According to Winding Road, the new issue of Autocar is reporting that Lexus will be moving away from the L-Finesse design language used to style their cars over the last two years.

L-Finesse, which was created by Leonardo Fioravanti, first appeared in production form with the introduction of the 2006 GS model, and was meant to embody three essential qualities: Intriguing Elegance, Incisive Simplicity, and Seamless Anticipation. In practical terms, the vehicles using the L-Finesse language had some common features, including a fastback profile, a lower set grille and the use of both concave and convex surfaces.

There’s no mention of when L-Finesse will be discontinued, or what will come next, but I’m taking this news with some cautious optimism. I much preferred when the Lexus lineup didn’t all resemble one another, when it wasn’t just variations on the same theme. Still, there’s no saying that the future direction of the brand styling will be any different in that regard.

Building off his presentation at the Automotive News World Congress, Lexus general manager Mark Templin outlined the future direction of Lexus dealerships in the US in an interview with Ward’s.

There’s a lot of information hidden in the details, but the primary point made is that Lexus will start to take on some characteristics of Scion, particularly in the way it deals with younger customers:

We’re learning about what young people want,” says Templin…“And that gives us a glimpse into the future. We can see what our future looks like by looking back and seeing what those people want today.

“The reality is, we’re all going to become like those young people. They’re not going to become like us.”

What Scion buyers want – and future Lexus customers will desire, as well – is a quicker purchasing and no-fuss service experience.

“Time is very important for them,” Templeton says of the Scion customer. “So we have to figure out how to speed up the process for them, whether it’s buying the car or whether it’s the parts and services side of the business. Those are important things.”

What’s interesting is how Templin plans to introduce these elements into the Lexus experience, with the most notable being “around-the-clock service facilities”. I can’t even imagine how difficult it would be to pull this off, though it’s an easy statement to misinterpret. It could mean that servicing and repair could be put on a 24-hour schedule, and not that it would be possible to get an oil change at three in the morning. But who knows? It would certainly be a one-of-a-kind service, that’s for sure.

It’s an indepth interview, and very interesting to read.

[Via: TTAC]

In a presentation at the Automotive News World Congress, Lexus General Manager Mark Templin outlined the automaker’s plans to enhance their US dealerships even further:

” We’re trying to create a feeling in our car dealerships more of a luxury hotel than a car dealership,” Templin said after his presentation.

The dealerships also want to have creature comforts so that buyers and prospective buyers can ” hang out” if they like, Templin said.

Almost all stores have a price menu for repairs and maintenance so customers can feel assured they’re paying the same as everybody else for service, Templin said.

This is a smart move by Lexus, the differences between luxury vehicles is getting smaller and smaller, and improving upon already exemplary customer service is a great way to differentiate from the competition. This is going to be a common path for all car companies in the very near future, luxury models or otherwise.

It’s also important to note that dealerships are responsible for their own upgrades, and in the last three years have spent over $1 billion on improving their facilities. There is a financial benefit to the spending, though, as that reinvestment means the dealership can request more vehicles from Lexus.

Having only visited one Lexus dealership in the United States, I ask my American readers: Are these price menus prominently displayed, and what types of options are listed? There’s something similar at my local dealer here in Canada, but it only covers oil changes and tire rotations, the smaller services.

It almost seems like the LF-A Roadster Concept is playing second-fiddle to the Lexus amenities at the Detroit Auto Show — The Driving Woman weblog (who’s been providing insightful updates since the convention doors opened) shares their experience:

Whenever I thought that the show was getting to me I just climbed that set of stairs, relaxed into a fabulous bamboo chair, ate organic goodies and sipped cucumber infused mineral water. And when I got my head healed upstairs, I descended to Lexus’s main floor for a chair massage.

“Is this a prototype for Lexus’s dealership of the future?” I inquired of Mark Lawrence, Creative Director at George P. Johnson Event Marketing Agency, who helped to conceptualize the booth.

“We did a discovery process on where Lexus wanted to take the consumer experience,” Lawrence noted. “And yes, the overall theme is a hi-end boutique auto dealership. It’s all about contemporary luxury.”

“The lounge was designed as the ultimate experience in a harried workday environment as a place to relax and refuel,” he added. “Yes, refuel,” I thought, grabbing a couple more chocolate chip cookies and a handful of organic almonds.

Lexus’ presence at the Detroit Auto Show isn’t just limited to their impressive booth, there was also a Luxury Lounge, where harried reporters could take some time to relax. MLive reports:

I have heard that Lexus knows how to take care of their customers (think: fancy buffets and massages while getting your car serviced at the dealership.) The car company brought these decadent sensibilities with them to the North American International Auto Show, with their Lexus Luxury Lounge.

While many car companies had displays catering to journalists’ needs, the most impressive of these had to be the Lexus Luxury Lounge. If other displays were like mini bars or coffee shops, Lexus offered the mini country club, smack in the middle of Cobo.

Seems as though Lexus went out of their way this year to make a serious impression, and judging by the various accounts, I’d say they were quite successful.

Industrial Design website Core77 took a trip to the Detroit Auto Show and came away particularly impressed with the Lexus booth:

Designed by Mark Lawrence of the George P. Johnson Company, Lexus’ new exhibit combines highly refined materials and strong organizational qualities. Much of exhibit design is marketing through architecture, and this stand speaks very well for the brand. Abundant use of stainless steel and glass is paired with stone and wood, reflecting Lexus’ design philosophy of technology balanced with humanity.

It’s a unique perspective, for sure. Writer Michael Doyle even admits he’s more interested the architecture than the cars themselves, though I don’t find it all that surprising — all those photos of the Lexus exhibit and not even a glimpse of the new LF-A Roadster Concept!