TTAC Hot Takes: In the Wake of NAIAS, There's No More Tie

(TTAC Hot Takes are video roundup posts which will occur whenever we can get Michael Accardi into hair and makeup. These posts are a mandate of our VerticalScope overlords, who are fascinated with the new video medium of YouTube. Watch our other videos here.)

This week, Michael summarizes all the best news bits from January 17th through the 24th, and we highlight some Premium Selects from the B&B comments section.

A Video

Premium Selects

Though Lexus hopes to draw in younger buyers with LC 500 product placement, Dal20402 had some lengthy thoughts [excerpted here] about SUV product planning over at the swooping L.

“Lexus knows exactly how to pick up new customers, and that’s by offering crossovers, crossovers, crossovers. Longer crossovers. Smaller crossovers. More seats and fewer seats.”

Last year, I Asked Jack whether I should trade the LS460 for a Lincoln MKT EcoBoost to solve these problems. (Reaction was 50/50.) After a test drive of an example that turned up locally after he ran the question, I decided not to. Refinement was the main reason. The MKT is nice enough, but it feels less like the special LS and more like… a pleasant enough rental car.

And this is a huge blown opportunity for Lexus.

It has all the pieces it needs to make a roomy family vehicle that feels just as special as the LS. But it’s never done so. Instead we get the RX, which is engineered to a much cheaper standard, and, well, an extended RX with a marginal third row. If we want to spend more, we get two BOF trucks, which have their charms but can’t be expected to be refined like cars. The RX has sold like gangbusters. I have to think that a more expensive, larger, much more refined RWD-based crossover would too.

Sirwired drove home an important point about those who are less fortunate financially, when it comes to , but Ronnie thinks they might need a name rethink first.

The first thing they have to do is change the company name, or at least the acronym GAC. Would you buy a PUK?

Though Peugeot has an .

Pretty sure that’s Bob Lutz in a wig.

Lou_BC wants GM to relax a bit, and not do it when it comes to is not as sure as Toyota that there needs to be a successor to the LFA

No. They want the successor to the Supra. Or AllTrac Turbo Celica. Or 1st gen MR2.

The LAPD