, he added. And that comes on top of heavy order flow in Europe, Russia and China, he said.
The vehicle doesn’t even go on sale in the U.S. until November, and Toyota says it already has 5,000 American hand-raisers.
At the NX’s August line-off ceremony in Japan, Lexus General Manager Jeff Bracken forecast U.S. sales of 42,000 in 2015.
“Every market is exceeding our plan already,” Templin said this week at a launch event in Tokyo, declining detailed figures.
Some executives now forecast that the NX could eclipse the larger RX crossover as the brand’s best-selling vehicle outside the United States, Templin said. Its small size is better suited to demand in places like China, Europe and Japan, he added.
Globally, the RX is Lexus’ No. 1, with worldwide sales of 140,700 units last year. But 92,100 were sold in the U.S.
Outside the U.S., the RX is still tops, with 48,500 in sales.
Capacity challenge
The biggest challenge for the NX may be getting capacity.
Toyota Motor Corp. makes the NX only at its Miyata assembly plant in southwestern Japan. Miyata also makes the Lexus CT, HS, IS, ES and RX, as well as the Toyota Highlander and Sai hybrid.
Toyota initially targeted annual NX output of 80,000 units, which would rank the vehicle No. 3 in global and non-U.S. sales behind the RX and ES. But there is room for up to 40,000 more.
Miyata’s annual capacity is 430,000 vehicles.
But in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014, before adding the NX, the plant built just 310,000 units. And by dialing down output of the slow-selling HS and Sai, Toyota may eke even more volume.
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But the pricing may work in the NX's favour. I think it will be close. hard to say at this point.
The RX is getting up there in price and it looks old and tired next to the NX. This is one RX owner that is moving to the NX, once the fury dies down. Not going to pay over invoice.
Agree, don't want to pay over invoice. If the demand is there, it will be interesting to see how the dealers price it. Need to go with an attitude that I don't need the NX and stick with it.
I think that it will be a better battle once the RX gets its next update. Maybe it will begin to look a bit more like the NX once it gets a facelift.
I hope it's more than just a facelift but a whole redesign. I don't want to see the current RX next to the new one and see that it was just a facelift.I think that it will be a better battle once the RX gets its next update. Maybe it will begin to look a bit more like the NX once it gets a facelift.
Whether its a redesign or a facelift, I think that it will look more similar to the NX when its done. More of those origami folds and sculpting.
RX is not getting a facelift, its getting a redesign, once that happens the battle is no longer relevant. The RX currently straddles two segments which is why it blows competition out of the water on volume. Once it moves up a full segment the price will increase, the size will increase and the volume will decrease.I think that it will be a better battle once the RX gets its next update. Maybe it will begin to look a bit more like the NX once it gets a facelift.
The NX is taking up the mantle from the original RX...
So you think that instead of having just the RX be a super successful model, Lexus will have two relatively successful vehicles instead?RX is not getting a facelift, its getting a redesign, once that happens the battle is no longer relevant. The RX currently straddles two segments which is why it blows competition out of the water on volume. Once it moves up a full segment the price will increase, the size will increase and the volume will decrease.
The NX is taking up the mantle from the original RX...
For me, i just don't see much competition against the RX...and thus, it has been a best seller. I just don't see Lexus screwing with such a successful formula. If anything, they will maybe make a Lexus RX-L or something and add a 3rd row...maybe to replace GX in future? But RX will remain in the price bracket that it is now.
The NX is the entry level SUV for younger crowd. The problem with NX is that competition is very strong...RDX (and other cheaper small SUVs) down low, GLA & Q3 direct, and then squeeze up top by Porsche Macan. Don't forget about Mercedes having both GLK and GLA squeezing NX. If the NX does succeed, then it will be against lots of players...and these players already appeal to young folks. Lets face it, BMW 3-series and Audi's have horrible durability and maintenance costs...but they are uber popular among the young (well off) folks because of image and the fact that these folks don't keep their cars for a long time (thus, "FREE" scheduled maintenance works great!).
So, NX will sell good, but i doubt that it will ever come near RX. RX is just in a different league with its competitors...and most folks who shop for RX do care about durability and maintenance costs.
The NX is the entry level SUV for younger crowd. The problem with NX is that competition is very strong...RDX (and other cheaper small SUVs) down low, GLA & Q3 direct, and then squeeze up top by Porsche Macan. Don't forget about Mercedes having both GLK and GLA squeezing NX. If the NX does succeed, then it will be against lots of players...and these players already appeal to young folks. Lets face it, BMW 3-series and Audi's have horrible durability and maintenance costs...but they are uber popular among the young (well off) folks because of image and the fact that these folks don't keep their cars for a long time (thus, "FREE" scheduled maintenance works great!).
So, NX will sell good, but i doubt that it will ever come near RX. RX is just in a different league with its competitors...and most folks who shop for RX do care about durability and maintenance costs.
Good comment @Thai
I completely agree. The NX is up against stiff competition. I think that the RX is too but it has already proven that it is up to the task.
I completely agree. The NX is up against stiff competition. I think that the RX is too but it has already proven that it is up to the task.
Thanks! Let me ask you (honestly)...what is RX competition??? Caddy SRX? Mercedes ML? BMW X5? Infinity FX? Acura MDX?Good comment @Thai
I completely agree. The NX is up against stiff competition. I think that the RX is too but it has already proven that it is up to the task.
For me,
SRX is just crap...yeah, it is nice for an American car, but there is no appeal at all for me. Neither really sporty nor luxurious nor gaudy (like its big brother, Escalade) to really appeal to the masses.
ML...is probably close to RX, but Mercedes price it too high...with high maintenance costs too (without reputation of Lexus nor free maintenance). Too many variants...and, again, too costly for what you get.
X5...not in the same class simply bc it is a performance SUV...thus appeals to different folks than RX buyers.
FX...same as X5, just uglier and less successful.
MDX...this is probably RX biggest competitor IMO. It is actually on my shopping list for my wife in the future. You get good reputation, low cost maintenance, and a pretty **** good SUV. But, again, MDX tries to do too much with the 3rd row (with no AC vents!), sporty handling with SH-AWD while being relatively big which does eliminate the luxurious cushy ride, various interior cheap plastics around, and too techy interior with too many screens to tap on.
RX is just perfect where it is at. It is reliable, durable, easy to operate, very quiet, nice luxurious ride without much float, roomy, and interior quality matches that of price tag.
My wife just wants the RX because of above. I am trying to expand her horizons! I am looking at NX for myself.
have you seen the new BMW X4? It looks okay, closer to an NX competitior than the X5.
Well, true...yet another NX competitor from a reputable (among young well off folks) company. This is why i do not think the NX will achieve RX-level sales.have you seen the new BMW X4? It looks okay, closer to an NX competitior than the X5.
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