Lexus Celebrates 20 Years In The UK
In 1990 Lexus made its debut in the UK, a new luxury brand from Toyota represented by a single model: the LS 400 saloon, powered by a distinctively smooth, refined and whisper-quiet 4.0-litre V8 engine.
Could it cut the mustard against the established European prestige marques? Could it set new standards in technology, equipment specifications and safety? And could it achieve higher customer satisfaction levels than any other brand?
Move the calendar forward to 2010 and Lexus has achieved all these feats, and more. The doubters of the ‘90s – and there were more than a few ready to dismiss an upstart luxury brand from Japan – have been proved wrong and Lexus commands respect as one of the most innovative and accomplished car makers in the world.
Today Lexus’s UK range of four mainstream models – IS, GS, RX and LS – plus the high-performance IS-F and ultra-exclusive LFA supercar, are among the most technically advanced, luxurious and sophisticated in their class. Furthermore, no automotive brand delivers better service to its customers, according to the independent annual UK customer satisfaction survey by J.D. Power and Associates, in which Lexus’s status as the top ranked manufacturer has been unchallenged for the past 10 years.
In terms of powertrain technology, too, Lexus maintains its industry leadership. It introduced full hybrid power to the prestige car market with Lexus Hybrid Drive in the RX 400 in 2005 and has continuously improved the technology to deliver an unmatched combination of power, fuel efficiency and reduced emissions in new generations of the RX, GS and LS.
Lexus’s product development will enter an important new phase early in 2011 with the launch of the full hybrid CT 200h, its first model for the luxury small car segment. Although positioned as the gateway to the Lexus range, it has been designed in detail to deliver sporty ride and handling performance, combined with emissions and fuel economy benefits of the Lexus Hybrid Drive powertrain.
Twenty years ago the on-the-road price for a new LS 400 was £34,625, which is the equivalent today of around £58,000. The contrast with the current top-of-the range Lexus, the full hybrid LS 600h long wheelbase limousine, is stark in almost every respect: in place of the V8 engine there is a full hybrid powertrain; the equipment specification has a wealth of significantly more sophisticated and luxurious features; and the car is designed, engineered and built to higher standards all round. .
Comparing the 1990 LS 400 and today’s LS 600hL reveals how far engineering and technology have advanced.
|
1990 LS 400 |
2010 LS 600hL |
|
|
Engine |
32-valve 3,969cc V8 |
Lexus Hybrid Drive |
|
Max. power (bhp) |
241 |
439 |
|
Max. torque (Nm) |
350 |
520 (V8) |
|
Max. speed (mph) |
155 |
155 |
|
Acceleration 0-62mph (sec) |
8.3 (0-60) |
6.3 |
|
Kerb weight (kg) |
1,805 |
2,410 |
|
Urban cycle fuel consumption (mpg) |
19.6 |
25.0 |
|
Safety systems |
Five seatbelts |
Pre-Crash Safety system |
|
Comfort and luxury features |
Climate control |
Body temperature-sensing four-zone climate control with roof-mounted diffusers |
|
On-the-road price |
£34,625 |
£96,985 |
LEXUS MILESTONES
| 1983 |
August |
Toyota chairman Eiji Toyoda sets the challenge for Toyota to build the world’s finest luxury car, the beginning of the project that would yield Lexus. |
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1985 |
July |
The first of 450 running prototypes is built. |
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1987 |
May |
The design for the “F1” model is finalised. |
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1988 |
November |
The “F1” is designated the LS 400, with LS standing for Luxury Sedan and 400 denoting the 4.0-litre V8 engine. The smaller Lexus saloon is named the ES 250 – Executive Sedan with 2.5-litre engine. |
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1989 |
January |
The LS 400 and ES 250 are revealed to the public at the Detroit and Los Angeles motor shows. |
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May |
The first production LS 400 comes off the line at Lexus’s Tahara factory. |
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September |
Public sales commence in North America. In the first month 2,919 |
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1990 |
June |
Lexus is launched in Europe with a single model range, the LS 400. |
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1991 |
May |
A new coupe, the SC 400, is launched for the American market. Its design is the work of the CALTY centre in California. |
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December |
Lexus becomes the USA’s number one luxury import brand, outselling BMW and Mercedes-Benz. |
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1993 |
January |
The Lexus GS 300 saloon is unveiled at the Detroit motor show. Sales begin in America and Europe later in the year. |
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1998 |
January |
An all-new Lexus GS 300 and a revised LS 400 are launched in Europe. In the USA, Lexus shows the RX 300, a model which creates a new market niche for premium SUVs. |
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July |
Lexus becomes the USA’s top-selling luxury brand for the first time, outperforming domestic manufacturers Cadillac and Lincoln. |
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1999 |
May |
The IS 200 compact sports saloon is introduced, the first Lexus model to be specifically developed for the European market. |
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November |
Lexus sales in North America pass the one million mark. |
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December |
Lexus is the UK’s fastest-growing car manufacturer with sales up 104 per cent on 1998. |
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2000 |
September |
Lexus SC 430 is unveiled at the Paris motor show |
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October |
The first generation RX300 goes on sale in Europe. |
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November |
An all-new LS 430 model arrives in Europe, powered by a new 4.3-litre 32-valve V8 engine. The same engine is introduced into the GS range to create the new GS 430. |
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2001 |
April |
Lexus takes the Gold Award as overall winner of the J.D. Power and Associates UK Customer Satisfaction Survey. It is the first year Lexus is eligible to take part. |
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July |
Lexus SC 430 UK sales begin. Advance orders already account for vehicle supply through to the spring of 2002. |
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August |
Lexus wins the What Car? Security Super Test for the second year running. |
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October |
Introduction of the IS 300 and IS 300 SportCross in the UK. |
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2002 |
January |
Lexus announces a futuristic sports car design for the Steven Spielberg film Minority Report. Spielberg himself is a Lexus driver. |
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February |
Third year success for Lexus in the What Car? Security Test with the |
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October |
The IS 200 SportCross is introduced in the UK. |
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November |
Lexus Number One In Britain’s Biggest Satisfaction Survey, BBC Top Gear Magazine |
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2003 |
January |
The Lexus GX 470 4×4 is launched in the North American market. |
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April |
Lexus is victorious for the third year running as Gold Award winner in the J.D. Power and Associates customer satisfaction survey. |
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May |
An all-new RX 300 goes on sale in Europe. |
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July |
“Sport” versions of the GS 300 and GS 430 are added to the UK model range, featuring lowered suspension and additional body styling features. |
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November |
Second year success in the BBC Top Gear magazine satisfaction survey |
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October |
The new Lexus LS 430, the third generation of Lexus’s flagship model is launched. |
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2004 |
January |
The Detroit Motor Show reveals the next generation Lexus GS model and the hybrid power RX 400h |
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March |
Lexus is named best manufacturer in the Auto Express Driver Power Awards. |
|
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April |
Lexus wins its fourth successive Gold Award in the J.D. Power and Associates UK Car Customer Satisfaction Survey, achieving a record high score of 878 points out of 1,000. |
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November |
Lexus triumphs again taking top position in the BBC Top Gear magazine’s satisfaction survey |
|
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2005 |
March |
The all-new IS model is unveiled at the Geneva motor show, destined to be the first Lexus to offer the option of diesel power – a new 175bhp 2.2-litre unit – with sales starting before the end of 2005. |
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April |
Lexus continues to establish industry records with its fifth successive Gold Award in the J.D. Power and Associates UK Car Customer Satisfaction Survey. |
|
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May |
The Lexus RX 400h debuts in Europe, the first premium SUV to use a hybrid power system. The Hybrid Synergy Drive uses a combination of 3.3-litre V6 petrol engine and front and rear electric motors to deliver strong performance, exceptional fuel economy and electric four-wheel drive capability. |
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September |
Lexus is named Green Fleet 4×4 Manufacturer of the Year in recognition of the advances made with the new RX 400h. |
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November |
Lexus displays the LF Sh concept car at the Tokyo Motor Show, a hybrid power limousine that offers strong pointers towards the styling of the next-generation LS model. |
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December |
The all-new Lexus IS 250 and IS 220d are launched. The IS 200d is the first diesel-powered Lexus, equipped with a 175bhp 2.2-litre engine. |
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2006 |
January |
The new LS 460 is unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. It displays higher specification than ever before and is presented for the first time in standard and long-wheelbase body styles. Power is from a new 4.6-litre V8 engine. Lexus announces a worldwide sales launch in autumn 2006. |
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April |
The RX range gains a new 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine, with improved performance and efficiency. The new RX 350 replaces the previous |
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May |
The Lexus GS 450h is launched, the world’s first hybrid-power car to feature a front-engine and rear-wheel drive powertrain. |
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June |
Lexus gains its sixth successive J.D. Power and Associates Gold Award for customer satisfaction. As well as continuing to deliver better results than any other manufacturer in the survey, it re-emphasised its market dominance with the award for the ‘most improved’ marque. |
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December |
End-of-year figures show Lexus achieving its best year for UK sales, with 14,491 units, an increase of almost 40 per cent on 2005. |
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2007 |
January |
Lexus unveils the high-performance IS-F sports saloon at the Detroit motor show, equipped with a 5.0-litre V8 engine and eight-speed automatic transmission. |
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April |
Lexus wins its seventh successive J.D. Power and Associates Gold Award for UK customer satisfaction. The Lexus IS is the top-ranked individual model in the survey for the second year in a row. |
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October |
The hybrid power LS 600h and long wheelbase LS 600h L are launched in the UK, a new flagship for the Lexus range. |
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2008 |
January |
The GS 460 replaces the GS 430, powered by a 4.6-litre V8 engine with Dual VVT-I and an eight-speed automatic gearbox. |
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April |
The high-performance IS F goes on sale in the UK. |
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November |
The new Lexus RX 450h makes its world debut at the Los Angeles motor show. |
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2009 |
April |
Lexus’s JD Power awards tally increases with a ninth successive top manufacturer title and the RX 350/400h taking the top individual model award. |
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July |
The RX 450h full hybrid luxury SUV goes on sale in Europe and the UK, together with the new IS 250C coupe-convertible. |
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September |
Lexus presents its LF-Ch concept car at the Frankfurt motor show, signalling its interest in launching its first model to compete in the European C-premium market |
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October |
Lexus announces production of its most exclusive model yet, the V10-powered LFA, at the Tokyo motor show. Just 500 examples of this ultra-high performance model will be built. |
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2010 |
March |
Lexus unveils the CT 200h full hybrid premium compact car and announces it will go into production at the end of the year for sale worldwide. |
ENDS
