20 New and Redesigned Toyota, Lexus and Scion Models On The Way

Toyota is preparing to unleash a long list of revamped cars and trucks on the United States over the course of the next three years. These vehicles, some of which are complete redesigns, are meant to help reinvigorate customer interest in the Japanese brand, which has seen its sales slip through the combined effects of its recall fiasco and the production slowdown caused by March’s devastating earthquake in Japan.

2011 has already been a busy year in terms of product introductions for Toyota, as well as for its Scion and Lexus divisions. The 2012 Toyota Camry and 2012 Toyota Yaris were each unveiled this past month, and although neither model strayed all that far from their established formula they represent important improvements to the company’s lineup. Other new vehicles of note include the 2013 Lexus GS sedan, which displays a much edgier interpretation of the L Finesse design language, as well as the Toyota Prius v, which offers a larger version of the world’s most popular hybrid car.

Not all of Toyota’s recent vehicle launches have been as well-timed, or as well-received as the company would have liked. The announcement of a battery-powered version of the popular Toyota RAV4 compact crossover was greeted with a tepid response on the part of new car shoppers, and the subcompact Scion iQ also found an indifferent audience, largely due to its unimpressive fuel economy when compared against more practical competitors. The Scion FR-S compact coupe has certainly been praised for its beautiful shape and promise of an exciting driving experience, but production delays and a lack of details regarding its mechanical attributes have held the vehicle back from being a true home run for Toyota.

Will Toyota’s upcoming roster of new cars and trucks be able to overcome the mixed reception given to its 2011 product introductions? According to an article published in The Automotive News, 2013 will see two important Lexus redesigns: the entry-level Lexus IS and the Lexus ES mid-size sedan. The latter is one of the luxury automaker’s best-selling vehicles, which indicates that it could follow the same type of conservative, refined evolutionary approach taken with the Toyota Camry. The Lexus IS has never quite captured the same sporting character exemplified by the class-leading BMW 3 Series, suggesting that the next generation of the sedan and convertible may feature a more playful chassis than the current edition.

Also due for attention in 2013 are the Toyota Avalon full-size sedan, an all-new version of the Toyota RAV4, a fresh version Toyota Highlander mid-size crossover and the Scion xD subcompact, as well as a mild restyling of the Toyota Tacoma compact pickup.

Further out on the horizon (for 2014 and 2015) are redesigns for much of the rest of the Lexus lineup, including the Lexus LS full-size sedan, the Lexus HS hybrid and the perennially strong-selling Lexus RX crossover. Stalwarts in the Toyota stable will also be re-engineered during this period, including the Toyota Corolla and the Toyota Prius. By 2014, Toyota’s truck and large SUV contenders, such as the Toyota Sequoia and the Toyota Tundra will finally benefit from long-awaited redesigns that could see the platform-mates no longer sharing the same full-frame design. A sedan-based Sequoia would be a more competitive offering to go up against vehicles such as the Chevrolet Traverse, while the Tundra’s fuel economy and ride quality will undoubtedly be addressed in order to stay current in the increasingly tight full-size pickup segment. Toyota will also redesign the vaunted Toyota Land Cruiser for that same model year, and although the iconic model has never been a volume seller for the brand it remains one of the most competent vehicles in the company’s portfolio.

In addition to Toyota’s full plate of redesigns, brand new models from the company such as the Scion A-BAT, the Toyota FT-86 (or Scion FR-S, depending on how it is branded) and the Lexus LFA roadster will debut during this two year period. The LFA will remain a halo vehicle pushing very few units on a yearly basis, but the FT-86 and the A-BAT display the potential to be seen by the public as the first truly fun Toyota options to be offered in several years. The Scion A-BAT compact crossover pickup in particular will have the opportunity to blur the lines between established segments and draw in the younger buyers that the style-oriented automaker has been craving ever since it was first conceived by Toyota executives.