Where is Lexus NX assembled?

The history of Lexus begins in Japan in the city of Toyota. Toyota Motors Corporation creates its own Lexus division, which is aimed at the US and European markets, with luxury models. The entire history of the Actomobile intersects with the word Lux, hence the name “Lexus”. The main goal of the company was the development and production of expensive prestigious cars with leading characteristics of comfort, transmission, engine, handling and smooth ride.

In August 1983, a secret meeting of the board of directors of Toyota Motors Corporation was held, where Eiji Toyoda, the chairman of the board, proposed an idea in which the main idea was to create the best cars in the world. In order to prevent people from having any associations with Toyota, a brand called “Lexus” was invented.

To develop the first car, 1,400 of the best designers and engineers were recruited. The task before them was very difficult: to make a luxury car, the best in all characteristics, and cost less than its competitors. A special survey group was created with the task of finding out what US buyers really want.

In July 1985, the first Lexus LS 400 rolled off the lot. In May 1986, it underwent extensive test drives in Germany and only in January 1989 was presented at auto shows in Detroit and Los Angeles. In September 1989, sales of this car began in the USA. Externally, the Lexus LS400 - the very first Lexus - had nothing in common with Japanese cars. It was immediately made with Americans in mind. This suggested that who had a hand in the body?

Which of the famous Italian carrosser designers. And over time, this was confirmed - the later Lexus GS300 with a streamlined body was created by Giorgetto Giugiaro. One of the company's most prestigious models is the GS 300 3T sports sedan with a souped-up engine developed by Toyota's Cologne Motosport department.

In February 1990, the American press named the luxury sedan Lexus LS 400, distinguished by its power and at the same time efficiency thanks to its successful aerodynamics, as the best car imported into the United States.

In May 1991, the second Lexus went into production with the index SC 400 (coupe), an export version of the Toyota Soarer for the North American market. After restyling in 1998, external differences with the Toyota Soarer almost disappeared.

The five-seat Lexus ES 300 sedan was first shown in the summer of 1991, a special version of the Toyota Camry for the American market.

In January 1993, the Lexus GS 300 premiered.

The Lexus family of cars also has its own luxurious all-wheel drive SUV, the Lexus LX 450, which combines the style of a luxury executive car with the advantages of the Toyota Land Cruiser HDJ 80 SUV. The LX 470 model, a large executive all-wheel drive SUV, a luxury version of the Toyota Land Cruiser 100, replaced the Lexus LX in 1998 450.

In the fall of 1998, the first show of the IS model produced by the Japanese company Toyota Motor took place. In the spring of 1999, the first compact Lexus model, the IS 200, appeared on the European and American markets.

The beginning of 2000, as has become customary, was marked by updates. In January, in Los Angeles, Lexus demonstrates a variation on the theme of the quickly becoming popular IS200 - IS300, and in Detroit it exhibits a reincarnation of the company's legendary LS400 model - LS430. The new flagship of the lineup was equipped with the latest technology and design: navigation system, DVD, leather and walnut wood in the interior, V8 engine with a capacity of 4300 cc, 280 horsepower and 417 Nm of torque, acceleration to 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds, 5-speed automatic transmission. On top of that, the LS430 had the lowest drag coefficient among cars in its class. In April 2000, at the New York Auto Show, Lexus announced the imminent appearance of the SC430 model. In the same month, the company announced that by 2003 the RX300 would be produced at Toyota's car plant in Canada (prior to this, Lexus assembled its cars only in Japan). In June, the IS300 goes on sale; in August, Lexus becomes the first US imported luxury brand to sell more than 20,000 copies of its cars in a month; in September, the GS430 replaces the GS400. In October I went into the LS430 series. The results of 2000 showed that this time (for the fifth year in a row) Lexus increased its sales, ahead of all other luxury brands in the US automobile market.

In January 2001, Toyota announced that the engines and suspension for the RX300 would be produced at its Buffalo plant. At the same time, at the Detroit Auto Show, models such as the IS300 SportCross, IS300 Manual Transmission and the SC430, which was already being prepared for the imminent launch into production, were shown. The IS300 SportCross was equipped with an option such as gear shift buttons on the steering wheel, allowing you to manually manipulate gears without using the automatic transmission. IS300 Manual Transmission, as the name suggests, was equipped with a manual transmission instead of an automatic transmission. Sales of the SC430 started in March; By this time, orders for it had already been filled until the end of the year. The design of this hardtop, which can transform into an open coupe in 25 seconds without any effort on the part of the driver, was developed at the Lexus European Design and Development Center on the French Riviera. The IS300 SportCross and IS300 Manual Transmission went on sale in August, and in October the completely updated third generation ES300 goes on sale - more luxurious, more spacious, giving more comfort, style and driving pleasure.

In 2002, Lexus got its first official dealer in Russia - in Moscow (a year later there were two official dealers in Moscow). In June of the same year, another blockbuster from the famous master of this cinematic genre, Steven Spielberg, was released on US screens. The film was called (in Russian distribution - “Minority Report”), and the car for the main character was developed by Lexus. The red concept, powered by fuel cells, became a prominent element of the video series. In addition to this entry into the art of cinema, Lexus continued to develop new modifications of its production models - the IS200 SportCross, equipped with a 2-liter engine with VVT-i, appeared at the Paris Motor Show. And in November 2002, a new model began to be sold in the United States - the Lexus GX470, characterized by the words “rough luxury”. This SUV (its analogue sold in Japan is the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, the latest model at the time of this writing in the 120 series) is equipped with a suspension that can vary in height depending on the driving style (complete off-road or smooth autobahn) for the most optimal control by car.

In the spring of 2003, in March, at the Detroit Auto Show, Lexus presented the successor to its well-known RX300 model - a more dynamic and modern RX330, equipped with an engine with a volume increased to 3300 cc, the latest technological advances, luxury options, with a body slightly larger in size than its predecessor. . This model, as before, was intended for the US market. For Europe, a version with a 3-liter engine was provided, still called RX300; Sales of this new product on the European market began in May 2003 and in the first month the RX300 overtook all competitors in its class in terms of the number of copies sold. Then, in May, at the New York auto show, Lexus premiered a concept car - HPX (High Performance Crossover). This concept, which combines the features of an SUV and a sedan, is a step towards the increasingly active crossover market. In September, assembly of Lexus vehicles began as planned at the Toyota plant in Cambridge, Canada. In addition, in September at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Lexus premiered an updated version of the flagship of its lineup - the LS430.

Lexus' future plans include expanding its engine lineup with diesel models for the European market (where diesels are popular due to their more environmentally friendly emissions) and hybrids for the US market, where hybrids are becoming increasingly popular; release in 2005 of a new generation GS430, on which a completely new team of designers and constructors is currently working; promoting his brand in the Japanese market in the same 2005, where it is actually little known. In 2006, the company plans to move to a new level - super-luxury, dominated by such giants as Rolls-Royce, Bentley and Maybach. These plans are evidenced by the company's information that Lexus is planning to produce a limousine that will replace the Toyota Century used in the imperial family.

In general, the history of Lexus continues, and continues very, very successfully, and not limited to the US market, for which its cars were originally intended. This is evidenced by a lot of awards from the press, and first places in various ratings (not all Lexus victories are listed in this article, because just listing them would take up a lot of space), and a lot of laudatory reviews about cars of this brand. And they certainly deserve it, combining equally excellent comfort, recognizable style and unsurpassed Japanese quality. A significant role in the success of Lexus was played by relationships with customers, whose service was initially given close attention. In addition, Lexus has long been a sponsor of various events related to sports, arts, environmental protection, etc.

Country - Japan (Toyota city). The Lexus division is part of the Japanese concern Toyota Motors Corporation, and is mainly engaged in the production of luxury cars for the US and European markets, and Toyota cars are mainly sold in Japan. The main direction of the company is the creation of luxury expensive cars with leading comfort characteristics for the driver and passenger, reliable engines, transmissions, and innovative smooth running systems.

Subsequent models

The second car was “drawn” by Giorgetto Giugiaro. We are talking about the Lexus GS300 model with a streamlined body. The most successful modification was the Lexus GS300 3T with a forced engine created by the Cologne branch of Motosport, owned by.

A year after its appearance on the US market, the American press named the Lexus LS400 sedan the best imported car. However, there is nothing particularly surprising here, since the car, despite its high power, had low fuel consumption due to successful aerodynamics.

In May 1991, a new car appeared on the market - the Lexus SC400 Coupe. It very much resembled the Toyota Soarer, not only in appearance, but also in performance. However, after 1998, the differences between these cars disappeared during restyling.

In 1993, the five-seat Lexus ES300 sedan was also shown, which was a kind of analogue of the Toyota Camry on the US market.

The Lexus family of cars also includes the luxurious LX450 all-wheel drive SUV. It absorbed the comfort of an executive car and the advantages of the popular Toyota Land Cruiser HDJ 80 SUV in Japan. A little later, an improved version of the all-wheel drive jeep appeared - the Lexus LX470.

The year 1998 in the history of the company was remembered for the presentation of the first car with the IS index. In the spring of next year, the first IS200 model from Lexus appeared on the American market. The body shape and technical characteristics of the car made it possible to turn it into a racing model.

In the country, it developed quite quickly due to the high consumer demand for these cars in the USA. At the beginning of 2000, as expected, updates appeared. First, the IS300 was shown in Los Angeles, and then in Detroit everyone saw the successful reincarnation of the LS400 model - the LS430. In fact, this is a flagship among cars that had the most innovative technologies, a navigation system, an expensive leather interior, and a powerful V8 engine with 280 horsepower. It could accelerate to 100 km/h in just 6.7 seconds. With all this, it had a minimal drag coefficient.

In the same year, in New York, she announced the appearance of the SC430 model, and also shared plans for 2003. It was assumed that in 3 years Lexus RX300 cars would be produced at the Toyota plant in Canada. Note that before this, only Japan was considered a country.

The beginning of the way

Initially, the production of these cars was focused on sale in the United States of America. But the success was so great that the company expanded sales to most countries of the world. More than 70 regions have appreciated the premium segment, which is characterized by high quality products.

The story began in 1983. Before this, the company engaged in long-term market research and active design. Toyota specialists competed with already advanced companies like BMW at that time. The best engineers and designers worked on the production of the first prototype “Project F1”. The flagship was developed by Shoiji Jinbo and Ichiro Suzuki, who researched the preferences and demand of US residents for their model.

First confession

In May 1985, the project was ready for display. It was called the Lexus LS400 and, after undergoing extensive testing in Sweden and Germany, was introduced in eight variants in 1987. This model was praised in every possible way by Car and Driver magazine as a combination of comfortable handling and thoughtful design. The meaning of the car emblem - the letter L inscribed in an oval - is defined as luxury, wealth.

After a short lull, in 1991 Toyota introduced a new model - the SC400. This sporty solution had a 4-liter engine and an automatic transmission. The production of the new product was aimed at increasing driver safety and the comfort of his trip. That is why in 1992 Lexus was largely ahead of Mercedes-Benz and BMW in terms of sales. 1993 was marked by the release of the GS300 sports sedan, the appearance of which was designed by designer Giorgetto Giugiaro. He demonstrated the car at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The history of the brand remembers this year as the time of its best ratings.

New models and updating existing ones

The success continued in 1995, but the US government planned to introduce a state duty on Japanese vehicles, which occurred under pressure from domestic manufacturers. Fortunately, the highest officials in Japan have resolved this issue. Exactly one year later, the LX450 brand can be seen in the company’s lineup. This is a noteworthy premium car that had the qualities of an SUV. Its popularity grew rapidly, leaving even Range Rover behind. The car had good sound insulation, a 4.5-liter engine and high-level cladding.

The period of deep renovations began in 1997. In January, the concept for the HPS model was presented. It was based on the GS300 model, which already had a good reputation. In February, a new product was the flagship SUV RX300, which received many additional functions. In the same year, the company demonstrated a new record of 100 thousand cars - this is 20% more than last year's sales. The RX300 earned first place in the JD Power and Associates ranking in 1998.

1999 marked the debut of the rear-wheel drive IS200. Its sales doubled the company's performance, and Lexus became the most reliable car over the past five years. The data was derived based on statistics from the company’s support centers. In the same year, the millionth car was sold.

Great success and new segments

The beginning of the new millennium was a particular success for Lexus. The IS model was equipped with a 3-liter engine that produced 280 horsepower. Then the LS430 was presented with excellent finishing using genuine leather and wood (walnut). After this, the offer was added with the SC430 model. More than 20 thousand cars were successfully sold this year.

At the beginning of 2001, Lexus decided to move part of its production to North America. At the same time, a plant was opened in Buffalo for suspensions and engines for the RX300 model. At the Detroit Auto Show, the brand presented the IS300 and SC430. The SportCross line was equipped with a manual transmission. In the same year, the ES300 model was added to the total number of sales, which took all the best from the Japanese manufacturer.

The company's success does not end there. Lexus cars even managed to become participants in film shootings. So, in 2002, designers developed a special flagship, which became Tom Cruise's car in the film Minority Report. In the same year, an update was released for the IS200, which included a SportCross steering wheel and a VVT-i engine. Its appearance was accompanied by the release of the GX470 luxury SUV, which has an adjustable suspension.

In 2003, the RX line was updated, in which it was decided to enlarge the body, as well as expand the possibilities of options. For the American version of this car, the engine was increased to 3.3 liters, and for European users it was decided to leave 3 liters. Only a month was enough for sales to skyrocket to the top. Lexus did not ignore the exhibition in New York; it presented the flagship HPX, which combined the qualities of an SUV and a sports car. In the famous town of Cambridge, in September 2003, the LS430 sedan began to be manufactured at the company’s plant.

Peak sales

In June, the IS300 went on sale, and in August, Lexus became the first luxury import brand in the United States to sell over 20,000 cars in a month. The improvement of existing brands is in full swing - the GS400 is being replaced by the improved GS430, which has successfully gone into production. 2000 results showed that Lexus increased its sales for the fifth year in a row, easily outpacing other luxury brands in the United States. At this time, American consumers already know very well who produces Lexus, the country of origin is generally trusted, and even other brands of Japanese cars are well perceived by the buyer.

In 2001, Toyota announced that the suspension and engines for the RX300 would be manufactured at its facility in Buffalo. Shortly thereafter, the IS300 SportCross (with steering wheel-mounted shifter), the IS300 Manual Transmission (with a manual transmission) are on display at the Detroit Auto Show, and the new SC430 is about to go into production. The car was ready in March, but by the time sales started, orders for this car had already been filled.

Expansion of production

In the spring of 1991, Lexus launched the SC 400 sports coupe on the market, with the same engine as the LS 400. It had impressive characteristics for those times; it was able to accelerate to 1,000 km/h in 6.9 seconds. After some time, sales of the new generation ES 300 sedan from its predecessor ES 250 began. This car became the best-selling car of this brand.

The following year, 1992, the Lexus SC 400 and ES 300 models received many honorary awards at world automobile exhibitions. The company has surpassed BMW and Mercedes corporations in sales volumes in the United States. In September of the same year, the improved LS 400 was released onto the market, which included almost 50 modifications.

In January 1993, automobile designer Giorgetto Giugiaro, hired by Lexus to design innovative and cutting-edge cars, released a new model, the GS300. A year later, it became a very noticeable new product in Europe at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Its platform was based on the Toyota S.

The first SUV from Lexus, the LS 450, was developed in 1996. Immediately after it, the third generation of the GS 300 was released. In 1998, Lexus released a premium crossover - the RX 300, as well as new generation cars - the GS 300 and GS 400.

The production version of the RX300 was equipped with a three-liter V6 engine, as well as an improved 4-speed automatic transmission. The place where Lexus RX is assembled remains the plant in Takhor. Due to the fact that this car successfully combined the capabilities of an SUV, a sedan and a station wagon, it became very popular and the best-selling premium crossover in the American market. The following year, 1999, Lexus sold its millionth car in the United States.

During the same period, the company began to penetrate South America and sales began in Brazil.

Coming to other countries

By 2002, this brand was respected all over the world and they understood whose country it was. The first official dealer in Russia appeared in 2002. It became one. A year later there were two dealers.

In 2003, the famous RX300 and the more dynamic RX330 were introduced in Detroit. The latter had luxury options and innovative technological solutions. This car can be seen quite often on the roads of Russia and Europe. In its class, the RX300 outperformed all competitors. In the same year, the assembly of cars began at factories in Canada and Germany. And although Lexus cars are developed in the manufacturing country of Japan, they are manufactured and assembled in different parts of the planet, including Russia.

Reorganization

Since the beginning of the 21st century, the company has been annually introducing its new products to the market. This and the new IS line are a continuation of innovation in the sports sedan class. At the same time, the first SC 430 convertible was created, as well as new third-generation cars from the LS 430 class.

Around this time, Lexus launched the GX 470 SUV, as well as the new generation RX 330. 2004 was marked by the fact that the company celebrated its two millionth car sold, as well as the launch of the first hybrid SUV, the 400h RX.

In 2005, Lexus was organizationally separated from its progenitor - . He got the production center, design bureaus, and design departments. At the same time, the company entered the Japanese domestic market, and also significantly expanded its sales in global markets, including China.

The economic crisis of 2008 somewhat slowed down the development of sales. However, in 2009, the YS 250 h, a Japan hybrid intended for North America, was nevertheless put into production. An off-road hybrid 450 h RX was also released.

Since 2010, the company entered the market, including the Russian one, with the compact hybrid hatchback CT 200 h.

In early 2012, Lexus began selling the fourth generation GS 350 and new lines of 450h variants. In the same year, the company begins production of the sixth generation of the ES series.

Future plans

The company said it plans to add diesel vehicles to its lineup for Europe, where diesel powertrains are more popular due to their less environmentally friendly emissions. There are also plans to develop hybrid cars for the US market, where hybrids are gaining popularity. However, such cars already exist even today.

Toyota, whose Lexus brand is not very popular in its manufacturing country of Japan, also plans to take a large part of its home market. However, this is not surprising, because Lexus was primarily focused on other countries, since Japan was already buying Toyota cars with might and main. A new brand was not needed for this at all.

A little about Lexus

So, where Lexus is assembled for Russia, we figured it out for you. Now let's look at where this brand came from and how it developed.

This company is currently a division of Toyota. Its engineers produce only luxury models. They are sold in the markets of America and Europe, and are very popular.

The very name of the company has a purpose. Initially, the brand was created to produce expensive and luxurious cars. Of course, this was not a new idea even then, since there were several concerns in the world, such as BMW or Jaguar, that were already trying to inhabit this segment. However, Japanese engineers already knew then that they were not afraid of competitors. Therefore, the directorate of the Toyota company decided to found a subsidiary. They challenged the world's best manufacturers. As you can see, for good reason.

At the dawn of production, 1,400 engineers were involved who came up with and created a new concept. She brought true driving pleasure. That is, it surpassed all the cars in the world in terms of comfort. But it should have cost less. This is exactly how the Lexus F1 was created in 1984. It was designed exclusively for the American market. The creators approached the design of the model very correctly. They polled a suitable contingent for examples of what they would like, and tried to translate everything into metal.

Interestingly, the first concept to be released was the Lexus LS400. It was more or less successful. But, before him, another 450 models came out that were not suitable according to one principle or another, and the world did not see them. The car went through a lot of road tests, took part in several hundred test drives and was presented to engineers of many world brands for judgment. As a result, the suspension and steering system were redesigned. And in 1988, the finished car saw the world. Then they came up with a simple logo. They showed all this beauty at the car show in Los Angeles. In 1989, the car was installed in 80 car showrooms around the world. In the first month of sales, 2,919 models were sold, and then another 1,216 in the next week.

Even then, the car from Lexus differed from all existing analogues in its excellent interior trim, beautiful body and powerful technical characteristics. For this, many designers, engineers and constructors were involved who completely redesigned the engine. Thanks to this, the car began to be sold not only in America, but also in Canada and the UK. Thus, by 1990, the concern's sales amounted to 63,000 models.

The first crossover from Lexus appeared in 1996. It was called Lexus LX450. It was, in fact, a converted Toyota Land Cruiser. It embodied all the best characteristics of the car, but added a lot of luxury. Just two months after its release, the car became the world's sales leader.

Already in January 1997, the company sold 500 thousand cars worldwide. And this year ended with 97,593 copies. A year later, the concern already had 147 dealers in America alone. Therefore, in terms of sales, Lexus has overtaken all sorts of companies that until that moment were considered the most popular and in demand in the world.

In 2002, the Japanese brand got its first official dealer in Russia. It was called "Lexus Business Car". Its main office was located in Moscow. A year later, another company joined him.

Next came fuel installations running on diesel fuel. Then electric models came out. In general, the company is developing and growing to this day. The main thing is that Lexus engineers work very productively and with all possible dedication. They are not limited to the American market, but produce cars in Europe and other countries. Many awards and first places in world rankings speak for themselves. Therefore, if you want to purchase a car that will be comfortable, reliable and durable, while bringing you true driving pleasure, pay attention to any of the brainchilds of the Lexus corporation.

Lexus is the brainchild of the Toyota concern, i.e. the country of origin in this case is Japan. However, Lexus does not have the characteristic letter “T”, consisting of two ovals. The fact is that when Toyota was developing a line of expensive cars, local experts conducted a survey and found out that the brand evokes associations among people with affordable products. For a premium car, such a perception is tantamount to failure even before entering the market. Therefore, the company launched a new label and began to actively promote it, without overly advertising its affiliation with an already well-known brand.

At first they wanted to call the car “Alexis,” but this would have suggested a character from a popular American telenovela at the time, and as a result of naming, the word was transformed into “Lexus.”

The Japanese managed to present their new car just in time - expensive cars began to gain popularity in the States. Later, the brand sold all over the world, and the company opened a branch in Canada in order to assemble cars on another continent and not inflate their cost too much, which is already quite large.

Lexus History: Birth of a Legend

The history of the Lexus brand dates back to 1983. At that time, the head of Toyota Corporation was the legendary Eiji Toyoda. He became the main initiator of a meeting of the board of directors, at which the issue of creating a competitive executive class model was discussed. The beginning of the 80s was marked by the fact that the world market experienced a slow but steady increase in demand for luxury cars, and Toyoda decided to use this to expand the concern. As a result of the meeting, a decision was made to create a new brand.

It is worth noting that Eiji Toyoda’s idea made the Japanese company one of the leaders in the automotive industry. This is undoubtedly the most important achievement of the legendary TMC leader.

The Japanese, attentive to detail, began to think through all aspects of the future unit. One of the first issues to be resolved was the brand name. Initially, the corporation's leaders planned to sell new cars under the Toyota name. But marketing research showed that most Americans associate the name “Toyota” with budget pickup trucks rather than with passenger cars, so it was decided to choose a new name - Lexus

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The company's first car, the Lexus LS 400, was sold in 1989.
In 1986, the advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi, which was promoting a new premium brand, reviewed more than 200 names and chose the one we know today. Therefore, it is probably more correct to start counting the history of Lexus precisely from 1986.

There are two versions of the origin of the name Lexus:

It appeared as a result of combining the words “luxury” and “elegance”, which are literally translated as “luxury” and “elegance”.
The second theory is that it is an acronym for the phrase “luxury exports to US.”

The history of the Lexus brand is described in one of the books by the famous historiographer of the Japanese concern Jeffrey Laker.

"Lexus" Japanese assembly

In Japan, there are several large factories owned by Toyota Motors, where Lexus cars are assembled:

The GS300/400/430 LS430 models are produced from production workshops located in the province of Aichi.
The Lexus ES300 model comes out of the assembly line of a plant located in the city of Toyota (it is quite symbolic that the city and the concern where Toyota cars are assembled bear the same name).
The RX330 and ES300 models are produced in workshops in Osaka.

Japanese-assembled Lexus may have other names (this is due to the reasons described above - the creation of a separate brand for the American public), which causes considerable confusion among consumers:

IS 200/300 - Toyota Alteza;
GS 300/400 – Toyota Aristo;
LS 400 – “Toyota Celsior”;
LX 470 – “Toyota Cygnus”;
RX 300 – Toyota Harrier;
SC 300/400 – “Toyota Soarer”;
ES 300 - Toyota Windom.

Japanese factories are focused primarily on the domestic market, as well as Asia, Russia and Europe. Features of manufacturing and configuration depend on the different countries where the cars are exported. In addition, there are modifications with left-hand drive or right-hand drive, depending on the rules adopted in a particular country.

Growth is timeless

The first new Lexus GS F 2020 was released in 2020. But its popularity is incomparable with the expected flagship RX, which should combine the best technological innovations and design solutions. During this period, the company begins to engage in secondary projects in order to expand the boundaries of its influence, namely security systems. They should become one of the most effective and affordable on the market. Also among the interesting offshoots of Toyota is a flying magnetic board, the prototype for which was the model from the well-known film “Back to the Future.”

These days, the company has decided to lower prices on the popular ES and NX lines to increase their sales. It is also developing a project to convert LF-FC sedan models to hydrogen. Lexus is not going to stop. After many years of active work, the best is yet to come. The appearance of the distinctive Lexus badge at popular auto shows is already a success.

Of course, today the economic situation is not the best for active sales and the creation of new image-class models, but the brand has already shown that it is able to maintain its leadership position, no matter what the market situation is.

Lexus cars have always deserved special attention. They automatically enhance the image of their owner. Although the price of these cars may seem quite high, they will best highlight your taste and style.

The premium car segment is like an elite club where only a select few are accepted. In order to become a member, you need an appropriate pedigree, but Lexus managed to enter this club without any titles or regalia.

In 1983, Toyota management, led by Chairman of the Board of Directors Eiji Toyoda, decided to create a new brand, under which it was planned to produce Premium cars for the US market, designed to compete with products from Cadillac, BMW, Jaguar, Lincoln and Mercedes. Benz (Audi was not one of the “premium” brands at that time). This project began with the development of the brand itself. The task was not easy, since the work had to be done from scratch.

Marketers needed to come up with a word that would be associated with wealth and luxury, easy to remember, and at the same time euphonious. Of all the proposed options, the Toyota board of directors approved the “synthetic” name Lexus, which meant nothing, but was consonant with the word “Lux”.

The new brand was presented in 1988 at the Los Angeles Auto Show, and in 1989, at the Detroit Auto Show, the world premiere of the first Lexus models - LS 400 and ES 250 (the letters in the names of these cars meant Luxury Sedan and Executive Sedan, and numbers - engine displacement: 400 - 4.0 liters, 250 - 2.5 liters). Thanks to excellent consumer qualities, a wealth of equipment, the highest reliability and an attractive price, Lexus cars quickly gained success in the markets of the USA and Canada, setting off to conquer the rest of the world. Toyota's example turned out to be contagious and was soon followed by other Japanese automakers. So in 1989, Nissan acquired the Infiniti brand, and Honda acquired the Acura brand.

1989 Lexus ES 250

1989 Lexus LS 400

Having occupied the niche of “premium” sedans, Lexus decided to move on and expand its model range. So in 1991, the SC coupe-convertible with a hard folding roof was released. To promote this model, the Japanese used not only the usual advertising resources: in 2003, the blockbuster “Terminator 3” was released, in which the Lexus SC (already the second generation) “played” one of the roles. The costs paid off handsomely: after the film was released in cinemas, sales of the coupe-convertible increased significantly. Inspired by the success, the Japanese premium brand continued to collaborate with American cinema, featuring in various films not only production models, but also concepts - in particular, the Lexus 2054, in which Tom Cruise escaped from pursuit in the science fiction action film Minority Report.

2001 Lexus SC 430

Lexus 2054

Following the release of the coupe-convertible, the guys from Lexus decided to take on SUV class cars, which were rapidly gaining popularity in America. There was no need to reinvent the wheel - the first sports-utilitarian Lexus, which entered the market in 1996 under the LX index, was a slightly modified Toyota Land Cruiser 80 SUV (with a 4.5-liter gasoline engine, rich interior trim and an extensive list of options). And just a year later, Lexus made its debut in the crossover niche with the RX 300 model, built on the Toyota Camry chassis. And the Japanese did not rest on this: in 1998, the LX 450 was replaced by the more modern and powerful LX 470, created on the basis of the Toyota Land Cruiser 100. And four years later, the large LX was accompanied by a smaller SUV - the GX, which had a more modest modification in face of Toyota Land Cruiser Prado. By the way, it was SUV models that allowed Lexus to achieve success in the Russian market.

1996 Lexus LX 450

1997 Lexus RX 300

1998 Lexus LX 470

2002 Lexus GX 470

Today, the Lexus brand is present in all the most important premium segments, and the range of models will be expanded in the future. So the company’s priority plans include the release of a compact crossover, which will be one step below the Lexus RX. The prototype of such a car was first shown in September 2013 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, and it will not reach dealer showrooms earlier than in a couple of years.

Manufacturer country:

Japan

"Lexus"

(Lexus) is a Japanese automobile company specializing in the production of passenger cars. It is a division of Toyota Motors Corporation and is headquartered in Toyota.

The company specializes in the production of high-quality cars, mainly for the US market. Lexus cars combine style, comfort and quality in equal measure. Thanks to the high-quality engine and transmission and improved suspension mechanism, Lexus models are distinguished by excellent handling and a smooth ride.

In July 1985, the first Lexus LS 400 rolled off the stocks. In May 1986, it underwent extensive test drives in Germany and only in January 1989 was presented at auto shows in Detroit and Los Angeles. In September 1989, sales of this car began in the USA.

Externally, the Lexus LS400 - the very first Lexus - had nothing in common with Japanese cars. It was immediately made with Americans in mind. This suggested that one of the famous Italian carrosser designers had a hand in the body. And over time, this was confirmed - the later Lexus GS300 with a streamlined body was created by Giorgetto Giugiaro. One of the company's most prestigious models is the GS 300 3T sports sedan with a souped-up engine developed by Toyota's Cologne Motosport department.

The five-seat Lexus ES 300 sedan was first shown in the summer of 1991, a special version of the Toyota Camry for the American market.

In January 1993, the Lexus GS 300 premiered.

In 2000, the fairly extensive Lexus lineup was supplemented with two new products: IS300 and LS430. The remaining models have undergone minor changes. The Brake Assist Safety System (BASS) was introduced and became standard on the Lexus GS, LS and LX, which more accurately and evenly distributes braking forces across the wheels depending on the condition of the brakes and braking conditions.

Lexus presented an updated version of its RX 300 SUV at the recently concluded North American Auto Show in Detroit. The updated model is called Lexus RX 330, and has large dimensions in both the length and width of the body. Now the appearance of this SUV has become more dynamic and modern. The updated RX 330 is equipped with a 3.3-liter V6 engine producing 230 hp.

Toyota Motors Corporation produces luxury cars under this brand.

.
Initially, they focused on the US market, which is still their main focus today. The idea of expanding the “luxury” market share originated with Toyota
back in the early 80s. Work began in 1983. However, the Japanese were well aware that their cars were perceived in the West as extremely practical and reliable, but far from being the most prestigious. So creating a new brand was the most optimal solution.

In an atmosphere of deepest secrecy, the so-called “Project F1” (from the abbreviation “Flagship No. 1”)

-
“Flagship No. 1”
). Under it, an exclusively prestigious rear-wheel drive car was developed, capable of competing in its class with American and European models.

The most original thing is that at that time other Japanese companies began to act in the same direction: Honda

Acura
in 1986 ,
Nissan

Infiniti
in 1989 .
Mazda
also tried to keep up with them , working on the
Amati
for the USA and
Xedos
for Europe, which were supposed to be launched in 1993 (for a number of reasons this never happened).

Toyota engineers

in July 1985, the Lexus LS 400 appeared. For several years it was “run in” on the roads of Europe and America.
Mistakes were an unacceptable luxury and the model went through the most severe tests, being refined and improved. It was presented to the general public only a few years later - on January 2, 1988. At the same time, the new brand itself was presented with its own logo. Saatchi & Saatchi
was involved in its promotion and development .
According to the generally accepted legend, the word “lexus”
is a modified Latin word
“luxus”
(
“luxury, splendor”
).
According to other, equally reliable information, the brand name was born from the combination of the words “luxury”
and
“elegance”
.
In total, Toyota
employed several thousand people and spent about a billion dollars.

Sales of the Lexus LS 400 began in September 1989. Externally, this car looked much more like its European or American counterparts than the “Japanese”. It was originally developed this way, for obvious reasons. Initially, sales brought only disappointment. They moved rather sluggishly, and technical problems could not be avoided - about 8 thousand already sold cars had to be recalled due to defects in the electrical wiring. But the unsuccessful start did not ruin the new brand. In 1989, 16 thousand cars were sold. This model “did not reach” the level of the same Mercedes

, but it was more affordable and had excellent handling.

Other models followed, more or less successful. Some of them received quite prestigious awards. But the most important thing is that the brand has become respected and achieved recognition. Today, the company's lineup includes several models, including an SUV. Many people half-jokingly and half-seriously call Lexus

"Japanese Mercedes". These cars are sold almost everywhere. And since 2005, they are also available on the domestic Japanese market.

"Lexus" for warm countries of Asia and the Middle East

This modification does not have a heated seat function; the automatic transmission is equipped with a lever for manual shifting.

The car mirrors can be folded, but there is no protection against freezing and condensation at low temperatures. made of breathable material.

The built-in radio supports various media, as well as radio, which does not pick up Russian and most European radio stations, as it is aimed at a different frequency range. No anti-theft system.

Lexus for Europe and cold Asian countries

It provides heated seats, windows and even wipers. The anti-theft system works, the gearbox is adjusted in such a way that you can start driving from the second speed, bypassing the first (this is convenient in the cold season).

The suspension system can be adjusted at your discretion, depending on the characteristics of the road.

Almost all models intended for sale on the North American continent are assembled in Canada, except for the Lexus HX 200.

Canadian-assembled Lexuses

They are produced at the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada (TMMC) plant in Ontario, which has been a permanent subsidiary of Japanese production for many years and whose experience in assembling cars is not in doubt by the parent company.

In Russia, the Canadian assembly is often criticized and the Japanese one is praised, but in fact they are performed according to the same standards, it’s just that the North American modifications are focused on local conditions.

Canadian Lexus models are not equipped with turn signal lights on the fenders. There is also no parking radar, which helps you maneuver better when you need to park your car within the clear boundaries of the allocated space.

The rear view mirrors cannot be folded. The box is fully automatic: you can set the launch mode from the second speed, but you won’t be able to control the process manually. The speedometer shows speed in miles per hour, but there is also a kilometer scale.

The radio also does not pick up Russian radio stations.