[mojo]

Hear it straight from the horses mouth, Lexus Design Chief Yasuno Kajino explains the spindle.

“We have a challenge,” he explained. “Lexus is a young brand and our line-up is still very small compared to those of our rivals. We need to get noticed, and the way to do that is strong design.”

How does he judge what’s strong, as opposed to too strong? “We ask the customers,” he says. “It’s true that we have been told by our bosses to be bolder and more challenging, but the most important people to listen to are our customers – and they love what they see.”

I think the most important facet of the design language is controversy. There is no such thing as one size fits all, as much as the design is polarizing and invites powerful criticisms it has split public opinion. No matter where you go the debate is raging about the predator mouth, but the one thing that can never be said is that Lexus resembles someone else's ideas.

Just look at the evolution of the language:

 

[Kennedy]

I love how they have variations of the spindle grille. My favorite being the F-Sport/F grille that has a bunch of Lexus "L" all woven together.

 

[mister]

I think that it is a mistake to try to design a car that will appeal to everyone. Doing that will make the car appeal to no one. People have taste. Some like one thing and others like the total opposite. Its not about pleasing everyone, it is about being confident about your design and having purpose behind it. I think Lexus is doing really well in the design department compared to other brands. At least more memorable than others.

 

[Kennedy]

I think that it is a mistake to try to design a car that will appeal to everyone. Doing that will make the car appeal to no one. People have taste. Some like one thing and others like the total opposite. Its not about pleasing everyone, it is about being confident about your design and having purpose behind it. I think Lexus is doing really well in the design department compared to other brands. At least more memorable than others.

i totally agree with this.
not everyone will like the grille but they'll like so many more things about the car.

 

[toyotafan]

official trademark for "spindle grill" from Lexus

 

[mister]

Its about stirring emotions. Love it or hate it if it is talked about than the brand is creating an identity. Look at old Lexus grilles.

This gets lost in the pack with the Germans and other luxury car makers, but this...

gives you something to talk about.

 

[mojo]

I like it, its analogous to the BMW kidneys, a signature look that can be applied across the model line. I much prefer tying models together with a corporate grill than a cookie cutter scaling down of styling which ends up giving a russian doll effect across the model line up...

 

[toyotafan]

Everyone is playing the grill game.

Lexus Spindle

Acura Beak + LED lights

Infiniti grill

and even the germans..

BMW continues the evolution of the slug mouth from the E92.

Audi signature grill and awesome LED headlights. too bad the reset of the front end is as exciting as white toast.

]

Mercedes continues their nose piece and grill. Not as defined as the others but still easily recognized.

I think the most confusing brands in the market are the Koreans.

They continue to copy and change their designs as each evolution passes.

They are still searching for their identity.

 

[mister]

I like it, its analogous to the BMW kidneys, a signature look that can be applied across the model line. I much prefer tying models together with a corporate grill than a cookie cutter scaling down of styling which ends up giving a russian doll effect across the model line up...

What brand would you give as example of this? I was thinking Audi. There is very little difference between their models. Each one looks basically the same but smaller, or bigger, or hatchback, etc...

 

[Kennedy]

Everyone is playing the grill game.

Lexus Spindle

Acura Beak + LED lights

Infiniti grill

and even the germans..

BMW continues the evolution of the slug mouth from the E92.

Audi signature grill and awesome LED headlights. too bad the reset of the front end is as exciting as white toast.

]

Mercedes continues their nose piece and grill. Not as defined as the others but still easily recognized.

I think the most confusing brands in the market are the Koreans.

They continue to copy and change their designs as each evolution passes.

They are still searching for their identity.

the grille is also ugly on Kia's.
their K900 luxury sedan is supposed to have the best looking grille and even it is super ugly:

 

[toyotafan]

KIA is trying to establish themselves. Having their own signature grill was part of it

Its not that bad. I like the K900. Looking forward to seeing it in person.

 

[Kennedy]

I give them credit for that, at least they found their signature design. But i think they could have done a much better job.