[Lex Luther]

Toyota promoted its global design chief, Tokuo Fukuichi, to head the company's Lexus division.

Previously, Fukuichi served as an executive vice president under Kiyotaka Ise's leadership at Lexus, and he will retain his responsibilitiesas chief officer of design for all of Toyota's automotive brands.

Fukuichi is known for taking risks and encouraging experimentation with new concepts. So this should mean exciting things for future Lexus models and concepts.

"Toyota's problem was that it had too many filters," Fukuichi said in 2012 after the company began to change its design approach, reducing the number of executives involved in design review. "When you have that many people weighing in, you end up developing cars by eliminating the negatives, not by creating something positive, by taking risks."

This move comes as a part of president Akio Toyoda's push to bring more character to future Toyota and Lexus vehicles. Lexus is working to regain its luxury car sales lead since it lost it to BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

 

[rwdftw]

What cars has Tokuo Fukuichi designed under his belt?

 

[soarer]

Didn't think lexus needed this seeing how well they've been doing over the past years. Hopefully he makes things even better.

 

[Lex Luther]

Didn't think lexus needed this seeing how well they've been doing over the past years. Hopefully he makes things even better.

Yea I was surprised a bit at the change only because it seems like Lexus was already pushing boundaries and taking risks. Maybe they just wanted to make sure they keep up the good work and innovation.

I'm pretty sure that Fukuichi has overseen such vehicles as the Lexus LFA, GT 86 sportscar, and the 2014 Toyota Corolla. Not to mention the new FT-1 concept.

 

[rwdftw]

so did Fukuichi design Lexus vehicles in the past?

 

[soarer]

so did Fukuichi design Lexus vehicles in the past?

Not sure, maybe he helped with the design process, maybe he worked at calty in California? Not sure.

 

[rwdftw]

im a bit confused because the title mentions he was promoted to head lexus division yet in the writing it sais he is still in charge of toyota design.