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Lexus is the luxury vehicle division of Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corporation. Lexus brand name vehicles are sold in North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Oceania, Africa, and Latin America; in the United States, Lexus is the highest-selling make of luxury cars. In 2005, the Lexus marque launched in Japan, marking the continued global expansion of the luxury division. Since its debut in 1989, Lexus has developed a reputation for the luxury and reliability of its vehicles, along with the quality of its customer service. In 2007, consumer ratings firm J.D. Power and Associates named Lexus the most reliable brand in the U.S. based on its Vehicle Dependability Survey, a measure of over 53,000 vehicle owners and the problems they experienced in the first three years of vehicle ownership. It was the thirteenth consecutive year that Lexus achieved this top rating. In recent years, Consumer Reports has also named Lexus among the top five most reliable brands in its Annual Car Reliability Surveys of over one million vehicles nationwide.^[Additionally, Lexus ranks highly on surveys of dealership service experience. The British Top Gear and Auto Express satisfaction surveys have had Lexus at the top of their ratings since the entry of the luxury division, with reliability and quality among the main selling points of Lexus around the world.

Lexus' slogan is The Pursuit of Perfection.


IS

The Lexus IS is a series of entry-level luxury cars/compact executive cars produced by the Lexus marque of Toyota Motor Corporation. The IS was introduced as an entry-level sport model slotted below the ES in the Lexus lineup and competing against the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Nissan Skyline/Infiniti G35 sports sedans. The IS was originally sold as the Toyota Altezza in Japan until the introduction of the second generation Lexus IS design. The Altezza name is still used at times to depict chromed car taillights like those fitted to the first generation model.

The first generation Altezza (codename XE10) was launched in Japan in October 1998, while the Lexus IS 200 (JCE10) made its debut in Europe in 1999 and in North America as the IS 300 in 2000. The first generation, I6-powered IS featured sedan and wagon variants. The second generation IS (GSE20) was launched globally in 2006 with V6-powered IS 250 and IS 350 sedan models. A high-performance V8 version, the IS-F, premiered in 2007. According to Lexus, the IS designation stands for Intelligent Sport


ES

The Lexus ES series is a family of mid-size luxury sedans produced by the Lexus division of Toyota since 1989. Now in its fifth generation, the series has been consistently built on the Toyota Camry platform with a V6 engine, automatic transmission, and front-wheel drive. The first generation ES 250, built from 1989 to 1991, shared the body style of the contemporary Camry, while the Toyota Windom, a Japan-only model, shared the ES' body style from the 1992 second generation until 2006. The current fifth generation ES 350, featuring Lexus' own L-finesse body styling, was unveiled in the spring of 2006 as a 2007 model.

For much of its existence, the Lexus ES has anchored the entry-level luxury car segment of the Lexus lineup, a position it maintained until the introduction of the Lexus IS sport luxury sedans in 2001. Like the previous generation ES 330 model, the current fifth generation ES 350 is geared towards the comfort luxury segment, with an emphasis on interior amenities, quietness, and a smooth ride. For the past fifteen years, the Lexus ES has been the best-selling Lexus sedan in the United States.


GS

The Lexus GS is a series of mid-size luxury sports sedans / executive cars sold by Lexus, the luxury division of Toyota. The first GS, based on the platform and running gear of the Toyota Crown, was introduced in 1991 in Japan and two years later in the United States, Europe and selected markets in Asia. The second generation model premiered in 1998, using a new platform and adding a V8 version for the first time outside Japan. The current third generation GS, which premiered globally for the 2006 model year, comes in both V6, V8, and hybrid versions (GS 450h performance hybrid).

The GS was designed to fill the gap between the ES and LS and to provide Lexus with a sports sedan which could compete with the BMW 5-Series and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. In Japan, the GS was sold as the Toyota Aristo until the introduction of the Lexus marque there in 2005. Following the debut of the third generation GS, the Toyota Aristo was discontinued. Though essentially identical, GS and the Aristo differed in their engine and transmission combinations as well as equipment packages.


LS

The Lexus LS is a full-size luxury sedan that serves as the flagship of Lexus, the luxury division of Toyota. Since Lexus' 1989 debut, four generations of the V8-powered, rear-wheel drive Lexus LS have been produced. The original LS 400, the first Lexus model, launched to critical acclaim and established Lexus’ reputation for automotive luxury. Subsequent generations of the Lexus flagship added technological features, luxury appointments, and safety innovations. The Lexus LS is recognized as one of the most reliable vehicles ever built, and its cabin is regarded among the quietest of luxury automobiles. Each successive Lexus LS design has become the best-selling prestige luxury sedan in the United States.

In 2006, Lexus launched the fourth generation LS Series, offering the first long wheelbase version of the Lexus flagship. Beginning with the 2008 model year, an all-wheel drive hybrid joined the line up. The new LS also introduces the latest in Lexus technology, including the first production eight-speed automatic transmission and an automatic parking system. Several different Lexus LS models are sold worldwide, including standard, long wheelbase, and hybrid versions. In its largest market, the United States, starting prices for the 2008 Lexus LS range from $61,500 for the standard wheelbase LS 460 to over $104,000 for the newly produced hybrid LS 600h L, which is pushed into ultra-luxury category because of its six figure price.

Lexus' flagship model has held the highest ranking in J.D. Power’s Vehicle Dependability Survey for over twelve consecutive years, and Consumer Reports has named the LS as the most dependable vehicle ever tested. In 2007, international jurors selected the LS 460 from a field of twenty-eight contenders for the prestigious World Car of the Year award, declaring the luxury sedan to be “the embodiment of the Lexus brand’s 'pursuit of perfection.


RX

The Lexus RX is a mid-size entry-level luxury crossover SUV produced by Toyota Motor Corporation. In North America, Europe, Oceania, and parts of Asia, including Singapore as a 2003 introduction and Japan as a 2008 introduction, it is sold by Lexus, Toyota's luxury division, as the Lexus RX series (such as the RX 300, RX 330 and RX 350). It is currently sold in Japan and previously in Singapore as the Toyota Harrier. The RX first premiered in 1997 as a Lexus concept, followed several months later by debut of the production RX 300/Harrier models. In 2003, the second generation RX debuted in the U.S., and the redesigned RX 330/Harrier went on sale shortly after. In 2004, the RX line added the world's first luxury hybrid, the RX 400h, and the RX 330 was upgraded to the RX 350 for model year 2007.

As one of the first crossover SUVs on the market, the Lexus RX has served as a model for subsequent designs. Its commercial success as Lexus' best-selling model has been attributed to the strong reliability reputation of Lexus and the RX line. The RX designation, coincidently similar to the unrelated Mazda RX-7/RX-8 coupes and the Kia Rio RX-V station wagon in Canada, signifies its place in the Lexus lineup next to the larger GX and LX SUVs. The RX series is designed to combine the functional characteristics of a SUV with the ride and features of a luxury sedan.


GX

The Lexus GX 470 is a mid-size luxury SUV sold in North American markets by Toyota's luxury division, Lexus. The GX was introduced as a 2003 model in November 2002. The GX was released at the same time as the now-defunct Lincoln Aviator, another of its competitors. In the Lexus lineup, the GX 470 is situated between the entry-level luxury crossover RX and the premium full-size LX.

The Lexus GX 470 is powered by a 4.7 L, 32-valve, four-cam V8 2UZ-FE engine with 270 hp (201 kW) at 5,400 rpm and 330 ft·lbf (447 N·m) of torque at 3,400 rpm. This is one of the largest engines that has ever been put into a Lexus. The vehicle is built at Lexus' Tahara plant in Japan. It is a rebadged deluxe version of the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado sold in Asia, Australia, and Europe. Available exclusively in the North American market, the Lexus GX is touted as a competent contender for serious off-roading while being civilized enough for everyday driving^.

The GX 470 has a welded steel body, an electronically controlled five-speed automatic transmission, and a four-wheel drive system. The GX interior offers a place for up to eight passengers with three rows of seating, although the third row is relatively tight with only 24 inches of legroom for its two passengers. A side-opening rear tailgate is standard. Other features include built-in mudguards, water-repellent glass, integrated illuminated running boards, and a roof rack with crossbars. The premium Mark Levinson audio system and a rear seat DVD entertainment system are available as options.

The Lexus GX has won various awards including 4-Wheeler of the Year in 2003 and 2004 from 4x4 Magazine. J.D. Power and Associates named the GX 470 the highest ranked premium luxury SUV in initial quality in 2005 , and Kelley Blue Book gave the GX 470 its Best Resale Value Award in 2006.

For 2007, Lexus added a mp3/WMA auxiliary port for iPod or similar media players, Bluetooth connectivity, and the upgraded Lexus fifth-generation navigation system with enhanced resolution, additional points of interest, and over 100 voice commands.

A new off-roading performance option introduced in 2007 is the Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS), which frees and adjusts the GX's stabilizer bars so that each wheel can move with less restriction over uneven terrain. This system uses front and rear hydraulic pressure-sensing valves and larger stabilizer bars to reduce body roll during off-road conditions, while retaining smooth ride quality on regular road surfaces. In the U.S., this suspension setup is part of the "Sport Package." Interior trim choices include golden or dark Bird's Eye Maple trim, metallic accents, and ivory or dark gray leather.

For 2008, Lexus added a new dark metallic finish on the front grille, chrome roof rack rails, a liquid graphite finish on the standard 17-inch alloy wheels, chrome finished front audio speaker grilles, and revised turn signal lights. Brown walnut wood trim is a new interior option. Salsa Red Pearl and Desert Sage Metallic exterior paint are new for 2008. The GX meets all the requirements to make it a certified Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle II (ULEV II).


LX

The Lexus LX is a full-size luxury SUV sold by Lexus, the luxury vehicle division of Japanese automaker Toyota. Three generations of the LX have been produced, all based heavily on the long-running Land Cruiser series of SUVs. The first generation LX 450 debuted in 1996 as Lexus' first entry into the SUV market. Its successor, the LX 470, premiered in 1998 and was produced through 2006. The latest third generation Lexus LX 570 debuted at the New York International Auto Show in April 2007 as a complete redesign for the 2008 model year.

The latest two generations of the Lexus LX have featured a V8 engine powertrain, a welded steel unibody shell combined with a full-size steel ladder frame (body on frame construction), and the capacity to seat eight passengers. The LX is Lexus' largest and most expensive luxury utility vehicle, sized above the GX 470 and RX 350/RX 400h series of SUVs.


SC

The Lexus SC series is a personal luxury coupé sold by Lexus, the luxury division of Toyota. The SC features a front engine, rear-wheel drive design and seating for up to four passengers. The first generation SC debuted as the V8-powered SC 400 in 1991, and the I6-powered SC 300 was added in 1992. Both first generation models were produced until 2000. The second generation model, the SC 430, went into production in 2001. The SC 430 features a hardtop convertible design and a V8 engine. The first generation SC was largely styled in California, and the second generation SC was mainly conceived at design studios in Europe.

In Japan, the related third-generation Toyota Soarer, on which the SC is originally based, shared the body design and multiple components with the first generation SC, but featured a separate lineup of vehicle configurations and different powertrains. The fourth generation Soarer, largely identical to the SC 430, was superseded by its Lexus counterpart in Japan when the Lexus marque debuted there in 2005. At present, the SC is the sole coupe in the Lexus lineup and carries a U.S. base price of $65,455 and a UK base price of £54880 (approx $112,000)