Is a Toyota a Lexus?

i know Toyota makes Lexus, but does Toyota design a car, then rebadge it as a Lexus, or does it design the Lexus, then rebadge it as a Toyota?

or does it do both? i'm sure there are no LX470's in Japan...

They're Toyotas first. The Altezza came out before the IS300, etc.

They're Toyotas first. The Altezza came out before the IS300, etc.

i know, but i read the SC430 ad, and it said "...we at Lexus designed..." or something like that...so, maybe they design it as the SC430, then rebadge it as the Soarer...

or do they develop them with both in mind?

or did i just answer my own question? :-?

Maybe Toyota of America (Haha...took a wild guess at their name) wants to fit in with all the other luxury makes. Generally speaking, I don't think there would be as much appeal for the es300 if it had, say, a toyota badge on it instead of a lexus one. Still the same car, just a different label so Americans would know what they're getting is different than the "average" Toyota.

Maybe Toyota of America (Haha...took a wild guess at their name) wants to fit in with all the other luxury makes. Generally speaking, I don't think there would be as much appeal for the es300 if it had, say, a toyota badge on it instead of a lexus one. Still the same car, just a different label so Americans would know what they're getting is different than the "average" Toyota.

uh, that didnt answer my question...oh well...
i think the non Lexus ES300 is called the "camry" :P

Actually, that's the windom.

I think they're Toyotas first, then they slap the Lexus on there, since Toyota was probably made in Japan first. :P

I meant...a ES300 with a Toyota badge. Still the same car, luxuries and all, but with a different badge. Just commenting on how Toyota probably has to call their luxury line something else here in the U.S., cause Americans want to know they're getting something other than "just a Toyota". Was that any clearer? Or am I still rambling? :oops:

Actually, that's the windom.

yeah, i know...

the RX300 is harrier, the LS is Celsor (i think), the SC is soarer, the IS is altezza, the Gs is Aristo...uh...i think that's it...

i dont think there are LX/GX 470's in japan...

I guess we're the only ones that have to have suv's?

land cruisers!!! they are the 4x4's ...

sure it's Toyota first...

japan has NO Lexus..
all Lexus cars are Toyota bedged..

Lexus is just Toyota's another name for oversea market for high class cars..

ya.. ES300 = Windom
SC430 = Solara
IS200 = Altezza
GS430 = Aristo
LS430 = ???

oh.. my bad.. SC430 = Soarer

and i think LX470 is one of the model of Land Crusiers

ya'll are wrong. We drive Chevys!!! :o :cry: :wink:

http://www.geocities.com/thecavy/toyotacavalier.html

ya'll are wrong. We drive Chevys!!! :o :cry: :wink:

http://www.geocities.com/thecavy/toyotacavalier.html
wtf?

ya'll are wrong. We drive Chevys!!! :o :cry: :wink:

http://www.geocities.com/thecavy/toyotacavalier.html
HAHAHAHA... you should see the TRD cavaliers going around in japan!!! LOL!!! :lol:

u should see the toyota badged cavaliers here in BC!!! and also take note that some of them put supra style spoilers, import rims and TRD stickers all over...

this may sound stupid, but....

is that forreal?

this may sound stupid, but....

is that forreal?

yeah, toyota got the cavalier, chevy got the prism (a.k.a. the corolla)...kinda like the matrix/vibe/voltz...

voltz?

voltz?

Remember?

http://www.toyota.co.jp/Showroom/All_toyota_lineup/voltz/grade_val/images/gr_va03.jpg

The JDM Matrix...

lots of companys do that. Chevy teamed up with toyota so they can sort of expand their market. Many companys do that. All toyota V8's have Chevy blocks to, that shows how they have teamed up. I have seen 4 runners in japan. But i dont know why we have to have stupid ugly vehicles(SUV). Everyone says because it makes them feel safer and they can see over other cars, well if they keep making bigger cars then what the hell will we be driving 10 years from now? To me SUV's are a waste of sheet metal. Well most of them, some are decent. anyways, my 2 cents

Ian K

SUV's mostly for the luxury market, now.... unless you actually NEED one....

uh, my question still hasnt been answered...

ok, to answer your question. Technically there is no such thing as lexus. It is just a name because ignorant americans think its better than a toyota and think its not a toyota period. Not all, but most of them. No offense to anyone on this board or anything. My dad owns a lexus, so id be offending my self if i didnt know the difference. Just like people think acuras are better than hondas or infinitis are better than nissans. They are the same thing. they are just names, they arent an actuall company. Toyota makes teh cars, and then they put the L badges on them and put numbers in the names. Hope that clears is up, and sorry if i offended anyone, i didnt mean to.

Ian K

i like to think of it like this:

lexus are just toyotas but with a little more money invested in them, obviously targeting the people who wants MORE than a toyota

i wouldn't say they're EXACTLY the same, lexus (or acura, infiniti) has better interior options, more luxurious design, i don't know about the mechanicals though

i.e. ANOTHER idiot friend of mine said camry sucks, but then he wants to get an ES300....

anyway sometimes packaging is a factor, some people like driving around in a 'higher class' toyota, just like some ppl go eat in a expensive restaurant not for the food, but the mood and environment as well

Well since every lexus has TOYOTA stamped on all the side windows I would think its safe to say that Toyota builds Lexus hehe.

Honda builds Acura
Nissan builds Infinity

For the most part, the premium name isnt worth it. In fact, in Europe they dont even bother with the premium name. My buddy owns a Honda Ledgend in Germany hehe.

you all make good points, but my question was:

Does Toyota design the car as a LEXUS from the start, then make it into a Toyota, for japan..?
OR does it start with TOYOTA in mind, THEN slap a Lexus badge on it..?
OR does it do both..?


P.S.
The newer Lexus models say "Lexus Motor Co." on the windows...

the answer is, toyota designs all the lexus, short and the end of it

you all make good points, but my question was:

Does Toyota design the car as a LEXUS from the start, then make it into a Toyota, for japan..?
OR does it start with TOYOTA in mind, THEN slap a Lexus badge on it..?
OR does it do both..?


P.S.
The newer Lexus models say "Lexus Motor Co." on the windows...

Toyota designs all the cars that are affiliated with them. Therefor they design the lexus. I understand what your saying. Im posotive its a Toyota before its a lexus seeing as lexus was started late 80's early 90's. My dad has a 2001 GS430 and it says "Toyota Motor Co." I dont see how there is such a thing as a "Lexus Motor Co." Thats like saying acura and honda have nothing to do with each other.

Ian K

you all make good points, but my question was:

Does Toyota design the car as a LEXUS from the start, then make it into a Toyota, for japan..?
OR does it start with TOYOTA in mind, THEN slap a Lexus badge on it..?
OR does it do both..?


P.S.
The newer Lexus models say "Lexus Motor Co." on the windows...

Toyota designs all the cars that are affiliated with them. Therefor they design the lexus. I understand what your saying. Im posotive its a Toyota before its a lexus seeing as lexus was started late 80's early 90's. My dad has a 2001 GS430 and it says "Toyota Motor Co." I dont see how there is such a thing as a "Lexus Motor Co." Thats like saying acura and honda have nothing to do with each other.

Ian K

yeah, i know but does toyota call it a lexus before it calls it a toyota..? oh well, forget it, it's hard to explain...

i saw "lexus motor co." on one of the new cars...
but it does say "toyota motor co." on my dad's GS and on my bro's SC...

for any of you taking marketing...shame on you for not knowing this answer. :wink:

plain and simple, toyota builds, designs and sells toyotas.

"lexus" is merely a brand used as a marketing strategy to sell and justify higher brand cars to the North American market. The reason being why you don't see Lexus, Acura or Infiniti in Japan, is because automotive makers don't need to justify nor segment the market to sell a $45,000 sedan. The Japanese market is drastically different than north americas which is why a luxury platform brand is needed in our market (ie: Acura, Infiniti, Cadillac, Lincoln, etc.)

Toyota doesn't use either brands as a benchmark for quality control. Mechanically, a lexus will perform just as good as its toyota cousin...ie: an es300 is identical to a camry minus the plush interior.

so to answer your question...toyota simply designs and builds their cars in japan. then, toyota canada/us address how will that particular vehicle fit in their market segment. will it either be sold as a lexus to meet, steal or generate market share? or is it affordable enough, that it can be sold as toyota?

don't think of "lexus" or "toyota" as levels of quality....think of them as brand marketing.

No toyota is made in NA then shipped to japan.

the cavalier is merely rebadged as a toyota in japan. Nothing has changed except for the decals and badging.

Toyota V8's DO NOT use chevy blocks. that is way off the mark!!!!! if you compare the LS430 block and a chevy block, they are completely different.

Nick

so to answer your question...toyota simply designs and builds their cars in japan. then, toyota canada/us address how will that particular vehicle fit in their market segment. will it either be sold as a lexus to meet, steal or generate market share? or is it affordable enough, that it can be sold as toyota?



thanks, that answered the main part of my question...

...Toyota or Lexus?

That last post by goodcookiedrift was very much to the point; however, a couple of clearifications.

Lexus is researched, developed, designed and manufactured by Toyota Motor Company. There are strong similarities between many Toyoat and Lexus vehicles. There are some major differences, though. The ES300 vs. Camry seems to be the favorite here, so I'll use that one, too.

The major difference between Lexus and Toyota is the creature comforts...meaning the luxury options available from Lexus that aren't availble in Camry. Some of these are very subtle, but some are a lot easier to spot.

For instance, the Lexus ES300 offers power rear window shades, but Camry has manual rear window shades. Not really worth the thou$ands more you'd pay for the ES300, right? They have the same suspension (basically), same platform, similair tranny, etc. One of the biggest differences between them is that the Camry doesn't have the VVT-i on the 3.0L V6. In fact, the Camry V6 is the only Toyota V6 that doesn't have VVT-i.

Why?

Because Toyota feels that it would be too close to the ES300 to justify the price difference for the American/North American market.

A lot of Toyota's technological advances find their way into Lexus before they trickle down into Toyotas. VVT-i is just a really good example. There are many, many more; including "fit and finish" issues like panel gap standards, etc. The 2002 Camry uses body panel gap standards of the 2000 ES300...just so the Lexus salesperson has another difference to bring up to the guy cross-shopping the ES300 and the Camry.

So sum up...Toyota does all the research, and then they designate which of the two (and soon to be THREE) lines gets the technology first, which more often than not, turns out to be Lexus. Just to make them "better" for the North American market.

Hopefully this helps you out.

on msn cardomain they said lexus is the most reliable car out there and toyota came in third..... so if toyota makes lexus why isnt toyota first or second or crap like that... either way im happy toyota and lexus are on top... i know that was a noob question but i was bored and read this post and wanted to see what some of you thought

on msn cardomain they said lexus is the most reliable car out there and toyota came in third..... so if toyota makes lexus why isnt toyota first or second or crap like that... either way im happy toyota and lexus are on top... i know that was a noob question but i was bored and read this post and wanted to see what some of you thought

reliability stats, i would assume are based on the companies fleet and how many times any vehicle of their fleet had somesort of problem.

therfore, toyota has a far larger fleet than lexus, therfore numbers would simply render that figure.

in addition, lexus is toyotas cream of the crop, so its expected to have the least problems.

i'm curious though, if toyota came in third, what did honda, nissan, ford, chrysler, and gmc rank?

Nick

The following is a press release from USA TODAY: May 31, 2002. I'm sure it's copyrighted, but please don't sue me.

J.D. Power and Associates' Initial Quality Study is based on problems per 100 vehicles reported in the first 90 days of ownership. Power doesn't disclose below-average scores. Those were obtained by USA TODAY from industry sources. Each brands problems per 100 vehicles.

Brands are listed in 2002 Ranking, best to worst.

This looked all nice and neat when I went through the trouble of typing this out, but this forum won't support the format I used. Clarification: listed in order are rank and brand problems per 100 vehicle in 2002, problems per 100 vehicle in 2001, 2001 ranking.

Brand 2002 2001 2001 Rank
------ ------ ------ -------------
1 Lexus 88 85 1
2 Acura 107 118 3
2 Infiniti 107 123 7
4 Toyota 111 121 5
5 Volvo 113 154 22
6 Honda 115 135 11
7 BMW 116 119 4
7 Cadillac 116 126 9
9 Buick 119 123 7
10 Lincoln 121 149 20
10 Saturn 121 139 13
12 Porsche 122 140 14
13 Chevrolet 128 146 18
13 Mercedes-Benz 128 129 10
15 Chrysler 133 137 12
INdustry Average 133 147
16 Audi 135 140 14
17 Oldsmobile 136 159 24
18 Pontiac 137 167 27
19 Jaguar 142 108 2
20 Ford 143 162 25
21 Mercury 144 143 16
21 Saab 144 121 5
23 Dodge 145 170 29
24 Mitsubishi 147 169 28
25 GMC 148 153 21
26 Jeep 151 155 23
27 Volkswagen 155 165 26
28 Hyunda 156 192 32
28 Nissan 156 148 19
30 Subaru 157 183 31
31 Mazda 169 209 35
32 Land Rover 192 207 34
33 Isuzu 195 192 32
34 Daewoo 204 176 30
--Daewoo had a smaller sample than the others--
35 Suzuki 210 234 36
36 Kia 212 267 37

well the top three make perfect sense. all are the elite brands of their respective parent companies (toyota, honda and nissan).

however its interesting to note that toyota, while at forth, is ahead of Honda (6th) and Nissan (28th). makes you wonder about nissan.

infact, i would even go out on a limb and say that of the MAJOR PARENT manufactureres that Toyota is the best in terms of reliability.

nick

ya'll are wrong. We drive Chevys!!! :o :cry: :wink:

http://www.geocities.com/thecavy/toyotacavalier.html
OGM, thats unbelievable.

yea toyota is coming out with a third SCION. for the youger genereation..

this may sound stupid, but....

is that forreal?

yeah, toyota got the cavalier, chevy got the prism (a.k.a. the corolla)...kinda like the matrix/vibe/voltz...

TRD also made performance parts and a body kit for the Cavilier available only in Japan.

LX470 IS THE CYGNUS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

CHECK WWW.TOYOTA.CO.JP

omg...this thread died a long time ago.......:rolleyes:

LOL... I didn't even notice until you said something.... and since I'm too lazy to read all the post.

But to answers Razo question, Toyota as Toyota of Japan has designed all the Lexus models up until 02-03 depending on the model and then the rest was design by Lexus of N. America while each country that has Lexus has redesign them slightly to fit their market.

Kinda like how the 5th Gen Camry has the BMW style taillamps in that one country, but it does not Japan or the US.

Also come the launch of Lexus worldwide, Lexus will design all of their cars

Actually. Toyota's the one the designs the car first. Since there's no Lexus in Japan yet, it's badged as a Toyota. When Lexus says, "We designed it." It's referring to the people of Toyota. Since they're the same company.

Originally posted by rx18
LX470 IS THE CYGNUS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

CHECK WWW.TOYOTA.CO.JP

LX470 is the "Land Cruiser Cygnus"

http://www.toyota.co.jp/Showroom/All_toyota_lineup/LandCruiserCygnus/exterior/images/ex03_svg.jpg

Originally posted by FargoToyota
The following is a press release from USA TODAY: May 31, 2002. I'm sure it's copyrighted, but please don't sue me.

Hyundai won over Nissan? :eek: Amazing.

Originally posted by xpeed
Actually. Toyota's the one the designs the car first. Since there's no Lexus in Japan yet, it's badged as a Toyota. When Lexus says, "We designed it." It's referring to the people of Toyota. Since they're the same company.

Toyota of Japan has stopped designing the Lexus line, it is all now designed by Lexus of North America to get ready foor the launch of Lexus worldwide

Originally posted by xpeed
Hyundai won over Nissan? :eek: Amazing.

doesnt' surprise me, i'm telling u, hyundai is the next toyota or honda.

the Lexus GX is the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado

its not that toyota is a lexus its that lexus is a toyota:disappoin