Lexus

The first-generation Lexus LS400 , LS250 (1990-1994) is quite possibly one of the top five best cars in the world. In speaking to some owners of this car, I heard comments like "…best car I've ever owned", "…this is a great car", "…fabulous ride". One owner summed it up by saying "This may be the last car I ever buy." Learn More

The Lexus ES 300 is, and always has been based heavily on the Camry platform, so many people discount it as being just a glorified Toyota. I suspect that the people who hold that opinion haven't driven an ES 300. If they had, they would consider a Camry to be a junior Lexus instead. Behind the wheel of this car, you get the feeling that it was designed from the ground up to be a Lexus with few compromises. Learn More

In the summer of 1990, following the successful debut of Lexus a year earlier, Toyota decided that work would begin on a mid-size Lexus coupe to compete with the luxury coupes of other marques like Mercedes-Benz and Acura. At that point, Toyota had no genuine luxury coupes in existence. Initially the Japanese Toyota Soarer was selected to serve as the basis for the new Lexus coupe, much like the Lexus ES 250 was based on the Toyota Camry, but the Soarer's design at the time was considered "boxy"-looking and outdated. Since the coupe was going to be targeted towards the American market, the project was handed over to the Calty Design Research center in California. Learn More

The Lexus GS300 sedan can be described as bold, confident, exhilarating, aggressive, rebellious, luxurious, intense and provocative. Learn More

On the road, this car offered a creamy smooth ride and a hushed silence that made you think you were wearing ear muffs. The new six-speed automatic transmission made the engine seem even smoother than the already world class models with the added benefit of giving it more of a kick off the line. When prodded, this engine surprises with immediate and powerful thrust to blast you onto the highway without raising the decibels any louder than other high end cars produce while cruising. Learn More

The third generation ES (designated MCV20) appeared in 1997 with one powertrain option, a 200 hp 3.0 L V6 and a 197 hp, 2.5 L V6 in the Windom and a 4-speed automatic. The new cars featured a design that was an evolution of the VCV10, and possessed a more rakish profile, sharper body lines, reflector headlights (as opposed to projector headlights), and a more upscale-feeling interior. The new ES was also slightly longer but weighed less than the previous generation. The third generation ES 300 also featured a new electroluminescent Optitron instrument panel, walnut trim, and leather seats. Other luxury standard features included heated outside mirrors and a climate control system. A power moonroof and a Nakamichi premium sound system with in-glove-box mounted CD-changer and heated seats were options as well as an Adaptive Variable Suspension that was capable of adjusting individual wheels according to road conditions within .0025 seconds. In 1999, a limited Coach Edition was offered. Rivals to the third generation ES 300 included the Acura TL, Cadillac Catera, Infiniti I30, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Learn More

In February 1997, Lexus debuted the Lexus Sport Luxury Vehicle Concept (SLV), a prototype crossover SUV, at the Chicago Auto Show.[2] This concept, which appeared close to production, combined the characteristics of an SUV, wagon, and sedan.[3] In Japan, the SLV concept appeared in first-generation Harrier form (codename SXU10 and MCU10 for the front wheel drive models, and SXU15 and MCU15 for the four wheel drive models) in December 1997. Two engines were available, the 2.2 L 5S-FE I4 which produced 139 hp JIS (102 kW) and 191 Nm (140 ft·lbf), and the 3.0 L 1MZ-FE V6 which produced 219 hp JIS (161 kW) and 304 Nm (224 ft·lbf). Both engines could be specified with either front or four wheel drive. All models came with an automatic transmission as standard, with the V6 version having the Sportmatic +/- feature. Learn More

The GS began production in the JZS160 body style on August 4, 1997 and was launched in 1998. The American market GS 400 was equipped with a UZ-series V8 that produced 300 hp and 310 ft·lbf of torque. Edmunds.com reported a 0-60 time of 5.4 seconds for the 3693-pound sedan. The "GS 300" was also offered once again and featured a slightly revised version of the last generation's 3.0L V6 now producing 225hp and 225 ft·lbf of torque. The GS 300 was quoted with a 7.6 0-60 time. Both models featured a 5-speed automatic withe the GS 400 receiving steering wheel shift buttons. Again, no turbo models were offered outside Japan. The second generation GS offered electroluminiscent Optitron gauges for the first time, and featured quadruple headlights in a fashion similar to the SC coupe. Lexus promoted the arrival of the second generation GS sedan with the tagline, "Something Wicked This Way Comes," and claimed that the GS 400 was the world's fastest sedan at the time. Compared to its predecessor, the second generation GS sedan was a bigger success, with sales reaching 30,622 vehicles in its first year, increasing in the second, and stabilizing at 28,079 vehicles by 2000.[1] The success of the GS sedan prompted Lexus to keep the vehicle in its lineup for over eight years. Learn More