Who makes Lexus cars. Lexus brand history. Future plans

Produces luxury cars. They were originally intended for sale in the United States. However, they are currently supplied to many countries around the world. The headquarters is located in Japan in Nagoya.

History of the name

Users of these prestigious cars claim that the word does not have any meaning, but is simply a designation for a luxury car. However, the creators claim that the name is related to the name Alexis. It was considered as an option for the name of a new line of cars from Toyota. The prototype was the hero of the famous series “Dynasty” Alexis Carrington. But this name did not go away completely; it was slightly transformed, becoming “Lexus”.

Defining goals, researching potential markets

In 1983, Toyota management set a goal - to create the best car in the world in the executive class category. During this period, there was a demand for premium cars, especially in the United States of America. By that time, in the territory of this state, Toyota was already known as a corporation producing reliable and quality cars. But the niche of luxury cars was not covered, and therefore the decision was made to begin developing cars in this category.

Before production began, Toyota undertook a large-scale research study of the potential market, which was accompanied by careful design of future cars. For this purpose, premises were rented in California in order to establish the preferences of potential buyers on the spot.

In 1989, work on creating the car was completed. According to the corporation, almost 60 designers, about 1,400 specialist engineers in various fields of the automotive industry, and more than 2,500 mechanics were involved in the development. About 450 prototypes of the car were produced. In total, more than $1 billion was invested in the project.

Start of production

However, the result of this work was impressive. The Lexus LS 400, unique at that time, entered the market, featuring a unique design, an advanced V8 engine with a capacity of four liters. The Japanese plant in the city of Tahara is the place where Lexus number one is assembled.

The debut took place in early 1989, at the Detroit Auto Show. Just 9 months later, in September, its sales began through the established distribution network in the United States. At the same time, the process of starting sales itself was surrounded by massive advertising campaigns in the media.

The first Lexus received good reviews for equipment, advanced aerodynamics, and efficiency. Good reviews was awarded and gasoline engine. Prices for the car were around $38,000, which was considered a reasonable amount. Handling characteristics are also highly praised. However, critics noted the stiffness of the suspension. It did not make it possible to fully enjoy the comfortable environment of the car.

In the first year, 1989, 16,392 units of the Lexus LS 400 and the ES 250 sedan, another company model, were sold in the United States. In 1990, sales increased further, with 63,594 cars sold between these two models. In the same year, small quantities of premium cars were delivered to Australia, the UK, Canada and Switzerland.

Expansion of production

In the spring of 1991, Lexus launched sports coupe SC 400, with the same engine as the LS 400. It had impressive performance for those times, in 6.9 seconds it was able to accelerate to 1,000 km/h. 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. 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 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.

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 continuation of innovations in the class of sports sedans. 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, Toyota. He got the production center, the plant where Lexus is assembled, 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.

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

Where is Lexus assembled?

The company develops and manufactures all cars at one of the most advanced automotive plants in the world, the Takhara plant. The quality of workmanship in this place is evidenced by the fact that all employees are subjected to a mandatory air shower at the entrance to remove dust.

Since the beginning of the 2000s, Lexus began assembling cars at other Japanese factories. The North American market is mainly replenished with brand cars on its own assembly plant. Canada, the city of Cambridge is the place where Lexus is assembled.

IN Russian Federation Lexus does not have any factories for assembling its cars and does not plan to open them. This is due to the fact that the company's management avoids unnecessary risk to its reputation. Almost all cars of this luxury brand in the Russian Federation are imported from Japan, the country where Lexus is assembled for Russia. Those that were produced in North American factories are extremely rare here.

The NX model, popular in our country, was developed by the company exclusively for car enthusiasts in Russia and the United States. Where Lexus NX is assembled - in Japan. In Miyata Prefecture, on automobile plant in the city of Kyushu.

Lexus NX is a compact crossover, first shown in 2014 in Beijing, in three modifications. It is based on the Toyota RAV4 platform. On sale since autumn 2014. At the plant where the Lexus NX is assembled, other models are being produced - RX, CT 200h.

When it comes to high-quality, popular cars, it would be a shame not to remember the expensive Japanese brand Lexus. The Japanese produce the most advanced crossovers for businessmen who need not only quality and comfort from a car, but also a premium component. One such brainchild of the brand is the Lexus NX model. This car has already been restyled four times, and with each update a more unique and reliable car. Russians also prefer Japanese crossovers, in particular this model. The car occupies a leading position in its segment. Many Russian fans of the brand do not know where Lexus NX is assembled for the domestic market.

The main markets for Japanese crossovers are the USA and Russia. This premium compact car for the Russian market is made in Japan at a plant located in the city of Kyushu. In the American quality assessment rating, the Japanese plant received a gold award for the most best quality car assembly. The design and capabilities of this “Japanese” will not leave anyone indifferent. The car is offered to customers with three powertrain options. The purebred "Japanese" is quite popular in Russian market. Even in spite of him high cost, the car has already surpassed many competitors in sales.

Exterior and interior

The next update of the crossover has made its appearance even brighter and richer. The brand's logo is emblazoned on the massive radiator grille. The diamond-shaped lighting technology gives the car its dynamism. From the rear, the car looks bold in the good sense of the word. The sporty and swift look of the crossover is given by a traditional spoiler made in the Lexus style. The machine turned out to be quite compact, its dimensions are: 4630 mm × 1645 mm × 1845 mm.

The interior of the car looks no worse than the exterior. Where Lexus NX is produced, they took care of the quality and luxury of the car's interior. Very high level The Japanese crossover has been soundproofed. That's why, extraneous sounds will not distract the driver from the driving process, and passengers from a pleasant journey. The Japanese have used some innovative solutions to decorate the interior. Now the driver will have the opportunity to charge gadgets from a distance and control the multimedia system using the touchpad.

The owners have no complaints about the quality of the materials used for finishing. But the “Japanese” also has its drawbacks: there is a little bit of space inside, the roof of the car is rather low, therefore, it is not entirely comfortable for tall passengers to be in the crossover cabin. But the rear sofa has a backrest adjustment function and is equipped with an electric drive. The machine has an automatic opening system luggage compartment. Its volume is 500 liters when folded rear seats can be increased to 1545 liters.

Technical side

The engine range for Russia is represented by the same units as for the European market. The base is a 2-liter naturally aspirated petrol unit, producing 151 horsepower. Maximum speed the range of a crossover with such an engine is 180 kilometers. Where Lexus NX is produced took care of the car’s economy. In the combined cycle, the car consumes 7.5 liters of high-quality Euro-5 gasoline. The second engine is also a 2-liter, but already producing 238 horsepower. The maximum speed of a car with such an engine is two hundred kilometers.

A hundred will require 8.8 liters of fuel. A hybrid power plant is also available to customers - a 2.5-liter engine with a power of 155 horses. Plus, there are two more electric motors with 143 hp. and 68 hp At most, the driver will be able to accelerate this crossover to 180 kilometers. Average consumption hybrid installation per hundred kilometers is 5.4 liters. The basic version of the car is offered only with front-wheel drive. The car has a traditional independent MacPherson suspension at the front and a multi-link independent suspension at the rear. The car is available to buyers in three versions:

• NX 200
• NX 200t
• NX 300h.

The cost of the car varies from 1,448,000 to 2,350,000 depending on the configuration. Japanese crossover Lexus NX will be excellent option for urban operating conditions.

Lexus is a division of the Japanese company Toyota, created to develop and produce luxury cars. Initially, models of this brand were designed for sale in the United States, but its popularity allowed it to expand the sales market in other directions. Today Lexus cars can be purchased in most countries of the world.

In 1983, the Lexus brand was founded, which had to withstand heavy competition from the best automakers in the world, such as BMW, Jaguar and others. The parent company Toyota gathered the most talented engineers and designers, and in 1984 painstaking work began on the “F1 project.” The name was deciphered quite simply: F - flagship - flagship, 1 - the first among its own kind. Ichiro Suzuki and Shoiji Jinbo were appointed as managers. First of all, they decided to personally visit the United States in order to conduct a survey to personally find out the preferences of Americans. In parallel with this, five designers actively worked on creating sketches and concepts for the new car. In May 1985, a large-scale study of driver preferences was conducted in the United States, which formed the basis for Lexus design concepts created at Toyota's California studio. The first of them was ready in July.

The prototype was called the Lexus LS400, and throughout the next year it underwent many tests, the results of which made it possible to improve certain vehicle systems. In particular, continuous tests on the autobahns of Germany, Canada and Sweden revealed the need to refine the control system and suspension design. In May 1987, 8 design options for the model were presented, from which the company's management chose the final one, and already in January 1988, the first videos of the car were shown at the Los Angeles Auto Show, and then at other exhibitions. A few months later, in May, the project leaders announced a list of car dealers honored to sell Lexus cars in the future. The list included 80 companies, and was topped by Lexus of Columbus from Ohio. Lexus was presented to the public only a year later, in Detroit. At that time, the company demonstrated 2 models - the LS400 (a luxury sedan with a 4-liter engine) and the ES250 (an executive sedan with a 2.5-liter engine). Literally a day later, all residents and guests of Los Angeles who visited the local showroom could admire the new creation of the Japanese automobile industry. In September 1989, the first sales of cars began through a dealer network prepared in advance; the total number of cars purchased exceeded 4 thousand in the first month.

Among the reasons for the success of Lexus cars in the American market are the rich interior trim, numerous prestigious components that were installed in these cars, powerful and reliable engine, as well as an appearance made in strict and clear lines, emphasizing the elitism of the brand. In 1990, the Lexus LS400 was named the best in Car & Driver magazine. imported car of the year and received 1st place in the J.D. Power and Associates, one of the most reputable companies in the field of automotive market research. At the same time, the first dealership centers were opened in Canada and the UK, which allowed the Lexus brand to consolidate its success, achieving widespread recognition.

In May 1991 it was introduced new model— SC400, which was a sports coupe. 4 liter engine with automatic transmission allowed to accelerate to 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds. By the fall, a budget version of the SC300 with a 3-liter engine was released, and the ES250 was replaced by the more powerful ES300. In addition, the company's flagship model, the LS400, has undergone a number of improvements that were aimed at increasing the safety of the driver and passenger, as well as increasing the comfort of the car. The model again took first place in the ratings of leading car market researchers, which was one of the reasons that in 1992 Lexus was ahead of BMW and Mercedes-Benz in sales volumes.

At the beginning of 1993 the company released sports sedan GS300, the appearance of which was designed by the famous car designer Giorgetto Giugiaro. In 1994, the model was presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show. According to the results of 1993, a number Lexus models again receive the highest ratings from expert organizations, and for the third time find themselves at the top of the J. D. Power and Associates."

The company achieved equally high successes in the next year, 1994, and in 1995. However, the US Department, under pressure from domestic producers, almost introduced 100% duties on japanese cars premium class, which included all model range Lexus. Only the intervention of Japan's top officials made it possible to reach an agreement and avoid the outbreak of a trade war.

In 1996, Lexus introduced the LX450, which became the first luxury SUV. This car combined luxury and interior comfort with high cross-country ability and a smooth ride even on bumpy roads. Also, an updated ES300 was released, which became 6 cm longer than the previous generation.

1997 was rich in updates. In January, the company showed the concept of the HPS model at the Detroit Auto Show, most the ideas of which were implemented in the new generation GS300. In February, Lexus presented another concept, which later became the RX300 sports SUV. In September, updated SC and GS models with 3 and 4 liters of displacement were released, receiving restyling, and the LS400 acquired a number of new options. Also, this year the company set a sales record - almost 100 thousand cars of the brand found their owners, which exceeded last year's mark by 20%.

In March 1998, two new company SUVs were released - the LX470, which had a 4.7-liter engine, and the RX300, equipped with a 3-liter power plant. The latter became a bestseller, ensuring explosive growth in Lexus statistics and leaving all other luxury car manufacturers behind. And the expert organization “J.D. Power and Associates has ranked the company's vehicles No. 1 in customer satisfaction for the 7th time in a row.

In 1999, the company's rear-wheel drive model, the IS200, was unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show, which began selling in Europe that same spring and nearly doubled Lexus's sales from the previous year. And in the USA, for the fifth time, the brand was awarded first place among the manufacturers of the most trouble-free cars, thanks to the minimum number of calls from its customers to service centers after 5 years of operation. The total number of Lexuses sold exceeded 1 million copies.

In 2000, the company introduced the IS variant, equipped with a 3-liter engine and a new flagship sedan LS430, the engine of which developed 280 horsepower and had a displacement of 4.3 liters. The interior had a luxurious finish using genuine leather and walnut wood, like previous models. A new SC430 model was also announced, and the company decided to move the assembly of the RX300 to the Canadian plant of the parent company Toyota. In August of the same year, the company set a sales record among luxury brands - more than 20 thousand cars per month.

In early 2001, Lexus moved more production to North America, opening a plant to assemble RX300 engines and suspensions in Buffalo. At the Detroit Auto Show, the SC430 models were shown, as well as the IS300 in 2 variations - SportCross, equipped with a steering wheel with a gear selector, and Manual Transmission - with manual transmission. Sales of these cars began the same year, and in October they were joined by the third generation ES300, which incorporated many of the latest achievements of the Japanese automobile industry.

In 2002, Lexus developed and produced a concept car that became the car of Tom Cruise's character in Steven Spielberg's film Minority Report. It is also presenting at the Paris Motor Show an updated IS200 equipped with a SportCross steering wheel and a VVT-i engine. The GX470 luxury SUV with adjustable suspension was also launched in November.

In the spring of 2003, the company updated the RX line, enlarging the body and adding a number of prestigious options. The American version also received a new 3.3-liter engine; European buyers decided to keep the previous 3-liter engine. Just a month after the start of sales, the car became the sales leader in its class. Lexus also presented the HPX prototype in New York, which combined the features of both a sports car and an SUV. In September, the brand's car production plant began operating in the Canadian city of Cambridge, and at the Frankfurt Motor Show the company demonstrated the updated LS430 sedan.

The next few years were difficult for the company, due to falling sales in the United States. However, Lexus did not stop developing new models, and even began producing cars equipped with diesel and hybrid engines, which used a number of modern environmentally friendly technologies. At the same time, the company is beginning to prepare to conquer the super-luxury class, planning to compete on equal terms with such “monsters” as Bentley and Rolls-Royce. The company's first supercar was released in limited edition in 2009 under the name LF-A.

In 2009, the company introduced the next generation of the RX450 to the market, which received an additional index h, indicating that these cars are equipped with hybrid engines, and a year later it introduced a more economical modification equipped with a 2.7-liter engine.

In 2011, Lexus unexpectedly introduced the CT200h, aimed at the compact luxury hatchback niche and at a fairly low price. The ES350 sedan, first presented a year earlier at the Moscow Motor Show, also went on sale.

The 2011 earthquake, which destroyed part of Lexus' production facilities, forced the company to adjust its sales plans and think about moving some factories to China, following the example of its parent company Toyota.

In the same year, there was a fairly significant decline in sales of Lexus cars in the United States. Immediately after summing up the results, The New York Times wrote: “Eleven years of holding the title of best-selling luxury brand ended this year. The company gave the championship to BMW and Mercedes-Benz.” However, the trend has improved somewhat thanks to Europe and Japan, where luxury cars began to be purchased more by 40% and 27%, respectively. Subsequently, Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda promised to restore interest in the brand and further increase the company's organizational independence, admitting that "... back then we viewed Lexus not as a brand, but only as a sales channel." As a result of organizational changes at the head office, senior Lexus managers began to report directly to the chairman for the first time in the history of the brand.

Wanting to rehabilitate itself after last year's decline in ratings, the company's management began to work at an accelerated pace. In January 2012, the brand began selling fourth-generation GS vehicles, including the GS 350 and GS 450h, as well as the GS 250 model in select markets. In April of the same year, the sixth generation of the ES line was replenished with the ES 350 and ES 300h variants, which debuted at the New York International Auto Show.

In August, Lexus presented one of its prepared surprises - the flagship LS sedan. Technically, it was a modernized and improved line previous model. In particular, it has changed appearance cars, engines have become much more productive, and the optional potential has also increased. For the first time in the company's history, the flagship sedan received the optional F Sport package.

At the same time, information appeared about the Japanese resumption of the project to create the IS-F model. Together with the Lexus IS, it was supposed to be one of the main new products of 2014.

In October 2012, the Lexus LF-LC debuted in Sydney. The car was not an absolute novelty for the audience, as it was already familiar from the exhibition in Australia. However, company representatives assured that there are significant differences. Thus, in particular, engineers have reduced the percentage of carbon fiber used in the car’s design. The SEMA show, which took place a week later in Las Vegas, was marked by the presentation of the GS 350 F Sport.

At the end of 2012, Lexus registered new cars with the patent offices of the United States and Australia. In America, it became known about the proposed crossovers NX 200t and NX 300h, produced on the basis of the Toyota RAV4. The company prepared the RC 350 for Australia. The model was based on the LF-CC concept presented at the Paris Motor Show.

Since the first weeks of 2013, Lexus has repeatedly announced upcoming new products and transformations, indicating the company's hope to regain its leadership position in the US market. The full-hybrid IS 300h, the redesigned Lexus LF-LC and the improved Lexus F SPORT line were unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in February. Almost immediately it became known that Lexus cars again received the “J. D. Power and Associates" as the most reliable, and the highest awards in the 2013 Kelley Blue Book in the United States for estimating the cost of owning a five-year-old car among luxury brands.

To demonstrate the new all-wheel drive Lexus GS AWD, the Lexus Ice Event was held near Montreal in March. The company's management personally selected the guests for the event, presenting only 24 invitations. In the spring, the Lexus patent line was replenished with another copy - the GS F brand was registered in the USA.

The exhibition in Shanghai, held in April, was used by Lexus management to premiere the Lexus GS 300h hybrid. The car, they said, was intended for businessmen and corporate buyers. Koji Sato, deputy chief designer of the company, noted that the new product is also much more environmentally friendly, since it significantly reduces the level of CO2 emissions into the air compared to other models. The company’s commitment to the “purity” of its products has once again ensured its leadership position in the “Greenest Brand in the World” rating. It also became the best automaker according to the results of the “Driver Power” 2013 study by the English automotive publication “Auto Express”.

At Made Fashion Week in New York in the fall of 2013, Lexus presented the first-ever holographic show starring Coco Rocha. A spectacle consisting of special effects, three-dimensional modeling and many others technical achievements was a breathtaking spectacle that reflected the history of the company's development with all the obstacles and ups. At the last motor show in 2013, held in Tokyo, it was presented latest version conceptual crossover LF-NX TURBO.

The 2014 Geneva Motor Show presented to the audience in all its glory the new RC F line, the cars of which were recognized as the most powerful in the history of Lexus. Four cars of this model were shown at the exhibition: the RC coupe, the new RC F sports car F SPORT and the RC F GT3 racing concept. The presentation in Detroit was no less discussed. There, they finally presented a worthy alternative to the BMW M4 and Audi RS5, the creation of which has been talked about for several years - the RC F Coupe. Wanting to conquer the premium mid-size crossover segment, Lexus presented the NX model in Beijing.

Despite the fact that in 2014 the company slightly reduced the number of concepts being developed, the popularity of the brand has not decreased at all, rather the opposite. Lexus continued to receive international awards, testifying to the consistent quality of its vehicles. Thus, Lexus topped the list of leading manufacturers in the British customer satisfaction rating from What Car?/JD Power for the 12th time. In addition, the company was voted the No. 1 car manufacturer in the UK in the 2014 Which Car Survey. Thanks to this, sales growth rates remained consistently high.

The first new product of 2015 was the Lexus GS F 2016 sedan. However, everyone was eagerly awaiting the main bestseller - the new generation of RX models. This line has held a leading sales position for many years. Even the fact that the third collection was not to the liking of critics who condemned the design of the cars did not in any way affect the love for this model. It is worth noting that the fourth collection fully met the expectations of fans. Appearance has regained its former charm and appeal, combining the sophistication of the NX line and the smoothness of its contours.

Wanting to expand the boundaries of its influence, the company took up several abstract projects. First of all, together with Toyota engineers and technologists, Lexus specialists began developing new system security. Innovation promises to become not only the most effective, but also accessible. In 2015, Lexus cars confirmed their status as the most reliable in the world and do not intend to lose this title in the future.

Another news for fans of the company was the appearance of a modern flying board, which was tested in the summer of 2015. Innovative technology based on the use of magnetic levitation. To a large extent, the resulting effect was helped by the presence of superconductors and permanent magnets cooled by liquid nitrogen.

The premium car segment is like an elite club where only a select few are accepted. In order to become a member, you need the appropriate pedigree, however 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 had Infiniti brand, and Honda has Acura.

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, sales of the convertible coupe increased significantly. Inspired by its success, the Japanese premium brand continued its collaboration with American cinema, featuring not only production models, but also concepts - in particular, the Lexus 2054, which Tom Cruise drove away from being chased in the sci-fi 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 cars SUV class, 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 SUV Toyota Land Cruiser 80 (with 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 chassis Toyota Camry. And the Japanese did not rest on this: in 1998, the LX 450 was replaced by the more modern and powerful LX 470, based on 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 production 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.