Lexus - Luxury Sedans, SUVs, Hybrids, and Performance Cars ©2006-2017 Lexus, a Division of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. All information contained herein applies to U.S. vehicles only. Notice for Internet Explorer® Users To ensure your experience on lexus.com is as exceptional as our vehicles, we no longer support Internet Explorer® Version 10 and older. We do, however, support Version 11 and other browsers. Click here to upgrade your current browser or, to install a new one, select a link below. LEXUS Car Manufacturer: Find Out It's Origins And More Bringing you the Latest News, Entertainment and More LEXUS Car Manufacturer: Find Out It’s Origins And More Lexus is the luxury vehicle division of Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corporation. It was founded in 1989 and has become Japan’s largest-selling make of premium cars. The division’s world headquarters are located in Toyota, Aichi, Japan, with operational centers in Brussels, Belgium, and Torrance, California and the United States.

Creating Lexus In 1983, Toyota chairman Eiji Toyoda summoned a secret meeting of company executives, to whom he posed the question, “Can we create a luxury vehicle to challenge the world’s best?” This question prompted Toyota to embark on a top-secret project, code-named F1 (“Flagship” + “No. 1 vehicle”). The F1 project, whose finished product was ultimately the Lexus LS 400, aimed to develop a flagship sedan that would expand Toyota’s product line, giving it a foothold in the premium segment and offering both longtime and new customers an upmarket product. The F1 project followed the success of the Toyota Supra sports car and the premium Toyota Cressida models. Both the Supra and Cressida were rear-wheel drive cars with a powerful 7M-GE/7M-GTE engine. The opportunity for Japanese manufacturers to export more expensive models had arisen with the 1980s voluntary export restraints, negotiated by the Japanese government and U.S. trade representatives, restricting mainstream car sales. In 1986, Honda launched its Acura marque in the U.S., influencing Toyota’s plans for a luxury division.

Around the same time, Nissan would unveil plans to create its own premium brand, Infiniti, while Mazda also considered developing an upscale marque, to be called Amati. Toyota researchers visited the U.S. in May 1985 to conduct focus groups and market research on luxury consumers. During that time, several F1 designers rented a home in Laguna Beach, California to observe the lifestyles and tastes of American upper-class consumers. Toyota’s market research concluded that a separate brand and sales channel were needed to present its new flagship sedan, and plans were made to develop a new network of dealerships in the U.S. market. Choosing A Name In 1986, Toyota’s longtime advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi formed a specialized unit, Team One, to handle marketing for the new premium brand. Image consulting firm Lippincott & Margulies was hired to develop a list of 219 prospective names; Vectre, Verone, Chaparel, Calibre and Alexis were chosen as top candidates. While Alexis quickly became the front runner it later morphed to Lexus.

This name has been attributed to the combination of the words “luxury” and “elegance,” and another theory claims it is an acronym for “luxury exports to the U.S.” According to Team One interviews, the name has no specific meaning and simply denotes a luxurious and technological image. Just prior to the release of the first vehicles, database service LexisNexis obtained a temporary injunction forbidding the name Lexus from being used as they stated it might cause confusion. The injunction threatened to delay the division’s launch and marketing efforts. Upon reflection, a U.S. appeals court lifted the injunction, deciding that there was little likelihood of confusion between the two products. The original Lexus slogan, developed after Team One representatives visited Lexus designers in Japan and noted their obsessive attention to detail, became “The Relentless Pursuit of Perfection.” The Lexus logo was developed by Molly Designs and Hunter Communications. The final design for the Lexus logo featured a stylized “L” within an oval, and according to Toyota, was rendered using a precise mathematical formula. The first teaser ads featuring the Lexus name and logo, designed by Team One, appeared at the Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York auto shows in 1988.

Launch In 1989, Lexus showcased the smoothness of its V8 engines by placing champagne glasses on the hood of a revving LS 400. In 1989, after an extended development process involving 60 designers, 24 engineering teams, 1,400 engineers, 2,300 technicians, 220 support workers, around 450 prototypes, and over 1-billion US dollars in costs, the F1 project was completed. The Lexus LS 400, had a unique design that shared no major elements with any previous Toyota vehicles and its rear-wheels were driven by an all new 4.0 Liter V8 engine. The LS 400 had its debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The following September, Lexus vehicles officially went on sale at a network of 81 new Lexus dealerships across the U.S. The launch of Lexus was heralded by a multi-million dollar advertising campaign in both television and print media.

At its launch, the LS 400 was widely praised for its quietness, well-appointed and ergonomic interior, engine performance, build quality, aerodynamics, fuel economy, and value, although it was criticized by some automobile columnists for derivative styling and a suspension regarded as too compromising of handling for ride comfort. The LS 400 started at US$38,000 in the U.S. and was rated by Car and Driver magazine as better than both the US$63,000 Mercedes-Benz 420 SEL and the US$55,000 BMW 735i in terms of ride, handling, and performance. The LS 400 also won major motoring awards from publications including Automobile Magazine and Wheels Magazine. The launch of Lexus had a shocking impact on BMW and Mercedes-Benz’s U.S. sales, figures dropped 29% and 19%, respectively, with BMW executives accusing Lexus of dumping in that market. In December 1989, Lexus initiated a voluntary recall of all 8,000 LS 400s sold to date, based upon two customer complaints over defective wiring and an overheated brake light.

In a sweeping 20-day operation which replaced the parts on all affected vehicles, Lexus sent technicians to pick up, repair, and return cars to customers free of charge, and also flew in personnel and rented garage space for owners in remote locations. This response was lauded in media publications and helped establish the marque’s early reputation for customer service. By the end of 1989, 16,392 LS 400 and ES 250 sedans had been sold in the four months following the U.S. launch. Although sales had begun at a slower pace than expected, the final tally matched the division’s target of 16,000 units for that year. Following the initial models, plans called for the addition of a sports coupe along with a redesigned ES sedan. Growth and expansion In 1990, during its first full year of sales, Lexus sold 63,594 LS 400 and ES 250 sedans in the U.S., the vast majority being the LS model. That year, Lexus also began limited exports to the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Canada, and Australia.

In 1991, Lexus launched its first sports coupe, the SC 400, which shared the LS 400’s V8 engine and rear-wheel drive design. This was followed by the second generation ES 300 sedan, which succeeded the ES 250 and became Lexus’s top seller. At the conclusion of 1991, Lexus had become the top-selling luxury car import in the U.S., with sales reaching a total of 71,206 vehicles. That year, Lexus ranked highest in J.D. Power and Associates’ studies on initial vehicle quality, customer satisfaction, and sales satisfaction. The marque also began increasing U.S. model prices past those of comparable American premium makes, but still below high-end European models. By 1992, the LS 400′s base price had risen 18% to nearly US$45,000. In 1993, Lexus launched the GS line, that was based on the Toyota Aristo, which had sold for two years prior in Japan. The GS 300 sports sedan was priced below the LS 400 in the marque’s lineup.

That same year, Lexus also became one of the first marques to debut a certified pre-owned program, with the aim of improving trade-in model values. In 1994, the marque introduced the second generation LS 400, a complete redesign of its flagship model. In May 1995, sales were threatened by the U.S. government’s proposal of 100% tariffs on Japanese luxury cars in response to the widening U.S.-Japan trade deficit. SUVs were exempt from the proposed sanctions. Normal sales operations resumed by late 1995 when the Japanese auto manufacturers collectively agreed to greater American investments, and the tariffs were not enacted. In 1996, Lexus debuted its first sport utility vehicle, the LX 450. The marque’s plans for developing an SUV model had accelerated during the U.S.-Japan tariff discussions of 1995. In 1998, Lexus added the first luxury-branded crossover SUV, the RX 300, and the second generation GS 300 and GS 400 sedans. The RX crossover targeted suburban buyers who desired an upmarket SUV but did not need off-road capability and it was particularly successful.

By year’s end, the RX 300 had become the marque’s top-selling model, ahead of the ES 300. In 1999, Lexus recorded its one-millionth vehicle sold in the U.S. market, and was ranked the top-selling luxury automobile make in the U.S. overall. Hybrids and F models In 2000, Lexus introduced a new entry-level sedan, the IS 300. In 2001, the marque debuted its first convertible, the SC 430, and the third generation LS 430. The GX 470 mid-size SUV debuted in 2002, followed by the second generation RX 330 in 2003. In 2004, Lexus recorded its two-millionth U.S. vehicle sale. The following year, Lexus debuted the first luxury-branded production hybrid SUV, the RX 400h. The vehicle used a Lexus Hybrid Drive system which combined gasoline and electric motors for increased power, fuel efficiency, and lower emissions relative to gasoline-only equivalents.

In 2005, Lexus completed a full organizational separation from parent company Toyota, with dedicated design, engineering, training, and manufacturing centers working exclusively for the division. This effort coincided with Lexus’s launch in its home market of Japan and an expanded global launch of the brand in major world markets. Executives aimed to grow the marque’s sales outside of its largest market in the U.S. The next generation IS, GS, and LS sedans were subsequently designed as “global models” for worldwide markets. In 2006, Lexus unveiled the GS 450h, a V6 hybrid performance sedan, along with the fourth generation flagship LS line, comprising both standard and long-wheelbase V8 (LS 460 and LS 460 L) and hybrid (LS 600h and LS 600h L) versions. The LS 600h L subsequently went on sale as the most expensive luxury sedan ever produced in Japan, with a sticker price of approximately US$125,000. Lexus sales reached 475,000 vehicles worldwide during 2006.

In 2007, Lexus announced a new F marque performance division, which would produce racing-inspired versions of its performance models. The first of this line, the IS F, made its debut at the 2007 North American International Auto Show, accompanied by a supercar concept, the LF-A. By the end of 2007, Lexus’ annual U.S. sales had risen to 329,177 vehicles, and total worldwide sales reached 500,000 vehicles. In 2008, amidst the global recession, U.S. sales dropped 21% to 260,087, and worldwidel sales fell 16% to 435,000. In mid-2009, the marque launched the HS 250h, a dedicated hybrid sedan for North America and Japan. The RX 450h, the second generation hybrid SUV replaced the earlier RX 400h, and later that year debuted the US$375,000 production LFA supercar.

In terms of volume, Lexus was the number-one-selling luxury car marque in the historically largest automotive market for the past decade and ranked as the fourth-largest luxury car brand in the world by volume. Recent developments At the beginning of 2010, Lexus underwent a gradual sales recovery in North America and Asia as the marque focused on adding hybrids and new model derivatives. Sales in the U.S. for the first half of 2010 held steady during the 2009–2010 Toyota vehicle recalls, several of which included Lexus models. The ES 350 and certain IS models were affected by a recall for potentially jamming floor mats; the New York Times found more federal acceleration reports per-vehicle for the marque versus parent company Toyota, while NPR determined the reports to be generally rare, with comparable rates at multiple makes. The redesigned GX 460 was also voluntarily recalled in April 2010 for a software update, one week after Consumer Reports issued a recommendation not to buy the SUV following the slow stability control response to a high-speed emergency turn. Although it knew of no reported incidents, the U.S.

publication warned of a possible rollover risk, and the GX 460 received updated stability control software. At the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, Lexus introduced the CT 200h, a compact four-door hybrid hatchback initially designed for the European market. The CT 200h was scheduled to go on sale in Europe in the latter half of 2010, with exports to follow in the U.S. and other regions worldwide. How The Models Are Named Lexus production models are named alphanumerically using two-letter designations followed by three digits. The first letter indicates relative status in the Lexus model range (ranking), and the second letter refers to car body style or type (e.g. LS for ‘luxury sedan’). The three digits indicate engine displacement in liters multiplied by a factor of one hundred (e.g. 350 for a 3.5 L engine). A space is used between the letters and numbers. The same letter may be used differently depending on the model; ‘S’ can refer to ‘sedan’ or ‘sport’ (e.g. in LS and SC), while ‘X’ refers to ‘luxury utility vehicle’ or SUV.

On hybrids, the three digits refer to the combined gas-electric output. For certain models, a lower case letter placed after the alphanumeric designation indicates powerplant type (‘h’ for hybrid, ‘d’ for diesel), while capital letter(s) placed at the end indicates a class subtype (e.g. ‘L’ for long-wheelbase, ‘C’ for coupe, ‘AWD’ for all-wheel drive). On F marque models, the two-letter designation and the letter ‘F’ are used with no numbers or hyphens (e.g. IS F). Design and Technology Lexus design has traditionally placed an emphasis on targeting specific vehicle development standards. Since the marque’s inception, design targets have ranged from aerodynamics and ride quality to interior ergonomics. The backronym “IDEAL” (“Impressive, Dynamic, Elegant, Advanced, and Lasting”) is used in the development process. Each vehicle is designed according to approximately 500 specific product standards, known as “Lexus Musts,” on criteria such as leather seat stitching.

In 2006, Lexus incorporated the first production eight-speed automatic transmission in an automobile with the LS 460 and the gearbox was later adapted for the GS 460 and IS F models. Continuously variable transmissions, regenerative brakes, and electric motors have been used on all Lexus hybrid models. In 2007, Lexus executives signaled intentions to equip further models with hybrid powertrains, catering to demands for a decrease in both carbon pollution and oil reliance. Hybrid models have been differentiated by separate badging and lighting technology; in 2008, the LS 600h L became the first production vehicle to use LED headlamps. Safety features on Lexus models range from stability and handling programs (Vehicle Stability Control and Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management) to backup cameras, swivel headlights, and sonar warning systems. The Lexus Pre-Collision System (PCS) integrates multiple safety systems. In 2007, Lexus introduced the first car safety systems with infrared pedestrian detection capabilities, lane keep assist, a Driver Monitoring System with facial recognition monitoring of driver attentiveness, and a rear pre-collision whiplash protection system.

As a safety precaution, Lexus GPS navigation systems in many regions feature a motion lockout when the vehicle reaches a set speed; to prevent distraction, navigation inputs are limited, while voice input and certain buttons are still accessible. This safety feature has attracted criticism because passengers cannot use certain functions when the vehicle is in motion. Pre-2007 models came with a hidden manufacturer override option and updated European models allow operation in motion. Production Many Lexus vehicles are manufactured in Toyota’s flagship Tahara plant, a highly sophisticated, computerized manufacturing plant in Japan. Lexus production techniques include methods and standards of quality control that differ from Toyota models. At the Tahara plant, separate assembly lines were developed for Lexus vehicles, along with new molds and specialized manufacturing equipment. Welding processes, body panel fit tolerances, and paint quality requirements are more stringent. Lexus plant workers, typically veteran technicians, are identified via repeated performance evaluations and ranked according to skill grade, with limited applicants accepted. The highest level takumi (Japanese for “artisan”) engineers are responsible for maintaining production standards at key points in the assembly process, such as testing engine performance. Production vehicles are given visual inspections for flaws, individually test-driven at high speeds, and subjected to vibration tests.

The North American–market RX 350 (since the 2004 model year) is produced in the city of Cambridge, in Ontario, Canada, which is the first Lexus production site located outside of Japan. In addition to the Tahara factory, Lexus vehicles have been produced at the Miyata plant (Toyota Motor Kyushu) in Miyawaka, Fukuoka, the Higashi Fuji plant (Kanto Auto Works) in Susono, Shizuoka, and the Sanage plant (Toyota Boshoku; Araco) in Toyota, Aichi. All front-wheel drive cars, such as the ES and HS, are produced at the Miyata plant. Through the late 2000s, most sedan and SUV production occurs in Japan at the Tahara plant in Aichi and Miyata plant in Fukuoka. In 2005, J.D. Power and Associates bestowed its Platinum award for worldwide plant quality on the Tahara plant for the fourth consecutive year, stating that it has the fewest defects of any manufacturing plant in the world. In 2006, J.D.

Power named the Miyata plant, then the site of ES and IS model production, as its recipient of the Platinum award for worldwide plant quality and in 2009 the Higashi Fuji plant, site of SC production, received the same recognition. J.D. Power has named Lexus the most reliable brand in the U.S. fourteen times since 1995, according to its Vehicle Dependability Survey of over 53,000 vehicle owners and the first three years of ownership. In the 2000s, Consumer Reports also named Lexus among the top five most reliable brands in its Annual Car Reliability Surveys of over one million vehicles across the U.S. **** Toyota's luxury vehicle division, Lexus, enters Turkey's premium-car sector - Daily Sabah Toyota's luxury vehicle division, Lexus, enters Turkey's premium-car sector ANADOLU AGENCY VERIFICATION CODE AP Photo Japanese automaker Lexus, Toyota's luxury vehicle division, entered Turkey's premium-car sector at an Istanbul launch this week.

Toyota Turkey's Ali Haydar Bozkurt said that the company had detected demand for the Lexus brand in Turkey for some time, adding that new showrooms would be opened in Ankara, Izmir, Bursa, Antalya and Adana over the next 12-months. The senior manager also proclaimed that Lexus technical services would be provided in 60 different locations across Turkey to international standards. Lexus' sales objective in Turkey is between 200-250 cars in 2016; this would reach up to 1,000 units in five years, Bozkurt added. The Automotive Manufacturers' Association of Turkey published a report in March claiming that out of just over one million cars Turks bought in 2015, over 65 percent were imports. However, out of 1.4 million vehicles produced in Turkey during the same time, over 71 percent were exported. According to up-to-date official data, the number of vehicles registered on the roads in Turkey was 20 million in January. "The Turkish premium-car market became one of the top 10 markets in Europe last year," Alain Uyttenhoven, head of Lexus Europe, said at the launch.

Uyttenhoven said Turkey was a strategic emerging market for their products, which is why the Lexus brand was being distributed in the country. Turkey's car market would be one of the top-selling in Europe before 2020, Uyttenhoven also claimed. Lexus is a luxury motor vehicle manufacturer like Porsche, Jaguar, Maserati and Ferrari. Despite Lexus not having a branch in Turkey to date, it sold 13 cars in 2015 while Porsche and Jaguar sold 861 and 336 units, respectively, in Turkish marketplace last year. The prices of Lexus vehicles start from nearly 66,000 euros ($73,400) up to 310,000 euros ($345,000). It is thought that the entrance of the company into the Turkish bazaar will led to growth in employment, particularly through after-sales services. The Lexus marque -- which was founded in 1989 -- is marketed in over 70 countries and has placed among the 10 largest Japanese global brands in marketplace value. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Lexus Automobile Company has one of the leading marketing programs of any automobile manufacturer.

Lexus has used many marketing strategies to deploy key characteristics into the minds of the public. They use the following tag line that adheres to the Lexus company mission and goal, "The Relentless Pursuit of Perfection". Lexus wants their consumers to know that they are always being proactive with regard to safety standards and product quality. They lead the industry in the many new safety standards they have employed before any other manufacturer and boast of this by using it in many of their advertisements. They brag of the many years they are ahead of all Federal safety standards and regulations proving their seriousness to the cause. J.D. Power and Associates ranked Lexus as the 'Best Overall Car Line' seventeen times out of twenty four consumer reports since 1990. Lexus uses many marketing strategies to retain their prestigious position as a leader in the luxury car market. In order to achieve this market position, they avoid flooding the market with many models and attempts to reach all higher-end consumers with their staggered pricing. Instead they focus on what they do best and try to target the niche they have dominated in the past seven years. In fact, Lexus only makes six models in the new 1997 line, including a new sport utility vehicle.

The use of print advertising in varied magazines target people with higher income levels including those who may read Forbes and Fortune magazines. They also attempt to target their television ads toward the same upper income level viewers and focus on time slots with related programming like network news and golf classics. Lexus has marketed its name synonymous with safety and quality and has achieved success through an aggressive and first class marketing program backed by a quality product. These elements have successfully carved their leading position in the luxury car market. PRODUCT With over forty years of experience with Toyota, the Lexus Automobile Corporation understands and fills the need in the marketplace for a luxury vehicle. Lexus auto makers have secured a market niche that satisfies those consumers who can afford a luxury car, yet at the same time they demand performance. These vehicles have been described to posses an "ergonomic design" feature defined as, "the relationship of people to machine, particularly the location and ease of use of controls, instruments, switches, pedals, and steering wheel"(www, cited) right where they are supposed to be to make them user friendly and provide creature comforts while driving. Starting from the basic model, ES300, to the new Lexus Coupe 400, these vehicles display luxury in countless aspects.

The sporty shape, leather trim, four independent wheel suspension, and an anti-lock braking system (ABS) make even the lower-end model extremely safe and comfortable. At the Lexus high-end, the 400 Coupe includes additional features such as; High Intensity Discharge headlights (HID) which help increase visibility at night and blocks glare from on-coming headlights and also a satellite-aided computerized Global Positioning System (electronics illustrating your road position and assisting the driver to their destination), and finally the driver has the option of a touch-screen display which have, "directionals for the operation of the audio system, heating and air conditioning controls." ( Additional options include; a six-disc CD changer mounted in the glove compartment (which can fit a personal notebook computer), power windows, and a sunroof with a "safety pinch sensor". All these features are designed for those who seek comfort and ease of operation in a luxury car. The performance side of Lexus can clearly be illustrated when compared to other luxury vehicles.

Although the ES300 is not known for its handling as is the 1997 Catera, the 1997 ES300 with its only 24 valves and V-6 engin has as much horse power as the Cadillac Catera. Moreover, the new 1997 Lexus Coupe with its 32 valves and V-8 engine has even more power and a better level of fuel efficiency. It is this kind of efficiency which leads to thousands of satisfied young-at-heart drivers seeking performance in a luxury vehicle annually. Overall, owning a Lexus is not just enjoying the high performance of a luxury vehicle; it is the satisfaction of achievement by each individual owner --- a status symbol. Total satisfaction is continued even after the sale with the services that are provided by each Lexus dealer and service department through the Lexus philosophy of customer satisfaction through the quality of the product. According the IntelliChoice, a car rating publisher, Lexus has an excellent overall Ownership Cost Rating and Repair Cost Rating, as well as one of the top resale values in the automobile world. All together, it is a product that makes Lexus drivers proud to own an exceptional vehicle in its class.

PRICE The cost and pricing which Lexus has come to the market with is targeted for the high-end consumer in the range of $29,900 to $52,900 purchase price. Within the market Lexus Corporation has attempted to target those seeking luxury, quality and safety standards beyond an ordinary automobile. Lexus touts on their ability to offer an exceptional product combined with exceptional safety and relative affordability to the upper-crust of the consumer market. In the Autumn of 1996, Toyota Corporation (of which Lexus is a division of), announced that they will be lowering the list price not only on Toyota cars but also Lexus automobiles. The 1997 Lexus 'entry-level' model of the ES300 will start at $29,900 which is down from the 1996 list price of $32,400, a reduction of $2,500, to entice those on the fringe to re-examine the luxury car. With the recent four-wheel-drive introductory model the LX450 and top-end luxury Coupe LS400, prices will slightly increase (1%), due to their popularity.

By lowering the prices on the Lexus base model, Japanese owners are poised to make more money with the falling Yen to the American dollar. Lexus and Toyota Corp. was able to cut costs mainly with the number of parts required which led to the reduction of assembly time, where most of the savings came in. The main competitor in the ES300 class, is the newest model by Cadillac, the Catera which touts its handling ability on the road. And although the Lexus is not known for it's road management, it is known for the rich features in both safety and luxury. As quoted by a Lexus spokesperson, "I just think that we are looking for ways to make a better value but at the sane time improve the vehicle as a whole." This certainly reiterates Lexus' slogan and mission of "The Relentless pursuit of Perfection". Average Tax & Fees: Forty-seven of fifty states impose sales taxes on vehicles ranging from 1.5% to 8.6%. Additionally, most states have annual registration fees which are initiated at the time of purchase and paid upon delivery of the auto.

Luxury Tax: The Federal government imposed a luxury tax in 1991 for those autos which exceeded $34,000 in price (excluding those weighing over 6000 lbs.) For those who own luxury cars they are penalized an additional 10% on amounts exceeding $34,000. PLACE Following with the same theme of excellence in engineering, Lexus places equal importance on product placement. In the greater Seattle area Lexus dealerships can be found in Bellevue and Lynnwood. These locations are strategically located on prime real-estate, and the way that they place their product reaffirms their concept of catering to the very affluent. The dealerships are never located in any run down areas, they are found only in neighborhoods of the people who are being targeted. From the moment you first see a Lexus dealership, the experience is very grand. The property is not completely paved over, like most car lots. This is the very first image that you have of Lexus as you pass by. The grass is flawlessly cut and the shrubbery is elegant and perfectly trimmed. The Lexus sign is rich with dark colors with gold lettering to give it an opulent appearance.

The buildings look less like a car dealerships, and more like an office building of some sort. You then see the automobiles gathered around in very showy positions about the campus. Nothing has been overlooked here. Driving around the perimeter of the store confirmed that the entire area was well taken care of and not a scrap of litter could be found on the pavement. On the inside of the dealership the theme continued. The lighting is dim and beautiful rugs were on the floor. A brand new Lexus automobile was situated in the center of the showroom as if it were a grand piano. Mature looking adults were roaming about with a seemingly smug attitude, and trying quite hard to uphold the image of the manufacturer. Business dealings are probably going on upstairs, because you cannot hear anyone bargaining or arguing. The parts and maintenance counter is situated on the opposite side of the building, conveniently out of sight, and all of the staff of this area was decked out in uniforms which looked freshly pressed. Lexus takes quite seriously the image that is being cultivated on their car lots. The stage is set and the wealthy atmosphere is detailed and tended to in every way possible. Any slip ups here, could have negative effects on the psyche of the potential customer.

An air of elegance and refinement is evident and reflects the marketing strategy that the company is devoted to. PROMOTION The luxury car market as a whole is a very challenging group to advertise to. Only 9% of all cars sold in today's marketplace are luxury vehicles. This makes the luxury car advertising through such media such as TV and magazines, inherently tricky. Luxury car advertising does not necessarily reach the intended target, as in this case, the upper-class. The way Lexus avoids such problems is by identifying their prospects through their owner/client base. When Lexus is able to identify their prospects accurately, high costs in advertising can be justified because they know they are precisely targeting their potential customers. The key to Lexus' promotional success is their personal attention to detail when analyzing their market. Just as their catch phrase states, Lexus is in, "The relentless Pursuit of Perfection," much evidence proves that they do relentlessly try to be perfect in their promotional campaigns. Many market analysts have found that when a Lexus buyer purchases an automobile they feel as if they have just signed into an elite club car club; and Lexus strives for this type of customer emotion. Lexus spends countless dollars in its efforts to keep their buyers happy even after they have purchase the vehicle.

Lexus concentrates greatly on retaining their customers in order for repeat business, this tactic also leads to referral advertising. Lexus' customer clientele has proven to be very loyal one with a 65% rate of repurchase by current Lexus owners. The way Lexus builds such a loyal customer base is by making their buyers feel as though they are in an exclusive club. When a new model is introduced they make sure all of those who have purchased before, know of their unveiling prior to the national ad campaign. This allows their current buyers to build up anticipation for their new product and to be more cognoscente of the TV commercials and magazine advertisements. Lexus is very innovative with the use of the Internet as a tool to reach prospective customers. In October,1996, Lexus was one of the first companies to launch a brilliant new project to e-mail potential customers who visited their web page. Their web site which is WWW.LEXUS.COM, has many exciting features for the Lexus admirer. Lexus' web site features high-end graphics of their cars and detailed specifications. The most interesting property of their web site is a virtual test drive where you can experience what its like to be inside a moving Lexus by seeing detailed graphics flash on your screen.

Beside using the Internet, Lexus reaches their loyal clientele in a variety of other ways too. Lexus is a prime sponsor for many major events such as athletics and art/cultural events. They target their advertising to reach the high-end buyer; some examples of their sponsorship are; the Raymond Floyd Golf Tournament and such fund-raisers as the Musicians' Pension Fund held just prior to the Grammy Awards. Events such as these, alongside their powerful television and magazine advertising, boosts their name recognition to that higher-end of consumer. In order for their messages to be introduced to their precise market Lexus often prints advertising in magazines such as Golf Digest, Golf Illustrated, Kiplinger's Pers Financial, US News and World Report, and even Readers' Digest. These specific magazines reach a large portion of the target market segment of Lexus buyers. The most effective part of Lexus' promotional strategy are their elegantly subtle advertising. Their very first campaign featured their famous catch phrase "The Relentless Pursuit of Perfection." The car commercials for this campaign featured stylish dark images of their cars roaming through elegant streets while a narrator voiced simple messages about their cars as being the worlds finest in engineering and craftsmanship.

Lexus' most recent ad campaign features much of the subtleties and class of the initial ones, yet with a more aggressive use of glamour. Actors such as Kelsey Grammar (from the show Fraser), Jeremy Irons, Charlton Heston, and even Demi Moore are featured in short commercial spots for Lexus on various locations around the globe. The effectiveness of Lexus' ad campaigns are due to the extensive market research they conduct. Analysts study exactly what the Lexus buyer watches on television and materials those consumers read and then they direct their in depth campaign out to those perspective targets. Lexus combines many different methods of media to reach their potential buyers. They reach far and wide to make sure that everyone who is interested in knowing about the benefits of Lexus cars, receive promotional information. Lexus has targeted the upper-class buyer and competes heavily with European car makers such as Mercedes and BMW for; not only television air time and print advertising space but primarily for customers. Lexus' aggressive promotional tactics are a primary part of why they are such a popular and profitable luxury automobile company. Lexus | Autopedia | Fandom powered by Wikia CT 200h Lexus is the luxury automobile division of Toyota Motor Corporation .

The Lexus brand name represents a premium line of luxury vehicles, first begun in 1989 with the debut of the LS 400 flagship sedan and the ES 250 executive sedan. Lexus cars and SUVs are sold in North America, the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Latin America, Asia and Oceania; in the United States, Lexus is the top selling brand of luxury cars. Until 2005, Lexus vehicles were sold under the Toyota marque in Japan until its introduction there that year. The Lexus line of luxury vehicles was started in 1989 to compete with other luxury makes, including German firms Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi; Cadillac and Lincoln in the U.S., and Honda's Acura division. Before the first Lexus sedan premiered at the 1989 Detroit Motor Show, Toyota engineers spent five years in secret development, costing billions of dollars and involving over 150 prototypes built for a testing process unprecedented in Toyota's 50-year history. The crowning result was the LS 400 flagship sedan, a vehicle which was more aerodynamic, more quiet, and more efficient than its rivals.

To the customers that bought them, the LS 400 was regarded as a better value than its higher-priced competition, [1] and within two years Lexus had become the top-selling luxury import in the U.S. Since its successful introduction, Lexus has developed a reputation for quality and customer service. In the U.S. the brand continually ranks at the top of owner satisfaction and reliability surveys. Today, over 16 years since the company's debut, many LS 400 sedans continue operating capably for their owners, a testament to the engineering expertise that went into the Lexus flagship model. In recent years, Lexus' sales have been propelled by a successive series of popular designs. In 2006, the Lexus line had three of the top 10 best-selling luxury vehicles in the U.S.—the RX, ES, and IS—more than any other luxury make. [2] Lexus History The Lexus saga began in 1983, when Toyota began the F1/Circle-F project, a secret initiative to develop the "world's best luxury car." This project was inspired by the success of the Toyota Supra sports car and the luxury Toyota Cressida models.

Both the Supra and Cressida were rear-wheel drive cars with a powerful 7M-GE/7M-GTE engine. For their new flagship vehicle, however, U.S. Toyota executives convinced the Japanese Toyota board that a separate brand and dealership network was needed to support a top-flight luxury vehicle in the world's largest automotive market, the United States. Additionally, such a network would require not just one model, but several, the executives suggested. After much debate, Toyota's Japanese leadership agreed to launch a separate luxury division. Initially, some Japanese Toyota executives were affronted with the prospect of their most prized design getting a separate badge, but ultimately they agreed that a separate title would confer a more lofty status. The Lexus division "The Relentless Pursuit of Perfection" debuted in 1989. An image consulting firm presented a list of 219 names, from which Vectre, Verone, Chaparel, Calibre and Alexis were top candidates.

While Alexis quickly became the front runner (possibly due to the association with the Alexis Carrington character on the popular 1980s primetime drama Dynasty) and later morphed to Lexus, the name has been attributed to the combination of the words "luxury" and "elegance." According to Toyota , however, the name had no meaning and was just meant to be pleasing and easy to remember. Just prior to the release of the first vehicles, the database service LexisNexis obtained a temporary injunction forbidding the name Lexus from being used as they stated it might cause confusion. Upon reflection, the court lifted the injunction, deciding that there was a low likelihood of confusion between the two products. Another theory has surfaced, claiming that the Lexus name was given to the project by Toyota in the mid-80s, as an acronym for Luxury EXport United States. with the acronym "LEUS" with the "x" from "luxury" added to form "Lexus". Hunter Communications and Molly Designs created the "L" logo that became the symbol of the Lexus line. The Lexus slogan, developed after U.S.

personnel visited Lexus designers in Japan and noted their obsessive attention to detail, became "The Relentless Pursuit of Perfection." Launch of Lexus The first LS 400 flagship challenged the best luxury vehicles in the world. The first Lexus-badged models, the V-8 powered LS 400 and the smaller, Toyota Camry -based ES 250, appeared in 1989. The LS 400 flagship captured most of the attention; it 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 silence, well-appointed interior, fine engine performance, outstanding build quality, and value. (In some markets, it was priced against mid-sized Mercedes-Benz and BMW 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 was criticized by automobile columnists for anonymous styling and a suspension regarded as too compromising of handling for ride comfort.

Nonetheless, the LS 400 won several major motoring awards when released, including Wheels magazine's Car of the Year and Best Imported Car of the Year by the Motoring Press Association. The Lexus marque was fully launched in the United States in late 1989. Lexus launched later in Great Britain, Canada and Australia, in 1990. In some countries, like Malaysia, New Zealand, Ireland, and the UK, where there is a market in grey imports of Japanese cars, some equivalent Toyota models were retro-fitted with Lexus badges, although they still differ slightly from officially imported Lexus models, especially in specification and equipment levels. Lexus launched later in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan, and other European countries. Global expansion Today, Lexus has become the fourth-largest luxury make in the world, by volume. Lexus directly competes with such luxury brands as the Europe's Audi , BMW , Jaguar , Mercedes-Benz , Porsche , and Volvo , the American Cadillac and Lincoln , and Japanese brands Acura and Infiniti . In the U.S., Lexus' success can be attributed in large part to its excellent reputation for reliability and customer service; the luxury line consistently ranks at the top of J.D.

Power and Consumer Reports surveys; similarly, Lexus vehicles rank at the top of Auto Express and Top Gear automotive surveys in Europe. Lexus has received numerous JD Power awards. The Lexus marque was finally introduced to the Japanese market on July 26, 2005. The compact IS 250/IS 350, convertible SC 430, and midsize GS 350/GS 430 will all be available in Japan in the 2006 model year. By January 2007, nearly all of the 160+ Lexus dealerships in Japan had become profitable. [3] Still, in a country where Accords and Camrys are considered quite luxurious, and where its existing lineup already has 45% market share, Toyota has a long way to go to expand Lexus to match the success of BMW and Mercedes Benz in the luxury segment. Fortunately, the lowest cost and most efficient automaker in the world has the biggest war chest and can afford to grow Lexus incrementally.

In late 2006-2007, the Lexus lineup in Japan gained a significant boost with record-setting orders for its new LS 460 flagship sedan, which debuted in September. L-Finesse The LF-S concept. As part of its expanded global launch and bid for luxury market leadership, Lexus' new offerings, released between 2004 and 2007 all carry its new, distinctive design language - dubbed L-Finesse. Lexus is finally taking visuals and aesthetics seriously, after years of being dismissed as being a producer of bland and lacklustre designs. Following in the footsteps of BMW's Bangle inspired design (but avoiding much of the controversy), The L-Finesse design language is the product of an increasingly competetive auto market, where only the most outstanding and flamboyant vehicles attract consumer attention. Lexus' new crop of concept vehicles, which include the LF-X, LF-S, LF-C, LF-A and LF-Sh, all feature L-Finesse design cues. These vehicles can all be viewed at Lexus' official concept website, [Lexus Concept Vehicles ].

The first production vehicle to feature the L-Finesse design treatment was the 3rd generation GS sedan, inroduced for 2006. This was followed a few months later by the redesigned second-generation IS, and then the new LS and ES sedans. The Lexus SUV lineup may be next in line for the L-Finesse designers. On the sedans, the L-Finesse "look" is sleek, with character lines emanating from hood to trunk; a "waterfall" effect features from the A pillars forward, and the rear cabin has a pulled-back look, often with slingshot side windows. A unifying characteristic across the entire L-Finesse sedan lineup is a trapezoid grille that is positioned slightly lower than the level of the headlamps, unlike most other car designs from other marques. Elements of the L-Finesse designs feature styling cues derived from Japanese characters. Lexus Vehicles Over the years, Lexus has developed a strong and complete portfolio of vehicles that covers a significant spread of the luxury market.

Today, its lineup includes four sedans - IS (an entry level sports compact), the ES (an midsize luxury sedan), the GS (a sports-luxury sedan) and the LS (flagship luxury sedan). one roadster (the SC 430), and the porfolio also sports three SUVs - the RX (a crossover compact), the GX (a midsize luxury) and the LX (full size flagship). Lexus Cars Lexus IS 350. The Lexus IS was introduced in 1998 as Lexus' answer to the BMW 3-series in the U.S. and European markets. In Japan, the first generation IS was sold as the Toyota Altezza. Although a serious automobile, experts never considered it to be a true threat to the BMW's superior benchmark. That all changed with the introduction of the second generation, 2006 model year IS - a vehicle considered to be on par with the BMW's standings. Now offered with a choice of 2.5 or 3.5 liter mills, the IS delivers serious grunt with the refinement and precision matched only by Lexus. The newest IS was introduced in Japan as part of Lexus' debut in its home country.

A high-performance V8 version, the IS-F , was launched in 2008. Lexus ES 350. Lexus' entry level midsize luxury sedan, the ES , is vaguely based on Toyota's bread-and-butter Camry sedan platform, with a separately designed body style, interior, and technological features. Instead of the Camry's four and six banger engines, however, comes the stately 3.5 liter. This V6 hustles the saloon with speed - although the ES is marketed more as an elegant, luxury sedan than a sports tourer. Previous versions of the Lexus ES were direct counterparts of the Toyota Windom, which was sold in Japan. While most of Lexus' offerings are aimed squarely at the German car buyer, the ES does not have a German car counterpart, and is instead sold as a luxury sedan for those wishing a comfortable, front-wheel drive luxury vehicle without ample sporty ambitions. Lexus GS sedan. The GS sports sedan has its sights aimed squarely at Germany's midsize sports sedan offerings.

Armed with a choice of three engines - the base 3.5, a potent 4.6 and an incredible 4.5 Hybrid - the 2007 Lexus GS enters battle armed every bit like the German sedans it tries to embody. Unlike the Toyota Hybrid variants, which improve fuel mileage at the cost performance, the hybrid version of the GS, the GS 450h, is aimed at further boosting performance, without loosing fuel economy. With its hybrid powertrain producing around 340 HP, the GS 450h is the fastest Lexus hybrid ever built--surpassing the conventional gasoline powered Lexus IS 350. The Lexus LS 460 flagship. Lexus' spanking new flagship LS luxury cruiser is available for the 2007 model year. This vehicle offers a 4.6 liter powerplant, bringing a whopping 380 HP and 370 pound-feet of torque to the table. Power is transferred to the wheels through a groundbreaking 8 speed gearbox - a first of its kind. An extra few grand buys you the 'L' badge - Lexus' crack at the extended wheelbase sedans of Germany.

And if even that is not enough, buyers have the choice to opt for the LS 600h L, the first hybrid V8 ever. Lexus claims that its flagship Hybrid will have the performance and luxury to compete with Germany's V12 sedans, while offering the relative frugality of a V8. Lexus SC convertible. Lexus' only sports tourer, the SC , is a convertible hardtop. While not much of a sports vehicle, the SC 430, previously known as the Toyota Soarer in Japan (until 2006, when it was replaced by the SC 430), is certainly an elegant convertible cruiser. While the Soarer offered a twin-turbo in its home nation, only the standard induction 4.3 is offered with the SC 430. With a body design inspired by the French Riviera, the SC 430 is a stylish statement from Lexus. Until the arrival of the 2007 LS 460/LS 460 L, the SC 430 was the most expensive car in the Lexus lineup.

Lexus SUVs The Lexus Luxury Utility Vehicle lineup, left to right, 2006 LX/RX/GX. So you want to enjoy the comfort and space afforded by an SUV but don't want to empty your wallet with $3/gallon fillups? Enter the crossover-ute. Lexus ups the ante in the soft roader class by introducing the new and improved RX . Based on the Camry platform, the RX can be had with a 3.5 liter internal combustion engine, or a hybrid - dubbed the RX 400h . The RX is considered one of the first crossover SUVs, and the first one built for the luxury market. It has spawned dozens of competitors, but none approach the success of the RX--Lexus' top-selling model and the best-selling luxury vehicle in America in 2004 and 2005. Customers shopping for a standard, body-on-frame SUV can also stop by to check out the new GX , known elsewhere as the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado. Available as a five or seven seater, this midsize SUV is Lexus' answer to America's burgoening SUV market.

Notable for its extensive 4x4 capabilities, the GX 470/Prado is operated and raced by Toyota and other 4x4 teams the world over. Lexus' final entree in its portfolio is the LX . Based closely on Toyota's Land Cruiser , the LX 470 comes to the Lexus dealership donning a new badge, reworked interiors and a greater level of sophistication. The LX 470 will be succeeded by the all-new LX 570, which premieres at the New York International Auto Show in April 2007. In the Pipeline The Lexus LF-A concept supercar. The 2007 model year marks the finish of Lexus' current batch of launches, with the arrival of the highly anticipated LS. However, possibly two brand new models and other variants loom on the horizon (such as a possible coupe/convertible version of the IS, and successor models to the RX and SC model lines). The first all-new model is the Lexus JX, Lexus' foray into the full size SUV market. Based on the upcoming Toyota Sequoia / Tundra platform, the JX will go head to head with similar offerings from Lincoln and Cadillac .

Unconfirmed rumors have it that the JX will come to the US not with the standard 4.7 liter mill, but with a more potent 5.4 liter mill. Finally, Lexus' display of its LF-A concept at the Detroit Auto Show hints at a production version of its sports coupe. Lexus' bias towards fuel economy, soft suspension settings and silent engines had meant that experts rarely took Lexus' attempts at sportiness seriously. The LF-A is all about changing those perceptions. Lexus has recently announced that the LF-A will walk into dealerships wearing a V-10 rated at over 500 bhp in a sub-5 liter engine. A vehicle that reportedly will push the 200 mph barrier clearly shows that Lexus is taking 'sport' seriously. The LF-A may come to market as the Lexus GT 450. In January 2007, Lexus announced a new performance division, Lexus "F", which would produce racing-inspired versions of its luxury performance vehicles. The first F-marque vehicle, the IS-F, made its debut at the 2007 North American International Auto Show, accompanied by an exotic F-marque supercar concept, the LF-A F.

The Lexus F-marque vehicles will rival the high-performance lineups of the leading European and American luxury marques. Production Many Lexus vehicles are manufactured in the Tahara, Japan plant, a highly sophisticated, computerized manufacturing plant, awarded the title of the best automobile manufacturing plant in the world. [4] Lexus manufacturing techniques include methods and standards of quality control that differ from Toyota models. At the Tahara plant, separate assembly lines were developed for the manufacture of Lexus vehicles. New molds and specialized manufacturing equipment were also developed for the Lexus production process. Welding processes, body panel fit tolerances, and paint quality requirements are more stringent for Lexus models. Each production Lexus vehicle is also given an extensive visual inspection for flaws and subjected to vibration tests to ensure a smooth and quiet ride. The North American-market RX 350 (since the 2004 model year) is produced in the city of Cambridge, in Ontario, Canada, and is the first Lexus plant located outside of Japan. Lexus vehicles are also produced at the Araco, Kanji (Iwate), Kanji (Kanto Jidosha), Katashiki, Kyushu, and Tahara plants in Japan.

Service Lexus has become known for efforts to project a luxury image even with service provided after the sale. The waiting areas in the service departments are complete with such amenities as a refreshment bar, business center that is soundproofed and stocked with computers and a fax machine, and the service bay is lined with large picture windows to allow the customers to watch the repairs. Other amenities can include a children's play area, indoor putting green, and other recreational services. Recently, several Lexus dealerships have added on-site cafes and designer shops. In 2005, Lexus came first in the Top Gear Survey, "the UK's biggest independent car satisfaction survey" with over 76,000 respondants. In 2006, Lexus ranked first for the eleventh time in J.D. Power's Customer Service Index, its annual study involving over 79,000 U.S. owners and dealership experience. In 2006, the Luxury Institute, New York, rated Lexus #1 in Customer Experience among luxury automobile brands based on its survey of over 2,100 high-income households.

On the strength of its customer service standards and high product satisfaction, Lexus enjoys one of the highest customer loyalty rates in the industry. Motorsport Team Lexus' IS 350 GT2 race car. Lexus has been participating in endurance racing, in particular the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona. Since entering the series in 2004, Lexus has won over 15 Rolex Series event races. In 2005, Lexus was runners-up and in 2006 it won the championship. Although Toyota has won this prestigious race in the past it was the first time that its luxury arm emerged as the winner. In 2007, six Lexus-powered Daytona prototypes were entered in the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona event at the Daytona International Speedway. Lexus was a repeat winner of the event, with a Lexus-Riley prototype driven by Scott Pruett, Juan Pablo Montoya, and Salvador Durán of Chip Ganassi Racing finishing first; Lexus-Riley prototypes also took three of the top ten spots. Lexus is also going to participate in 12 Hours of Sebring which now form a part of American Le Mans.

There has been speculation of a Lexus F1 operation in the near future, in line with its expansion into the luxury car markets, and increasing competition with BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Lexus may enter for the 2007 Formula 1 season as an engine supplier to the WilliamsF1 team, using Toyota engines rebadged as Lexus, but these rumors are purely speculative. After the release of the Lexus brand on the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) in 2005, four SC 430 coupes were entered in the SuperGT series in the GT500 class. In the first race of the 2006 series, an SC 430 took the chequered flag. In 2006, Lexus raced a hybrid vehicle for the first time, entering a GS 450h performance hybrid sedan in the Tokachi 24-hour Race in Hokkaido, Japan.

Future of Lexus Although Lexus has had phenomenal success in the US since 1991-1992 — within 3 years of its introduction in 1989 — it has been struggling outside North America, including its home country, Japan, where the Lexus brand started marketing in 2005 and is still waiting for the arrival of the LS series due later this year, and in particular Europe. Automotive analysts have pointed out that Lexus has been so successful in North America because the wide consumer base of Toyota and in particular the baby boomers wanted something more luxurious as they were becoming older and their surplus incomes were allowing them to migrate to brands such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW . The huge success of Lexus was in part due to the fact that its higher levels of quality and less expensive prices enabled it to retain those migrating customers and keep them "in the family." However, this also had negative repurcussions as Lexus gradually cemented an image of value-priced brand, which would offer similarly equipped cars at tens of thousands of dollars less than its primary competitors, Mercedes-Benz and BMW .

The former chief of BMW , Eberhard von Kuenhiem predicted that this strategy would work to some extent in US, but not in Europe, where the words premium and luxury do not go well with value pricing. Some automotive experts believe that Lexus' failure to woo European customers and its very slow incremental increase in European arena is because of differences in perceived value. This has led some automotive thinkers to believe that unless Lexus prices its products head-to-head with the European premium brands and emphasizes its superior quality, reliability and engineering, it will not be able to succeed globally. However, quality levels of European brands are seemingly dwindling, while Lexus continues to score highly on such reports. Also, in order to attract European buyers, diesel engines have been added to the lineup (starting with the IS 220d), and with Lexus LF concept cars making it into production, Lexus is quickly beginning to re-invent itself as a global luxury brand. Some of these new models will come with a sticker price of around $100,000, setting these models against their European rivals in terms of price. Lexus debuted the world's first hybrid luxury SUV, the RX 400h, in 2005.

The addition of hybrid models (including the RX 400h and GS 450h) have also driven European sales increases in environmentally-conscious markets such as the United Kingdom. Politicians in the UK have endorsed Lexus by using Lexus GS vehicles in place of British-built Vauxhalls, Jaguars and Rovers. Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, replaced his LS 430 with a GS 450h. The London Congestion Charge excludes hybrid vehicles, adding incentive to Lexus hybrids. In the United Kingdom, the largest European market for Lexus, the IS series accounts for the largest number of Lexus sales (the largest proportion increasing with sales of the new IS 220d), with the GS 450h and RX 400h making up the second largest proportion. Sales of the LS flagship have been small compared to the lower-end Lexus vehicles due to lesser public perception of the brand and the larger expense of the vehicle. This is combined with the higher perception of Mercedes-Benz, Audi, BMW and Jaguar rival brands. With Lexus sales increasing in the UK due to the introduction of the IS diesel and GS/RX hybrids, Lexus has emerged as a European second-tier luxury brand that is rising fast.

The second-generation IS, which emerged in 2006 as an intelligent alternative to the dominant German and British marques' compact executive cars, has become representative of Lexus' efforts in Europe. In South Korea, with sales of the ES 350 spearheading its efforts, Lexus has been the top-selling luxury import since 2005; in Taiwan, Lexus also became the top-selling luxury import in 2005. In Australia, Lexus' sales growth has surpassed its rivals, and the line now ranks third in overall luxury import sales, with the IS model generating high demand. Total worldwide Lexus sales are expected to reach 500,000 vehicles by 2007. Lexus Trivia In Japanese, Lexus is phonetically translated as レクサス (rekusasu). Coincidentally, the Polish word luksus, which is pronounced very similarly to Lexus, means luxury in the Polish language. Lexus substituted "passionate" for "relentless" in their U.S. brand slogan in 2000; the worldwide motto was adopted in its current form by fall 2005.

The distinctive voice in Lexus commercials is James Sloyan, who has been doing voiceover work for the brand since 1989 until 2008. In the United States, Lexus Financial Savings Bank, in conjunction with US Bank, has launched a Lexus Pursuits Visa Card. The ES series is roughly based on the US Toyota Camry . The IS (Toyota Altezza in Japan) series is roughly based on the Toyota Cressida luxury sedan, which was discontinued in 1992 in the US partially because of dropping sales due to the launch and success of the Lexus brand. After being discontinued in 1992, the X chassis code for Cressidas was still in use in Japan under the Mark II, Chaser, and Cresta names until the early 2000s. The Lexus Centre, a sports, meeting, and entertainment facility in Melbourne, Australia, was first constructed for the 1956 Summer Olympics. Popular culture Lexus was requested by Steven Spielberg, an ardent fan of Lexus and himself an owner of LX 470, to design a vehicle which would fit the requirements of year 2054 for his movie Minority Report.

Lexus came up with an advanced vehicle which would run on fuel cells and have many advanced safety features including a crash-proof structure. (Lexus' cinematic concept car also appears in The Island, though it's colored blue, not red). The term "the Lexus of..." has also entered the cultural lexicon as a description of a high-end product. [5] (Dell in 2006 announced a premium lineup of computers, calling it "the Lexus of our lineup"; [6] "the Lexus of phones", "the Lexus of space stations" [7] have been used). Registration data from the U.S. Social Security Administration in 2003 revealed that Lexus had become the most popular baby name derived from a luxury brand. [8] Late-night comedian Jay Leno first coined the term "Lexus-ized" for his automotive columns in Popular Mechanics, an expression generally used to describe the Lexus approach to luxury motoring. [9] Despite the official pluralized form of Lexus being simply Lexus, the public has also made its own derivatives (the most popular derivative being "Lexi").

[10] In the UK, the LS 430 flagship was introduced in the BBC spy drama Spooks; Lexus models were also placed on ITV's Coronation Street, the BBC's Judge John Deed, and other programs. [11] Lexus GB models saw sales increases after being seen on ITV's Footballers' Wives. [11] By 2004, multiple hip-hop artists, including Jay-Z (in the song "Ain't No Nigga"), Tupac Shakur (in the song "Wonder Why They Call U Bitch"), Dead Prez (in the song "Hip Hop") and Kanye West (in "Jesus Walks") made mention of Lexus vehicles in their song. Notable owners Celebrity owners of Lexus vehicles include Steven Spielberg, Burt Bacharach, Robert DeNiro, Dustin Hoffman, Harrison Ford, Holly Hunter, Nicolas Cage, Diane Keaton, Mel Gibson, Cameron Diaz, Tony Hawk, Milla Jovovich, Christie Brinkley, Calista Flockhart, Paula Abdul, Tyra Banks, Michael Bloomberg, Bill Gates and Larry David. S R Nathan, the current President of Singapore's preferred limousine is a white Lexus LS430.

Former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra owned a black LS 400. Lee Kuan Yew, the first Prime Minister of Singapore, switched from a Mercedes to a Lexus GS300 in late 1990s/early 2000s, citing its superior reliability; in interviews Mr. Lee said he was tired of dealing with car repairs. Donald Tsang, the current Chief Executive of Hong Kong, uses a grey LS600hL as his official limousine. Dustin Hoffman, Diane Keaton, and Holly Hunter were among the earliest adopters of the marque's hybrid RX 400h. [12] Politicians in the UK [13] and Ireland [14] have acquired Lexus hybrids, along with government agencies. [15] Prince Albert II of Monaco purchased an LS 600h and advocated the adoption of hybrid tax credits.

[16] Lexus Lineup (1998-2003) Lexus RX|RX 300 (2004-2006) Lexus RX|RX 330 2017 Lexus IS - Luxury Sedan | Lexus.com ©2006-2017 Lexus, a Division of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. All information contained herein applies to U.S. vehicles only. Notice for Internet Explorer® Users To ensure your experience on lexus.com is as exceptional as our vehicles, we no longer support Internet Explorer® Version 10 and older. We do, however, support Version 11 and other browsers. Click here to upgrade your current browser or, to install a new one, select a link below. Lexus Parts, Lexus Replacement & Accessories | CarParts.com Lexus Parts And Lexus Replacement Lexus was established after a project from Toyota engineers was metamorphosed into the form of LS400, an assembled creation of the best luxury car ever to grace the automotive industry.

Automaker of Lexus must have foreseen the upcoming success from their mere start that the metamorphosis of their efforts resulted to the never-ending commitment to take the journey of providing the consumers with products that are more special than what they can conceive of. Today, Lexus cars are right before the industry up for grabs with each model teeming with traces of hard work and labour that realize the "Pursuit of Perfection" concept. True enough, Lexus cars belong to the upmarket luxury vehicles with evidences that could only be associated with the most engineered and highly-treated Lexus details. Lexus cars define the term quality standard speaks of. With vehicles that give refinement and style a new meaning is what Lexus cars are proud of. Along with this, you can couple it with these characters: reliability and the highest levels of comfort. From 1989, a string of cars consistently penetrated the market. Consumers will never get out of options from the lineup of Lexus cars offered in the market. Lexus IS model is the sophisticated superbly balanced car meant for those who wanted performance-oriented yet poses refinement and comfort with every drive. For consumers who prefer cars that are simply elegant yet visually and physically appealing, Lexus GS models engaged these characteristics.

Lexus LS, on the other hand, will offer sanctuary the quietest car can provide to its occupants with interior harnessed with all technological resources could dispose. For sports-utility vehicle lovers, Lexus RX models are created to direct them into these vehicles' versatility, intelligence and luxury. And, of course, the powered, retractable-hard-top feature of Lexus SC models are for those who wanted optimum driving balance with more high-technology appeal of the air conditioning system plus its satellite navigation. Such fine and delicate features like Lexus cars emanate should never be left out with less than a treatment of unmaintained attention. These cars should never go out of style like broken and damaged parts can do. To prevent these vehicles from engaging into an unsightly mass of failures, Lexus automotive parts are there to go along with these cars in pursuit to perfected performance in the industry. Lexus parts will serve these vehicles as long as what durability means to these products. High-quality Lexus parts are offered by OEM and aftermarket manufacturers with wide range of supply so the drivers would never bear reason to let go of these cars tainted with damaged and broken parts. Lexus Parts Bestsellers Lexus Articles Closer Look at Lexus Automobiles The Japanese call it 'kanpeki' which means perfection.

We call it the Lexus. It's the embodiment of technology, luxury, and art. The brand's core philosophy is to be technologically superior, without forgetting driver tastes and comfort. For this reason, Lexus is the highest-selling make of luxury cars in America; a testimony of the quality of their automobiles. If you own one, then you surely know that your Lexus is an elegant technological masterpiece.So better keep your Lexus in perfect shape. When the need for replacement arises, you'd need to replace Lexus parts with premium and exact Lexus OEM parts. OEM specifications not only mean that the Lexus car parts function like its original components, but also guarantees compatibility. And when searching for Lexus body parts, always look for the components that are designed to match the car's specs, so that the original style is preserved. After all, you paid a lot for such a luxurious vehicle; you wouldn't want to place a measly second-rate auto part to throw all that luxury down the drain.So maintain that perfection. Maintain the quality of your Lexus. Get Lexus parts that are not only of OEM specs, but also come from good and trusted brands. Make sure that your technologically luxurious vehicle is not only in top shape, but also that it stays that way.

So only get parts that embody the Lexus' spirit of perfection.

Question: Lexus is the luxury vehicle division of which manufacturer?
Answer: TOYOTA