In 1983, Eiji Toyoda posed this question to his top executives, "Could we manufacture a car to challenge the world's best luxury model?" The company wanted to develop a luxury car to expand their product line in an upscale market. After an extensive development process, which included designers, engineers, technicians, prototypes, and over a billion dollars in cost, the Lexus was introduced in 1989 in the U.S. The first model manufactured had a 4.0-liter engine with rear wheel drive. The company now offers a variety of compact/mid-size sedans, convertibles, SUV's, and hybrids. All vehicles must pass an "IDEAL" philosophy that stands for Impressive, Dynamic, Elegant, Advanced, and Lasting, a series of stringent quality control tests before they are released. Known for its ergonomic interiors, aerodynamics, fuel economy, and value, it quickly achieved the status of top selling luxury import in the U.S. Available now in over 40 countries, Lexus continues to rank high in dealership service, customer satisfaction, and reliability surveys worldwide.
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