When it comes to high-quality, popular cars, it's a sin not to mention the expensive Japanese brand Lexus. The Japanese produce the most charged crossovers for businessmen who need not only quality and comfort from a car, but also a premium component. One of these brainchildren of the brand is the model - Lexus NX. This car has already been restyled four times, and with each update, a more unique and reliable car came out into the world. Russians also prefer Japanese crossovers, in particular, this model. In its segment, the car occupies a leading position. Many Russian fans of the brand do not know where the Lexus NX is assembled for the domestic market.
The main market for Japanese crossovers is the United States and Russia. This premium compact car for the Russian market is made in Japan at an enterprise located in the city of Kyushu. In the American quality rating, the Japanese factory received a gold award for the best car assembly quality. The design and capabilities of this "Japanese" will not leave anyone indifferent. The car is offered to buyers with three options for power plants. Purebred "Japanese" is quite popular in the Russian market. Even despite its high cost, in terms of sales, the car has already “surpassed” many competitors.
Exterior and interior
The next update of the crossover made its appearance even brighter and richer. The massive radiator grille flaunts the brand's logo. Dynamism gives the car a diamond-shaped lighting technology. Behind the car looks bold in the best sense of the word. The traditional Lexus-style spoiler adds sportiness and swiftness to the look of the crossover. The machine turned out to be quite compact, its dimensions are: 4630 mm × 1645 mm × 1845 mm.
The interior of the car looks just as good as the exterior. Where the Lexus NX is produced, they took care of the quality factor and luxury of the car interior. The soundproofing of the Japanese crossover is made at a very high level. Therefore, extraneous sounds will not distract the driver from the driving process, and passengers from a pleasant journey. The Japanese used some innovative solutions for interior design. Now the driver will be able to charge gadgets at 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, there are also drawbacks to the “Japanese”, there is a little little space inside, the roof of the car is rather low, therefore, it is not very comfortable for tall passengers to be in the crossover cabin. But the rear sofa has the function of adjusting the backrest and is equipped with an electric drive. The car has an automatic luggage compartment opening system. Its volume is 500 liters, if you fold the 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 gasoline 2-liter naturally aspirated unit that produces 151 horsepower. The maximum speed of a crossover with such an engine is 180 kilometers. Where the Lexus NX is produced, they took care of the economy of the car. 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 issuing 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 - this is a 2.5-liter engine with a power of 155 horses. Plus, there are two more electric motors for 143 hp. and 68 hp Maximum, the driver will be able to disperse this crossover up to 180 kilometers. The average consumption of a 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 MacPherson strut independent front suspension and a multi-link independent rear. The car is available to buyers in three versions:
- NX 200
- NX200t
- NX 300h.
The cost of the car varies from 1,448,000 to 2,350,000, depending on the configuration. The Japanese crossover Lexus NX will be an excellent option for urban operating conditions.
Manufacturer country: Japan
Lexus(Lexus) is a Japanese automobile company specializing in the production of passenger cars. It is a division of Toyota Motors Corporation Headquartered in Toyota.
The company specializes in the production of high-end vehicles, mainly for the US market. Lexus cars combine style, comfort and quality in equal measure. Lexus models have excellent handling and a smooth ride thanks to the quality of the engine and transmission and the improved suspension mechanism.
In July 1985, the first Lexus LS 400 came off the slipway. In May 1986, he underwent extensive test drives in Germany and only in January 1989 was presented at auto shows in Detroit and Los Angeles. Since September 1989, sales of this car began in the United States.
Externally, the "Lexus LS400" - the very first Lexus - had nothing to do with Japanese cars. It was immediately made, focusing on the Americans. This suggested that one of the famous Italian car designers had a hand in the bodywork. And over time, this was confirmed - the later Lexus GS300 with a streamlined body was created by Giorgetto Giugiaro. One of the company's most prestigious models is the GS 300 3T sports sedan with a boosted engine developed by Toyota's Cologne Motosport division.
In February 1990, the American press named the Lexus LS 400 luxury sedan, distinguished by its power and economy due to its successful aerodynamics, as the best car imported into the United States.
In May 1991, the second Lexus with the SC 400 (coupe) index, an export version of the Toyota Soarer for the North American market, went into production. After restyling in 1998, external differences with the Toyota Soarer almost disappeared.
The five-seater Lexus ES 300 sedan was first shown in the summer of 1991, a special version of the Toyota Camry for the US market.
In January 1993, the premiere of the Lexus GS 300 took place.
The Lexus family of cars also has its own chic all-wheel drive jeep Lexus LX 450, which combines the style of a luxury executive car with the advantages of the Toyota Land Cruiser HDJ 80 SUV. 450.
In the fall of 1998, the first show of the IS model produced by the Japanese company Toyota Motor took place. In the spring of 1999, the first compact Lexus model, the IS 200, appeared on the European and American markets.
In 2000, a fairly extensive range of Lexus was supplemented by two new products: IS300 and LS430. Other models have undergone minor changes. On the Lexus GS, LS and LX, the Brake Assist Safety System (BASS) has become standard, more accurately and evenly distributing braking forces to the wheels depending on the state of the brakes and braking conditions.
An updated version of its RX 300 SUV was introduced by Lexus at the recently concluded North American Auto Show in Detroit. The updated model is called the Lexus RX 330, and has large dimensions both in length and width of the body. Now the appearance of this SUV has become more dynamic and modern. The updated RX 330 is equipped with a 3.3-liter V6 engine producing 230 hp.
Country-manufacturer "Lexus" - Japan (city of Toyota). The Lexus division is part of the Japanese concern Toyota Motors Corporation, and is mainly engaged in the production of luxury cars for the US and European markets, and Toyota cars are mainly sold in Japan. The main direction of the company is the creation of elite expensive cars with leading comfort characteristics for the driver and passenger, reliable engines, transmissions, and innovative smooth running systems.
Brand creation
Japan, as a Lexus manufacturing country, is famous for its unique technologies and innovations in the field of mechanical engineering. She had before and now has all the resources to create the best cars in the world. That is why in 1983, at a secret meeting of Toyota directors, the idea was proposed to create a new brand, under which the best cars in the world would be produced. So that the consumer would not have associations with Toyota, a new brand, Lexus, was invented.
Plans and positioning
1400 best engineers and designers were invited to create the first car. They faced a rather difficult task - to create a really good luxury car that would outperform the competition and cost less. For this, a survey group was even created to find out what exactly they want to buy in the United States. And although Japan is a manufacturing country, Lexuses were primarily aimed at the American consumer, since at that time the Japanese market already almost completely belonged to Toyota.
First car
The very first machine was created in 1985. It was the Lexus LS400 model, which was tested in Germany in 1986, and appeared on the US market in 1989. Since September of this year, sales of the car began. Outwardly, he had nothing to do with Japanese cars and looked like a typical "American". The designers did their best, as this model was well received by the American public. Even then, consumers began to wonder what kind of manufacturing country it was and whose brand was Lexus.
Subsequent models
The second car was "painted" by Giorgetto Giugiaro. We are talking about the model Lexus GS300 with a streamlined body. The most successful was the modification of the Lexus GS300 3T with a forced motor, created by the Cologne branch of Motosport, owned by Toyota.
A year after entering the US market, the American press called the Lexus LS400 sedan the best imported car. However, there is nothing particularly surprising here, since the car, with its high power, had low fuel consumption due to successful aerodynamics.
In May 1991, a new car appeared on the market - the Lexus SC400 Coupe. It very much resembled the Toyota Soarer, not only in appearance, but also in performance. However, after 1998, the differences between these machines disappeared during restyling.
In 1993, the five-seater Lexus ES300 sedan was also shown, which was a kind of analogue of the Toyota Camry in the US market.
Also in the family of cars from Lexus is a chic jeep with all-wheel drive LX450. It incorporated the comfort of an executive car and the advantages of the Toyota Land Cruiser HDJ 80 SUV, popular in Japan. A little later, an improved version of the all-wheel drive jeep appeared - the Lexus LX470.
1998 in the history of the company will be remembered for showing the first car with the IS index. In the spring of next year, the first IS200 model from Lexus appeared on the American market. The shape of the body and the technical characteristics of the car made it possible to make a racing model out of it.
In the manufacturing country, Lexus developed quite quickly due to the high consumer demand for these cars in the United States. In early 2000, as expected, updates appeared. First, the IS300 was shown in Los Angeles, and then in Detroit everyone saw a successful reincarnation of the LS400 - LS430. In fact, this is the flagship among the cars, which had the most innovative technologies, a navigation system, an expensive leather interior, as well as a powerful V8 engine with a capacity of 280 horsepower. It could accelerate to 100 km/h in just 6.7 seconds. With all this, he had a minimum coefficient of drag.
In the same year in New York, the Lexus company announced the appearance of the SC430 model, and also shared its plans for 2003. It was assumed that in 3 years the Lexus RX300 cars would be produced at the Toyota plant in Canada. It should be noted that before that, only Japan was considered the country-manufacturer of Lexus cars.
peak sales
In June, the IS300 went on sale; in August, Lexus becomes the first luxury import brand in the US to sell over 20,000 vehicles in a month. At the same time, the improvement of existing brands is in full swing - the GS400 is being replaced by the improved GS430, which has successfully entered the series. The results for 2000 showed that for the fifth year in a row, Lexus increased its sales, easily outperforming other luxury brands in the US. At this time, American consumers already know perfectly well who produces Lexus, the manufacturing country as a whole is trusted, and even other brands of Japanese cars are well received by the buyer.
In 2001, Toyota announces that the suspension and motors for the RX300 will be built at its Buffalo facility. Shortly thereafter, the IS300 SportCross (with steering wheel shift button), IS300 Manual Transmission (with manual transmission) are shown at the Detroit Auto Show, and production of the new SC430 is gearing up for launch. In March, the car was ready, but by the time sales started, orders for this car had already been scheduled.
Coming to other countries
By 2002, this brand was respected all over the world and understood whose country is the manufacturer of Lexus. The first official dealer in Russia appeared in 2002. They became the company "Lexus-Business Car". A year later, there were two dealers.
In 2003, the famous RX300 and the more dynamic RX330 were introduced in Detroit. The latter had luxury options and innovative technological solutions. On the roads of Russia and Europe, this car can be seen quite often. In its class, the RX300 overtook all competitors. In the same year, the assembly of machines began at a plant in Canada and Germany. And although Lexus cars are being developed in the manufacturing country of Japan, they are manufactured and assembled in different parts of the world, including Russia.
Future plans
The company said it plans to expand its lineup with diesel vehicles for Europe, where diesel power plants are more popular due to less environmentally harmful exhaust. There are also plans to develop hybrid cars for the US market, where hybrids are gaining popularity. However, such cars already exist even today.
Toyota, whose Lexus brand is not very popular in the manufacturing country of Japan, also plans to take a large part of its home market. However, this is not surprising, because Lexus was primarily focused on other countries, since Japan already bought Toyota cars with might and main. A new brand was not needed at all for this.
Conclusion
The once unknown brand has become very popular, and today everyone knows where Lexuses are made. Thanks to this brand (and not only it), the country of origin has created an excellent reputation as a reliable car manufacturer. However, it should be understood that most of the merit of the brand's success belongs to Toyota, because Lexuses were not created from scratch, but on the basis of existing and advanced technologies at that time. So you need to remember who produces Lexuses in the manufacturing country. This is the Japanese concern "Toyota" - a giant of the automotive industry, which today is one of the industry leaders not only in Japan, but throughout the world.
Lexus is a division of the Japanese company Toyota, created to develop and manufacture luxury cars. Initially, the 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 bought 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" brought together the most talented engineers, 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. The leaders were Ichiro Suzuki and Shoiji Jimbo. First of all, they decided to personally visit the United States in order to personally find out the preferences of Americans by conducting a survey. In parallel with this, five designers were actively working on the creation of sketches and the concept of a new car. In May 1985, a large-scale study of driver preferences was conducted in the United States, which formed the basis of the Lexus design concepts, created in the California studio "Toyota". The first one 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, constant tests on the autobahns of Germany, Canada and Sweden made it possible to determine 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 with the car were shown at the Los Angeles auto show, and then at other exhibitions. A few months later, in May, the project leaders also announced a list of car dealers honored to sell Lexus cars in the future. The list included 80 firms, and Lexus of Columbus from Ohio headed it. Live Lexus was presented to the public only a year later, in Detroit. The company at that time demonstrated 2 models - LS400 (a luxury sedan with a 4-liter engine) and 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 salon 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, a powerful and reliable engine, as well as an appearance made in strict and clear lines that emphasized the elite brand. In 1990, the Lexus LS400 was named Best Imported Car of the Year by Car & Driver magazine and ranked #1 in the J.D. Power and Associates, one of the most respected companies in the field of automotive market research. At the same time, the first dealerships were opened in Canada and the UK, which allowed the Lexus brand to consolidate its success, achieving wide recognition.
In May 1991, a new model was introduced - the SC400, which was a sports coupe. A 4-liter engine with automatic transmission allowed to accelerate to 100 km / h in 6.9 seconds. By autumn, a budget version of the SC300 with a 3-liter engine was released, and the more powerful ES300 replaced the ES250. In addition, the company's flagship model, the LS400, has undergone a number of improvements that were aimed at increasing driver and passenger safety, as well as increasing the comfort of the car. The model again took first place in the rankings of leading car market researchers, which was one of the reasons that in 1992 Lexus was ahead of BMW and Mercedes-Benz in terms of sales.
In early 1993, the company launched the GS300 sports sedan, which was designed by renowned auto designer Giorgetto Giugiaro. In 1994, the model was presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show. According to the results of 1993, a number of Lexus models again receive the highest ratings from expert organizations, and for the third time they are at the top of the J. D. Power and Associates.
The company achieved the same high success in the next year, 1994, and in 1995. However, the US Department, under pressure from domestic manufacturers, almost imposed a 100% duty on Japanese premium cars, which included the entire Lexus lineup. Only the intervention of the highest ranks of Japan made it possible to reach an agreement and avoid the start of a trade war.
In 1996, Lexus introduced the LX450, the first luxury SUV. This car combined the luxury and comfort of the cabin with high maneuverability 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 a year full of updates. In January, the company showed the concept of the HPS model at the Detroit Auto Show, most of the ideas of which were implemented in the new generation of the GS300. In February, Lexus unveiled another concept that later became the RX300 sport utility vehicle. In September, the updated SC and GS models with 3 and 4 liters of displacement were released, which received 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 - having a 4.7-liter LX470 engine and RX300, equipped with a 3-liter power plant. The latter became a bestseller, providing an explosive growth in Lexus statistics and leaving behind all other luxury car manufacturers. And the expert organization “J.D. Power and Associates ranked the company's vehicles #1 in customer satisfaction for the 7th year in a row.
In 1999, the company's rear-wheel-drive model, the IS200, was unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show, which began sales in Europe that spring and nearly doubled Lexus' performance from the previous year. And in the US, the brand was ranked fifth among the manufacturers of the most problem-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 the new flagship LS430 sedan, which developed 280 horsepower and had a displacement of 4.3 liters. The interior had a chic finish using natural leather and walnut, like previous models. A new model, the SC430, was also announced, and the firm decided to move the assembly of the RX300 to parent company Toyota's Canadian plant. 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 engines and suspensions for the RX300 in Buffalo. At the Detroit Auto Show, the SC430 and IS300 models were shown in 2 variations - SportCross, equipped with a steering wheel with a gear shift, and Manual Transmission - with a manual transmission. Sales of these cars began in the same year, and in October they added the third generation ES300, which incorporated many of the latest achievements of the Japanese automobile industry.
In 2002, Lexus develops and releases a concept car that became the car of Tom Cruise's character in Steven Spielberg's Minority Report. And also presents at the Paris Motor Show an updated IS200 equipped with a SportCross steering wheel and a VVT-i engine. November also saw the release of the GX470 luxury SUV with adjustable suspension.
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, while European buyers decided to keep the old 3-liter engine. Just a month after the start of sales, the car became the bestseller in its class. Lexus also unveiled the HPX prototype in New York, which combines the features of both a sports car and an SUV. In September, a factory for the production of cars of the brand in the Canadian city of Cambridge began work, and at the Frankfurt Motor Show the company demonstrated an 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 the development of new models, and even began to produce cars equipped with diesel and hybrid engines, which used a number of modern environmental technologies. In parallel, the company begins to prepare to conquer the super-luxury class, planning to compete on an equal footing with such "monsters" as "Bentley" and "Rolls-Royce". The company's first supercar came out in a limited edition in 2009 called the LF-A.
In 2009, the company introduces the next generation RX450 to the market, which received an additional h index, indicating that hybrid engines are installed on these cars, and a year later it introduces a more economical modification equipped with a 2.7-liter engine.
In 2011, Lexus unexpectedly introduced the CT200h, which targeted the luxury compact hatchback niche at a fairly low price. The ES350 sedan, which was first presented a year earlier at the Moscow Motor Show, also went on sale.
The 2011 earthquake, which destroyed part of Lexus's production capacity, forced the company to adjust sales plans and consider moving some factories to China, following the example of parent company Toyota.
In the same year, there was a fairly significant decline in sales of Lexus cars in the United States. Immediately after summarizing the results, The New York Times wrote: “Eleven years of being the best-selling luxury brand has ended this year. The company gave the championship to BMW and Mercedes-Benz.” However, the trend improved somewhat thanks to Europe and Japan, where luxury car purchases increased by 40% and 27%, respectively. Subsequently, Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda vowed to restore interest in the brand and further increase the company's organizational independence, acknowledging that "... at that time we did not see Lexus as a brand, but only as a distribution channel." As a result of organizational changes at the head office, Lexus' senior managers, for the first time in the brand's history, report directly to the chairman.
Wishing 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 launched sales of fourth-generation GS vehicles, including the GS 350 and GS 450h, as well as the GS 250 model for selected markets. In April of the same year, the sixth generation of the ES line is replenished with the ES 350 and ES 300h variants, which debuted at the New York International Auto Show.
In August, Lexus introduced one of the prepared surprises - the flagship LS sedan. Technically, it was a modernized and improved line of the previous model. In particular, the appearance of the car has changed, the engines have become much more productive, and the optional potential has also increased. For the first time in the company's history, a flagship sedan received the optional F Sport package.
At the same time, information appeared about the resumption by the Japanese of the project to create the IS-F model. Together with the Lexus IS, it was supposed to be one of the main novelties of 2014.
In October 2012, the Lexus LF-LC debuted in Sydney. The car did not become an absolute novelty for the audience, as it was already familiar from an exhibition in Australia. However, representatives of the company assured that there are significant differences. So, in particular, engineers have reduced the percentage of carbon fiber used in car construction. The SEMA show, which took place a week later in Las Vegas, was marked by the presentation of the GS 350 F Sport.
In late 2012, Lexus filed new vehicles with the US and Australian patent offices. In America, it became known about the alleged crossovers NX 200t and NX 300h, produced on the basis of the Toyota RAV4. For Australia, the company prepared the RC 350. The model was based on the LF-CC concept presented at the Paris Motor Show.
Since the first weeks of 2013, Lexus has been announcing time and time again about upcoming innovations and transformations, which indicated the company's hope to regain its leadership position in the US market. The IS 300h full hybrid, the redesigned Lexus LF-LC and the updated 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 trusted and top honors in the 2013 Kelley Blue Book rankings in the US for the cost of owning a five-year-old car among luxury brands.
To showcase 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 of the event, handing only 24 invitations. In the spring, the Lexus patent range was replenished with one more copy - the GS F brand was registered in the USA.
The Shanghai show in April was used by Lexus executives to premiere the Lexus GS 300h hybrid. The car, according to them, was intended for businessmen and corporate buyers. Koji Sato, deputy chief designer of the company, noted that the novelty is also much more environmentally friendly, as 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 secured its leadership position in the "Greenest" brand in the world rating. It was also named the best automaker in the 2013 Driver Power survey by the English automotive publication Auto Express.
At Made Fashion Week in New York City in the fall of 2013, Lexus presented the first ever holographic show starring Coco Rocha. The spectacle, which consisted of special effects, 3D modeling and many other technical achievements, was a breathtaking spectacle that depicted the history of the company's development with all the obstacles and ups. At the last motor show in 2013, held in Tokyo, the latest version of the LF-NX TURBO concept crossover was presented.
The Geneva Motor Show in 2014 in all its glory presented the audience with a new line of RC F, whose cars were recognized as the most powerful in the history of Lexus. Four cars of this model were shown at the exhibition at once: the RC coupe, the new RC F sports car F SPORT and the RC F GT3 racing concept. No less discussed was the presentation in Detroit. There, finally, a worthy alternative to the BMW M4 and Audi RS5, which has been talked about for several years, was presented - the RC F Coupe. Lexus has unveiled the NX model in Beijing to conquer the premium mid-size crossover segment.
Despite the fact that in 2014 the company somewhat reduced the number of concepts being developed, the popularity of the brand did not decrease at all, rather the opposite. Lexus has continued to receive international awards, testifying to the consistent quality of vehicles. For the 12th time, Lexus topped the list of top manufacturers in the UK customer satisfaction rating from What Car?/JD Power. In addition, the company was ranked #1 carmaker in the UK in the 2014 Which Car Survey on reliability. As a result, sales growth rates remained consistently high.
The first novelty of 2015 was the 2016 Lexus GS F sedan. However, everyone was looking forward to the main bestseller - the new generation of RX models. This line has held a leading position in sales for many years. Even the fact that the third collection was not to the liking of critics who condemn the design of cars did not affect the love for this model. It is worth noting that the fourth collection fully justified the hopes of fans. The appearance has regained its former charm and appeal, combining the sophistication of the NX line and the smoothness of outlines.
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 to develop a new security system. Innovation promises to become not only the most effective, but also affordable. 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 the fans of the company was the appearance of a modern flying board, which was tested in the summer of 2015. The innovative technology is based on the use of magnetic levitation. To a large extent, the resulting effect was helped by the presence of superconductors cooled by liquid nitrogen and permanent magnets.
A huge success to date. It is manufactured by Toyota, which creates luxury products. Few can afford them, but owning a car of this level is an indicator of the status and excellent taste of the owner.
The beginning of the way
Initially, the production of these cars was focused on sales in the United States of America. But the success was so great that the company expanded sales to most countries in the world. More than 70 regions have rated the premium segment, which is characterized by high quality products.
The story began in 1983. Prior to this, the company was engaged in lengthy market research and active design. Toyota specialists competed with already advanced companies like BMW at that time. The best engineers and designers worked on the production of the first prototype "Project F1". The flagship was developed by Shoiji Jimbo and Ichiro Suzuki, who researched the preferences and demand of US residents for their model.
First confession
In May 1985, the project was ready to be shown. It was called the Lexus LS400 and, having gone through many tests in Sweden and Germany, was introduced in eight variants in 1987. was touted in Car and Driver magazine in every possible way as a combination of comfortable handling and thoughtful design. The meaning of the car emblem - the letter L inscribed in an oval - is defined as luxury, wealth.
After a short lull in 1991, Toyota introduced a new model - the SC400. This sporty solution had a 4-liter engine and an automatic transmission. The production of new items was aimed at improving the safety of the driver and the comfort of his trip. That is why in 1992 Lexus was in many ways ahead of Mercedes-Benz and BMW in terms of sales. 1993 was marked by the release of the GS300 sports sedan, which was designed by designer Giorgetto Giugiaro. He demonstrated the car at the Frankfurt Motor Show. I remember this year as the time of my best grades.
New models and updating existing ones
Success continued into 1995, but the US government planned to impose a state duty on Japanese vehicles, which happened under pressure from domestic manufacturers. Fortunately, the highest ranks of Japan have settled this issue. Exactly one year later, the LX450 brand can be seen in the company's lineup. This is a premium car that had the qualities of an SUV. Popularity grew rapidly, leaving behind even the Range Rover. Good sound insulation, a 4.5-liter engine and high-level cladding were implemented in the car.
A period of deep renewal found Lexus in 1997. In January, the concept for the HPS model was presented. It was based on the GS300, which already had a good reputation. In February, the flagship in the form of the RX300 SUV, which received many additional features, became a novelty in production. In the same year, the company demonstrated a new record of 100,000 vehicles, which is 20% more than last year's sales. RX300 managed to get the first place in the J.D. Power and Associates in 1998.
1999 saw the debut of the rear wheel drive IS200. Its sales have doubled the company's figures, and Lexus has become the most reliable car in the last five years. The data was derived based on the statistics of the company's support centers. In the same year, the millionth car was sold.
Big success and new segments
The start of the new millennium was a particularly successful one for Lexus. The IS model was equipped with a 3 liter engine that produced 280 horsepower. Then the LS430 model was presented in an excellent finish using genuine leather and wood (walnut). After that, the offer was added with the SC430 model. More than 20 thousand cars were successfully sold this year.
In early 2001, Lexus decided to move part of its production to North America. At the same time, a factory was opened in Buffalo for suspensions and engines for the RX300 model. At the Detroit Auto Show, the brand presented the IS300 and SC430 cars. The SportCross line was equipped with a manual transmission. In the same year, the ES300 model was added to the total number of sales, which took all the best from.
The success of the company does not end there. Cars from Lexus even managed to become participants in filming. So, in 2002, the designers developed a special flagship, which became the car of Tom Cruise in the movie Minority Report. In the same year, an update was released for the IS200, which included a SportCross steering wheel and a VVT-i engine. His appearance was accompanied by the release of the luxury SUV GX470, which has an adjustable suspension.
In 2003, the RX line was updated, in which it was decided to enlarge the body, as well as expand the options. For the American version of this car, the engine was increased to 3.3 liters, and European users decided to leave 3 liters. Only a month was enough for sales to soar to the first lines. Lexus did not bypass the exhibition in New York, she presented the flagship HPX, which combined the qualities of an SUV and a sports car. In the famous town of Cambridge in September 2003, the LS430 sedan began to be manufactured at the company's plant.
Temporary difficulties
But not everything went smoothly. So, in the next few years, Lexus experienced a general drop in sales in the United States. But production did not slow down, so new models saw the light again. Particular attention began to attract engines equipped with new hybrid and diesel technologies. Eco-friendly cars have just begun to gain popularity. The company decided not to stop there, so it intended to conquer the superlux class. The first model of this line in 2009 was the car LF-A.
2009 was marked for the company by mass production of hybrid vehicles. The RX450 became such a model, to the name of which the index h was added. Some time later, it was replaced by a more economical version, equipped with a 2.7-liter engine.
No one expected Lexus to release the CT200h in 2011, which targeted the niche of small luxury hatchbacks. The price was more affordable for the average buyer than the rest of the vehicle line.
In 2011, there was a big earthquake that affected the company's production facilities. Many elements of production were destroyed, so the management thought about moving the location of the factories to China.
The same year created big problems for car sales. The main decline was observed in the territory of the United States of America. This topic was even written in The New York Times, where it was reported about the end of the company's championship in the market and that it had given its positions to competitors Mercedes-Benz and BMW. True, sales did not remain at such levels for long - it improved by 40% in Japan and Europe.
Representatives of Toyota have officially stated that they will make every effort to restore the buyer's interest in the company. Then there was a real revolution in the marketing strategy of the brand, the company began to make efforts to work not on the sale of products, but on the quality of the offer.
Gather your strength
Lexus is serious about selling. They set themselves the goal of bringing the company out of the crisis and making it a leader again. Especially for this, in 2012, the production of GS class cars began. This range included the GS 450h, GS 250 and GS 350 models, which were quickly appreciated by the brand's fans.
The same year introduced the LS sedan line to the buyer. Many noticed that this was only an improved model based on previous releases, but its quality deserved special attention. During this period of "rehabilitation" Lexus produces cars with increased power, increasing the overall potential of the vehicle. The same sedan for the first time in the company's history received an optional F Sport package. Then among the users there was a rumor about the resumption of the concern's project and the development of the IS-F. Its release was regarded as one of the most important events in the automotive industry for the entire future period.
Highlights of the brand
One of the most memorable Lexus debuts in 2012 was the introduction in Sydney. The LF-LC was not something completely new, but many innovations were implemented in it. This applies to the engineering part, where the weight of the car was reduced due to the use of carbon fiber. A week later, the SEMA show took place in Las Vegas, where the GS 350 F Sport model was presented to the audience.
This whole year has been characterized for the company as a time of new patents. So, there was a rumor about the production of the NX 300h and NX 200t models. This year, the RC 350 car was specially prepared for Australia. The basis for its creation was the LF-CC model, which was successfully presented at the Paris Motor Show.
In 2013, the company actively announced innovations and additions to existing lines. One of the steps to return to the leadership position in the US was the presence at the exhibition in Geneva, where the IS 300h was presented. This hybrid model and its counterparts were immediately honored by J.D. Power and Associates. This meant that Lexus products were recognized as indicators of high quality and reliability in the luxury class. In the same period, the Lexus Ice Event took place, which presented the all-wheel drive Lexus GS AWD to everyone. Only 24 guests attended this event.
April was remembered for the past exhibition, where the premiere of the hybrid model GS 300h took place. According to company representatives, the car is ideal for athletes and corporate buyers. This novelty was distinguished by its environmental friendliness, because it emitted a meager amount of CO 2 into the air. The Lexus brand has been officially recognized as the "greenest" car manufacturer. In 2013, Driver Power named the company the best of its kind, according to a publication from Auto Express. The company received similar marks at Made fashion week in New York.
During the presentation at the Geneva Motor Show in 2014, the company showed itself in full force, presenting the new RC F. This line was characterized by high power, such as had not been seen before in the production of Lexus. Of course, this year was not so rich in new products, but the company did not lose its sales. She once again proved that she deserves the title of leader in the automotive industry. This confirms the first place according to the British publisher What Car, which the brand has been holding for a long time.
Growth beyond time
In 2015, the first new Lexus GS F 2016 was released. But its popularity is incomparable with the expected flagship RX, which should combine the best technological innovations and design solutions. During this period, the company begins to engage in secondary projects to expand the boundaries of its influence, namely security systems. They should become one of the most effective and affordable on the market. Also interesting offshoots of Toyota include a flying magnetic board, the prototype for which was a model from the well-known film Back to the Future.
Today, the company has decided to lower the prices of its popular ES and NX ranges to boost sales. It is also developing a project to convert the LF-FC sedan models to hydrogen. Lexus is not going to stop. After many years of active work, the best is yet to come. The appearance of the characteristic Lexus badge at popular auto shows is already a success.
Of course, today the economic situation is not the best for active sales and the creation of new models of the fashion class, but the brand has already shown that it is able to maintain its leadership position, no matter what the market is like.
Lexus cars have always deserved special attention. They automatically enhance the image of their owner. Although the price of these cars may seem quite high, they will best emphasize your taste and style.
