Lexus

The Lexus brand debuted as the luxury vehicle division of Japanese parent Toyota Motor Corporation in Jan. 1989 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit with the showing of the LS 400 luxury sedan, the new brand's flagship model. In Sept. 1989, both the LS 400 and the smaller, less expensive ES 250 sedan went on sale at 81 new Lexus dealerships across the United States.

Lexus had early success--especially with the LS 400, which received favorable reviews compared to its more expensive competition and very quickly took market share away from luxury car leaders Mercedes-Benz and BMW. By 1991, Lexus had become the United States' top-selling luxury import, and Lexus received top recognition from J.D. Power for vehicle quality and overall owner satisfaction.

In 1996, Lexus added its first sports-utility vehicle, the LX 450, followed in 1998 by the RX 300, which could be considered the first luxury crossover SUV. By 1999 Lexus had become the top-selling luxury car brand in the United States. Other notable debuts included Lexus' first convertible, the SC 430, in 2001; the RX 400h, the world's first hybrid luxury SUV; and, in 2006, Lexus introduced its innovative Advanced Parking Guidance System on its LS vehicles. The Advanced Parking Guidance System enables automated parallel parking of the vehicle with little input required from the driver.

In 2007 Lexus introduced its new high-performance "F" division to compete with BMW's M division and Mercedes' AMG cars in the sports-luxury market. The new division launched the Lexus IS F that year and subsequently displayed an exotic concept car, the LF-A.

Lexus has built a reputation for quiet, luxurious interiors, advanced features and exceptional reliability and customer service. Using the slogan "the relentless pursuit of perfection" and, more recently, "beyond the pursuit," Lexus has always strived to demonstrate how it goes above and beyond its competition to ensure quality products and service.

Today's Lexus lineup includes four sedans, one convertible coupe, three luxury SUVs, and three hybrid vehicles. The largest of the sedans is the luxurious LS, which combines a powerful 4.6-liter V8 engine with a quiet, luxurious, and feature-rich interior. A hybrid version of the LS is also available. The GS is Lexus' large luxury sedan, available with either a V-6 or a V-8 engine, or, alternatively, a hybrid powerplant. The ES is an entry-level, mid-size luxury sedan, and the IS is the more performance-oriented midsize sedan. For high performance, the IS F offers 416 horsepower from 5.0-liter V-8 engine. The SC is a hardtop convertible that makes the conversion from a roadster in 25 seconds at the push of a button.

Lexus' largest sports utility vehicle is the LX, a large off-road-ready SUV that offers great towing capacity but is still luxurious. Lexus offers two midsize luxury SUVs, the RX and the GX, plus a hybrid version of the RX.

Close this