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LexusLexus has earned a well-deserved reputation for turning out utterly refined luxury vehicles. The hallmarks of this brand are a quiet, well-crafted cabin, a plush ride and commendable performance from powerful, nearly silent engines.
Launched by Toyota in the fall of 1989, the Lexus line represents the company's effort to create a world-class luxury-car brand. Groundwork for the Lexus line was laid in the mid-'80s, when the company began tapping U.S. focus groups in an attempt to define design concepts best suited for American consumers. Hundreds of prototypes were built and tested on Germany's autobahn and on U.S. roads.
In early 1989, Lexus unveiled its first two models (which would debut for the 1990 model year) -- the entry-level ES 250 and the flagship LS 400. The LS 400 was lauded by both journalists and consumers alike for offering a stellar luxury-car experience, with a remarkably silent cabin and a refined engine. The cars were, however, panned by some for being somewhat less exciting than their European competitors because of bland styling and a suspension that placed plush ride quality over sporty handling dynamics.
By the early 1990s, the Lexus brand was expanded to other markets, including the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. Additional cars were also added to the lineup, including the SC 300 and SC 400 coupes and the brand's first luxury performance sedan, the GS 300. Over the next few years, the company grew its line to include SUVs, with the addition of the LX 450 and RX 300. By the end of the decade, Lexus had sold over a million vehicles in the U.S. The 2000s saw Lexus proving itself a trendsetter with the launch of the world's first luxury hybrid SUV, the RX 400h.
In the years since its inception, the Lexus brand has distinguished itself time and again in quality and reliability surveys. The brand may not offer as much passion as its Teutonic rivals, but for drivers interested in vehicles that emphasize quality, dependability and comfort, the Lexus marque can't be beat.
In August 1983 Lexus was born. Toyota had a top secret meeting to declare that the time was right to create a luxury vehicle to challenge the world’s best. Just 2 years later the first prototype LS 400 is built. It was unveiled to the world in 1989, at a Detroit and Los Angeles auto show, and is later names Car and Driver 10 Best list and wins best imported car of the year in February 1990.
Lexus came top of the J.D power and Associates Customer satisfaction study as the number one Carline and the Sales satisfaction study as the Best overall carline. January 1993 was the introduction of Lexus’ first luxury performance sedan, the GS 300.
Over the next 2 years Lexus went on to win the J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study (IQS), with the Best Overall Carline ranking, is also ranked as the #1 Carline in the J.D. Power and Associates Customer Satisfaction Study for the fourth straight year and as the Best Overall Carline in Sales Satisfaction for the third time in four years.
In January 2006 Lexus introduced the LX 450, a luxury sports-utility vehicle. Only 2 moths after it was released it climbed to the top of the luxury SUV segment, surpassing Land Rover in its units sold.
March 1997 Lexus ranks as the #1 Nameplate in the J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study, registering the fewest problems after five years of ownership, for its third consecutive year. The same year sees the introduction of the more powerful GS line, with the V8-powered GS 400 joining the GS 300. This new line is named Motor Trend’s imported Car of the year.
A new breed of SUV, the RX 300, is unveiled at the North American International Auto Show. Along with the more powerful LX 470, it creates the ultimate luxury SUV line. The RX 300 goes on the be names Sports/Utility of the year, which creates a new category in the recognition of the immense popularity of SUV’s.
By November 1999, Lexus celebrate the sale of their millionth car in the US, and also for the fourth consecutive year Lexus posts best ever annual sales. In October 2001, Lexus finishes first in all three luxury car categories in the J.D. Power and Associates 2001 Automotive, Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study. The Lexus LS 430 is ranked Most Appealing Premium Luxury Car, the GS 430 and GS 300 are ranked Most Appealing Mid Luxury Car, and the ES 300 is ranked Most Appealing Entry Luxury Car.
2005 saw Lexus introduce the world’s first luxury hybrid, the much-anticipated RX 400h. Combining unexpected power, improved fuel efficiency and uncompromising luxury, the RX Hybrid makes automotive history.
Lexus Trophy case is impressive and they continue to produce award winning luxury cars to this day.
Lexus is a brand name used by Toyota in North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand for luxury automobiles. Some believe the name comes from the combination of "luxury" and "elegance". It directly competes with such traditional luxury brands as Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Toyota will market the brand name in Japan in 2005.
Lexus was inspired by the success of the luxury Toyota Supra and the Toyota Cressida models. Both the Supra and Cressida were rear wheel drive cars with a powerful (7M-GE/7M-GTE) type engine.
The first Lexus-branded models, the V-8 powered LS 400 and the smaller ES250, appeared in 1989. The similarity of the name Lexus as well as the fact they shared a common market (wealthy lawyers) promptly provoked an unsuccessful lawsuit from the owners of the LexisNexis database service.
The flagship LS400, known as the Toyota Celsior in the Japanese domestic market, had a unique design, sharing no major elements with previous Toyota vehicles, with a new 4.0*L V8 engine. It was widely praised for its quietness, well-appointed interior, fine engine performance, outstanding build quality, and value. (In some markets, it was priced against Mercedes-Benz's and BMW's mid-sized models, while offering size, performance, and quality comparable to their full-size cars). It was generally regarded as a major shock to the European marques, but it has never managed to gain the affection of the public in the way of the older luxury manufacturers (a fact not helped by anonymous styling and suspension regarded by reviewers outside the U.S. as a compromise of handling for ride comfort). It won several major motoring awards when released.
These virtues have been maintained in subsequent iterations of the LS, including the LS 430, and the range has been expanded with other models (the Toyota Camry-based ES 330 , the small, sporty, rear-drive IS 200 and IS 300 (based on the Japanese Domestic Market Toyota Altezza), the Toyota Land Cruiser-based LX 470 SUV, and the GS models). The world's second mass-production hybrid SUV was a Lexus (After the Ford Escape SUV in summer 2004). The SC300/400 was Lexus' first coupe that made its way to the United States.
At their car dealers, they are known to have quality customer service, with courteous employees, and refreshments and some have internet connection.
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