LEXUS
(a brand of Japan's Toyota Motor Corporation)
Editor
Lexus (LEXUS) is a world-famous luxury car under the Japanese Toyota Group brand. Founded in 1983, it took only a dozen years to surpass the sales of Mercedes-Benz and BMW in North America. Since 1999, it has ranked first in sales of luxury cars in the United States for 11 consecutive years. Lexus (English: Lexus, Japanese: レクサス) is an independent luxury sedan brand sold in North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, Africa, Oceania and other places under Japan's Toyota Motor Corporation. In 2005, Lexus entered the Japanese domestic market and became a premium sedan brand sold around the world. At first, Lexus used "The Passionate Pursuit of Perfection" as its promotional slogan in the United States, and later used "The Pursuit of Perfection" as its marketing motto in countries and regions around the world. Until 2013, its promotion The slogan was changed to Amazing in Motion.
Lexus sold a total of 86,900 vehicles in China in 2015, a year-on-year increase of 14%, ranking fifth in the luxury car market. [1]
Chinese name
LEXUS
Foreign name
LEXUS
Headquarters location
Tokyo, Japan
Foundation date
1983
Company nature
Luxury car production
Founded Person
Eiji Toyoda
Main models
ES, RX, CT, LS, IS, GS, LX
Affiliated company
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Toyota Group
Main markets
North America, Asia Pacific, Europe
Allied brands
Acura, Infiniti
Official website
/
Contents
1 Brand History
2 Brand Logo
3 Brand Development 1983, 1989, 2003 to present
4 Milestones
5 Service Concept
6 Design Philosophy
7 Car Series Introduction CT HS IS ES GS GS 350 LS LS460 SC New Generation SC RX GX LX LF-A LF-CC
8 Awards and Honors
9 Recalls
Brand History
Editor
Lexus (11 photos)
Mr. Eiji Toyoda raised a shocking question: "After accumulating half a century of experience in automobile R&D and manufacturing, , Can Japan create a top-level sedan that can be proud of the world's automobile industry?" In other words, the direct rival of this new car will be the famous European automobile brand that has long been famous. Everyone realized that what he raised was not just a problem, but a comprehensive challenge to the Japanese automobile industry. However, everyone present responded with a very firm "Yes, we can!" Everyone understood that this was not an impulsive response inspired by the moment, but the decision of a group of experienced and skilled professionals for the future mission. firm commitment. [2]
After several years of hard work and painstaking research, it was finally launched on the market and was an immediate success.
Global market consulting firm J.D. Power and Associates released the 2013 U.S. Auto Reliability Research Report. Toyota's luxury brand Lexus once again won the championship, with a score of 71 issues per 100 vehicles. The historical record of this competition. [2]
The Lexus brand was first launched in North America because the pronunciation of "Lexus" is similar to the English word "Luxury", which reminds people that the car is a luxury sedan. impression. The Lexus automobile trademark uses the capital letter "L" of the car name "Lexus", and the outside of the "L" is surrounded by an oval. The oval represents the Earth, indicating that Lexus cars are spread all over the world.
Brand logo
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The L letter is surrounded by an ellipse. According to the official statement of Toyota Motor Sales Corporation of the United States, the arc of this ellipse is modified according to a precise mathematical formula. , using more than three designers and advertisers [3], it took more than half a year to complete: this standout logo beat five design pitches. In 1987, Molly Sanders, the head of Molly Designs Inc., spent three months crafting this unique oval and L to replace the original most promising candidate. version - an L without a circle around it that looks like a seagull's wing.
Image of the new Lexus logo
The new Lexus logo made its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in January 1988[5].
In October 1986, senior executives of Toyota's U.S. sales company and luxury car R&D department held a meeting to discuss the naming of new models. Finding a suitable name was a hot potato. It must be elegant but not feminine; it must be noble but not squeamish; it must be generous but not unscrupulous. It must be unique and outstanding.
New York-based brand management firm Lippincott & Margulies compiled a list of 219 possible names. From the original list, they filtered out the last 10. Then after further debate, the list was narrowed down to five: Alexis, Caliber, Chaparel, Vectre and Verone. Alexis was the only name unanimously recognized by everyone present. But the most criticized thing about it is that it sounds like a person's name rather than a car name. What's worse is that Alexis is the name of a crazy woman in the TV series, which means infamous. Finally, John French, a project manager at Toyota Motor Sales of America and the main contact at the brand management company, based on some names Alexis casually wrote down, and Lexus was born. French crossed out Alexis' A, and after some discussion, the group changed the i to a u. The final name is Lexus.
No one will forget the shock caused by the Lexus LS400 in the global high-end car industry when it was officially launched in 1989; some even predicted that German luxury cars might be forced to withdraw from the US market. To this day, Lexus has swept the market of top buyers and become the best-selling luxury sedan in the United States. I believe many people still remember the classic commercial of LS400: on the running hood, champagne glasses are stacked one after another high to form a crystal cup tower. Even if the engine is full throttle and running at full speed, the cup tower is always as stable as a mountain; This is indeed the best way to celebrate the birth of an upstart in the car industry. Lexus now has a huge car series in different series such as LS, GS, IS, and RX. Winning awards one after another is perhaps the best evidence that Lexus has proven itself.
When you look at the entire Lexus lineup. You will feel from every detail that Toyota has invested considerable resources and efforts in maintaining the consistency of top quality.
Whether it is a luxurious four-door sedan or a handsome two-door hardtop sports car, every Lexus adopts the same unique high-end design, meticulous precision construction, and incredible quality. Management to ensure you have the best possible ride. Let us look forward to Lexus creating new miracles for us.
Brand Development
Editor
1983
In August 1983, Toyota Motor Corporation held a significant board meeting. It is the starting point of Lexus cars. This time, the board of directors used some innocuous discussion topics to hide Toyota's ambitions from the outside world. When the media and the public thought that this was another routine meeting for Toyota to summarize, express its stance and make inspiring remarks, the door of the conference room was suddenly closed because They are going to start the real and top-secret topic of this board meeting. This topic revolves around the letter F (F is the F1 plan, F also alludes to the English word Flagship, and 1 alludes to the first car). The atmosphere of the meeting was no longer as calm and silent as before, and there were rare arguments on the board of directors.
This is a make-or-break project for Toyota. Chairman Eiji Toyoda posed a question to the company's top executives, designers, engineers and corporate strategists: Can we create a luxury car to challenge the top market? What I didn't expect was that everyone's answer was the same - "yes". The word "can" is filled with doubt and worry. But Toyota must make this gamble. Toyota Motor's development needs another breakthrough in 1983, just like the two times in World War II and the 1950s.
In fact, except for Eiji Toyoda, no one agreed with the clarion call to enter the luxury car market from the beginning. Shoichiro Toyoda, the son of the founder of Toyota and later succeeded Eiji Toyoda as chairman of the board and president, was one of those who was undecided. He believes Toyota should make what they do best better—making affordable cars for everyone. But Toyoda, like others who expressed approval but were worried, eventually changed his tune.
"You push this question to me, why do we still need to invest billions of dollars and tens of thousands of hours of research and design to produce a brand new high-end car when Toyota has been successful in the United States for 30 years? What about cars? Maybe, you know, I don’t like riding in other people’s high-end cars,” Shoichiro Toyoda joked to a U.S. dealer shortly after Lexus was launched in the U.S.: “From now on, I don’t have to be forced to ride in a Cadillac or a Lincoln or a Mercedes. Des-Benz."
Eiji Toyoda was also very aware of Toyota's situation at that time, and he did not want to board Noah's Ark for a futile ideological journey. He believes that once Toyota enters the luxury car market, it must fight against the top rivals in this field. Toyota will face the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and compete with BMW's top-of-the-line 7 Series sedan. If Toyota downgrades its status, investment risks will increase exponentially. To produce top-notch luxury cars, Toyota must invest heavily in developing new engines and chassis. However, the consumer demand orientation of the luxury car market is too unfamiliar to Toyota. Even if Toyota gets everything under the hood perfect, it still needs to consider ride comfort, interior and exterior aesthetics - none of which are Toyota's strengths.
What embarrasses Toyota most is Lexus’s reputation. Toyota never sold a luxury car. Can you imagine how difficult it would be to persuade consumers to buy a luxury car from the same company as a cheap Corolla (the entry-level car in the US market) but cost tens of thousands of dollars? Toyota's main rivals in the luxury car market can sell cars based on their brand name. Because it's called Mercedes-Benz, I buy it; because it's called BMW, I like it. However, will consumers be willing to pay close to the price of a Mercedes-Benz S-Class to buy a Toyota car, or even buy a car produced by Toyota but not called Toyota? This is indeed a serious problem. "Toyota produces Lexus? Toyota is the base for producing tens of millions of cars, and Lexus is incompatible with it. This approach is like selling Wellington steaks in a McDonald's store.
"This was Fortune magazine's dig at Toyota Motor Company at the time, but their evaluation was indeed justified.
Toyota's research found that the market is changing quietly. Babyboomers in the United States ( The group of people born from the late 1940s to the early 1950s are called Babyboomers, which in Chinese means babies born during the baby boom. Compared with their war-torn parents, they have significantly different values ??and are growing up. When they were young, they were loyal consumers of Toyota, but they wanted to buy more high-end cars. Toyota sensed opportunities in the luxury car market. The luxury car production brands are becoming stronger, happier, and more confident because they have welcomed a new generation of luxury consumers. Toyota Eiji's "ambition" is huge, and he is not willing to let go of every growing consumer. market, the order to enter the luxury car market was subsequently issued.
In 1989,
with an investment of US$500 million, Lexus was born in 1989. , they had two untested models, the flagship LS and the entry-level sedan ES, which sold 16,302 units that year. Two years later, they became the best-selling imported luxury brand in the United States and launched the third model. In 2000, Lexus usurped Cadillac's position as the best-selling luxury car in North America and has never left this position since 2003. p>In 2003, Lexus sales reached 259,000 vehicles, with 8 different models, 3 of which are sports luxury cars. There are approximately 1.3 million cars with the Lexus L logo running on American roads. However, Lexus can only be said to have achieved initial success in the United States, but in Europe where luxury cars are gathered, it is still difficult to get recognition from wealthy people. Due to the more important position of the European luxury car market in the global market, Lexus is stepping out. As North America expands its global footprint, it will be more strategically focused on the European market, which is almost a nightmare for Japanese luxury cars.
In Europe, the birthplace of luxury cars, Mercedes. S-Benz has survived for more than 100 years relying on the feng shui treasure of Stuttgart. BMW from Munich, Bavaria, has also stood at the top of the global luxury car market with the strong support of the Quandt family; relying on the revival of the Volkswagen Group, the emerging The luxury aristocrat Audi also vowed to enter the world of luxury cars, and the "Three German Musketeers" began to join forces to attack the global luxury car market. However, the sales ratio of these three German luxury car brands in Germany has remained below 30. In stark contrast to Lexus' 85 North American market share, Lexus wanted to prove itself as a global luxury brand, so it first conquered Europe, the fortress of global luxury car brands.
Starting in 2002. , Lexus began to tentatively enter the European market several times. Lexus plans to use US$5 billion to bombard the European market in turn. This budget is more than twice the original budget of Lexus when it entered North America. However, Lexus' road to Europe is extremely difficult. In 2005, Lexus's sales in Europe were less than 20,000 units. Although the growth rate was good in 2006, it still only hovered around 30,000 units, with sales of Mercedes-Benz and BMW exceeding 500,000. Vehicle sales are very different. Lexus has a long way to go in Europe.
Milestones
Editor
In August 1983, Toyota (TOYOTA) Chairman Eiji Toyota decided it was time to create a luxury brand to challenge the best luxury brands in the world car.
In May 1985, a design team was sent to California to design a concept car. In July of the same year, the first LS400 prototype was built.
In May 1986, performance testing began at the Autobahn in Germany. In September, testing began widely on U.S. roads.
In May 1987, the company's management approved the final design of the LS400.
In January 1989, the LS400 and ES250 were unveiled at the Detroit and Los Angeles Auto Shows. And it went on sale in September of the same year.
In 1992, Lexus sold more cars than BMW and Mercedes-Benz, becoming the sales champion of imported luxury cars in the United States. In September
Lexus IS-F
Facelift's LS400 was launched, with more than 50 improvements in response to customer and dealer requests.
January 1993 January 1993 - As a new member of the Lexus family, the sports luxury sedan GS300 made its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show and the Detroit Auto Show.
In March 1993, the Lexus GS300 was officially launched for sale.
In November 1994, the redesigned second-generation LS400 went on sale.
In January 1997, Lexus launched its high-performance sedan (HPS) concept car at the North American International Auto Show. The launch of HPS heralds the birth of the new GS400 and GS300 sports luxury sedans as a new model series for Lexus in 1998.
In September 1997, the second-generation Lexus GS400 and GS300 were launched. The second-generation GS uses an engine with variable valve timing intelligent (VVT-i) technology. The V8 engine used in the GS400 has a power of 300 horsepower, and the inline six-cylinder engine of the GS300 has a power of 225 horsepower. The second-generation GS is also equipped with a new 5-speed automatic transmission.
Lexus RX450h
In October 1997, the second-generation Lexus GS400 and GS300 were officially launched for sale.
In December 1997, Lexus debuted its unique Street Rod model at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Street Rod is based on the design of a sports car and shows for the first time a specially modified Lexus GS 400 V8 engine with a maximum power of 400 horsepower and surging power.
In April 1999, the Lexus Racing Team was established. Two Lexus GS400 racing cars made their debut in the Motorola Cup Series Grand Prix and won first place in four of the nine races.
In August 2000, the Lexus L-tuned sports bag and sports accessories matching the GS series were sold at various Lexus franchised dealerships.
In September 2000, the Lexus GS400 adopted a new 4.3-liter V8 engine and was officially renamed GS 430.
In March 2003, Lexus launched its limited edition sports model GS300. The car is equipped with new saddle-colored leather seats, bronze-colored aluminum wheels and a unique graphite pearl-colored body.
New Lexus ES240 Luxury Edition
In May 2003, the LS series was ranked first in the quality of new cars in the top luxury sedan category by the J.D. Power & Associates U.S. New Car Quality Survey (IQS) for seven consecutive years. . The survey results also show that the Lexus GS series and ES series rank first among mid-level luxury cars and entry-level luxury cars respectively.
On June 8, 2004, Beijing Lexus Department announced today that by the fourth quarter of 2004, Lexus will establish six independent Lexus franchised dealerships in China's four cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. . This means that Lexus brand stores have officially entered China.
In March 2005, the third-generation Lexus GS430 and GS300 sedans were officially launched in China.
September 2009 Lexus is developing a new compact hatchback, a concept version of which will be officially unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.
Service Concept
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The Lexus dealer’s showroom has an artificial waterfall at the entrance
The most familiar Lexus is Strive to create a luxurious image and provide service even after the car is sold. In the waiting area of ??the showroom service department, attentive equipment such as a beverage bar, a soundproof business center equipped with computers and fax machines, and even a shop selling souvenirs. Other facilities include children's play area, small indoor golf practice area and other recreational services. Many Lexus dealers have even opened coffee shops and designer shops.
A typical Lexus dealer will install large floor-to-ceiling glass in the maintenance department, allowing customers to monitor the maintenance status of their cars from the side. Services sometimes include free rental cars, free car washes and convenient shuttle services. After all services are completed, Lexus owners will receive a questionnaire, which may be sent by mail, online or by phone, asking them how they evaluated the service experience. In order to improve customer service, some Lexus dealers will send their employees to famous places where employees are trained on attention and hospitality, such as Noster Department Store and Ritz-Carlton Hotel. Lexus has also added an additional privilege for car owners, which is to reserve some parking spaces for Lexus car owners in some major sports stadiums, entertainment venues or shopping malls in the United States.
In 2005, Lexus took first place in the British automotive TV show "Top Gear", "the UK's largest independent car satisfaction survey" with more than 76,000 people participating. In 2006, Lexus ranked first in a service satisfaction survey conducted by Auto Express, a famous British car magazine, for five consecutive years. In J.D. Power's customer service index survey, which invites more than 79,000 U.S. car owners and dealers every year, it has won the first place for the 11th time.
In the same year, the New York-based Luxury Institute ranked Lexus first based on a survey of more than 2,100 high-income families on the customer service provided by luxury car brands. Based on Lexus' rigorous pursuit of high-quality customer service standards and high customer satisfaction, Lexus has earned the highest customer loyalty in the industry.
Lexus' customer service is based on the "Lexus Promise" they make to customers: "Lexus will treat every customer as if we were entertaining guests at home." This promise was first tested in 1989, when The brand-new LS 400 models were voluntarily recalled due to a problem with the brake light wires. Owners were not charged any fees, and the cars were cleaned and refueled to make it easier for them to pick up their cars. Car owners were all surprised.
In the United States, Lexus provides 4 years and 50,000 miles of basic maintenance services. Maintenance for the power system lasts up to 6 years and 70,000 miles. The corrosion maintenance also lasts for 6 years. Lexus' second-hand car compliance program, launched in November 1993, was the first in the industry to launch it. The plan will conduct 161 inspections on a second-hand car and provide car owners with three years of maintenance up to 100,000 miles. This program is now being extended to other markets around the world.
In 2005, Lexus Finance Bank, partnered with Bank of America to accept Lexus Visa credit cards. Spending with this credit card can earn points to get discounts at dealerships and other car-related services.
Design Philosophy
Editor
Born at the famous Fuji Speedway in Japan, the Lexus “F” series symbolizes extreme speed, high performance and racing. Tao gene. The series includes the super sports car LFA, high-performance luxury sports sedan IS F and F sports package, etc. The high-performance luxury sports sedan IS F, which debuted in China this time, has competed on many difficult tracks around the world such as the Nürburgring Nordschleife. It perfectly integrates strong power, precise control and forward-looking design, deeply embodying the Lexus brand's Enterprising spirit and unlimited potential.
Lexus
The Yamaha F1 engine team has customized a 5.0-liter V8 engine for the high-performance luxury sports sedan IS F, which can generate 310 kW at 6,600 rpm. The maximum power is 503 Nm of peak torque at 5,200 rpm. It can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in just 4.8 seconds, and the top speed can reach 270 km/h. The continuous surging power and cornering stability at high speeds are unforgettable, and will fully unleash the driver's burning desire for top speed.
Lexus L-finesse design aesthetics combined with F1 aerodynamic testing bring a dynamic style to the IS F. Two raised lines extend downward from the bottom of the A-pillar, sliding across both sides of the air intake grille, and outline the huge front air intake on the front bumper. The high waistline design that runs through the front and rear of the car, the narrow heat dissipation vents behind the front wheel arches, and the four exhaust pipes at the rear of the car all reveal the high-performance nature of the IS F. The newly equipped 19-inch titanium black aluminum wheels not only improve the dynamic performance of the IS F, but also give it a futuristic and tough design style. Lexus has always been committed to providing consumers with "pleasant" and "leading" product designs, humanized intelligent configurations and considerate after-sales services, providing full care from multiple angles, and creating a respectful and elegant car travel life for drivers and passengers. At this auto show, visitors can learn personally about Lexus G-BOOK Lexus intelligent co-pilot system, information operating system (Remote Touch), hard disk navigation system (HDD), adaptive radar cruise control system (ACC), pre-collision safety system ( PCS) and intelligent parking system (IPA), etc. Among them, the Lexus intelligent co-pilot system can connect to the data center through a wireless network to provide drivers and passengers with eight major intelligent communications including emergency rescue, anti-theft tracking, roadside assistance, maintenance notifications, operator services, information services, G path retrieval and reservation services. Serve. In order to allow more consumers to experience the safety and convenience brought by this smart technology at close range, Lexus has specially set up a G-BOOK experience area at this auto show, where the audience can learn more about the charm of this smart configuration.
Providing "people-oriented" and "customer-oriented" services is Lexus's consistent commitment. When Lexus officially entered China in 2005, it took the lead in launching four-year/100,000 kilometers (six-year/150,000 kilometers for gasoline-electric hybrid models) free warranty and free maintenance services in the domestic luxury car market, and successively launched 24-hour spare parts The thoughtful after-sales services such as delivery, year-round 24-hour roadside assistance, Lexus special insurance, and G-BOOK Center have been widely praised by consumers. Lexus has established 66 authorized dealers and 4 city showrooms in 50 cities in China, and will work with more dealer partners to provide consumers with respectful care.
Continuously challenging ourselves and exceeding customer expectations are the internal driving forces for the development and growth of the Lexus brand. Through strict monitoring of the 500 manufacturing standards (Lexus MUSTs) necessary for the production of Lexus vehicles, each Lexus vehicle has perfect product quality and reflects the "pure, predictable and wonderful" design philosophy in every detail. As a green luxury brand that is determined to move forward, Lexus is also constantly committed to developing advanced gasoline-electric hybrid technology and applying environmentally friendly materials and clean energy to every production link. The environmentally friendly driving mode (ECO Drive) equipped on various models at the auto show also reflects the green driving style advocated by Lexus, striving to achieve the pursuit of reducing energy consumption and emissions in every aspect.
[6]
When Lexus was first imported into China in the 1980s and 1990s, all dealers called it "Lexus". But at that time, Toyota did not announce the entry of Lexus into the Chinese market through official channels. All Lexus at that time were imported by dealers themselves, so the name "Lexus" was actually given by the dealer who represented the car at that time.
It was not until 2001 that Toyota officially introduced the Lexus brand into the Chinese market. In order to distinguish it from the parallel imports through unofficial channels and to re-establish its own brand image, Lexus was renamed "Lexus". And it is said that a tractor factory in Guangzhou registered the "Lexus" trademark first (it refused to sell it to the Japanese no matter what). This is one of the reasons why Lexus changed its name to "Lexus". And if you look carefully, you will know that Toyota's car names have gradually been changed to transliterations.
Lexus' latest entry-level two-door sports car may debut in 2014
The Japanese luxury brand Lexus is preparing to create a new entry-level two-door sports car model, and it may be launched in Geneva in 2014 Met the public for the first time at the auto show. Overseas media speculate that Lexus’ new car is likely to be an entry-level two-door sports car, and a related concept car may be displayed at the Tokyo Motor Show at the earliest. As for the production version, it may not be possible until the 2014 Geneva Motor Show. will officially meet the public.
As for the entry-level power of the new model, it is speculated that it is likely to use the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine on the 2013 IS250. As for the power, it should be 220 horsepower. [7]
Hope to adopt