Uploaded August 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
It’s rare that a car company sets out to build “the best car in the world”. But with an almost limitless budget, Toyota had a better shot than most. The car they created, the LS400, was a statement of intent, and an engineering marvel. It was also an audacious bid to take on the finest luxury marques, from a company that just a few years before had been known for making cheap, tinny cars. But what’s clear is their first car, the LS helped establish Lexus as a successful luxury name faster than any other car company. Why did Toyota decide they needed to build the LS, and did this audacious bid to beat the finest luxury marques succeed?
Optional Extra bonus video: youtu.be/yutqRCOIqJY
Music (from the YouTube audio library):
* Metamorphosis - Quincas Moreira
* Take it Slow - SefChol
If you'd like to support what I do, and get early access to advert-free videos and exclusive channel updates, please consider supporting the channel from just $1 or 80p a month: patreon.com/bigcar
Support me using PayPal: paypal.com/paypalme/bigcartv
Big Car merch: teespring.com/stores/bigcartv
Twitter: twitter.com/bigcartv
My second channel - Little Car: youtube.com/littlecar
Sources:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexus
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexus_LS
ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%AC%E3%82%AF%E3%82%B5%E3%82%B9%E3%83%BBLS
ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%AC%E3%82%AF%E3%82%B5%E3%82%B9
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voluntary_export_restraint
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Century
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Crown
mag.lexus.co.uk/lexus-history
toyota-global.com/company/history_of_toyota/75years/data/automotive_business/products_technology/vehicle_lineage_chart/origin/index.html
web.archive.org/web/20080322220809/http://www.motortrader.com.my/NUS/articles/article_740/page_m.asp
ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%88%E3%83%A8%E3%82%BF%E3%83%BB%E3%82%BB%E3%83%AB%E3%82%B7%E3%82%AA#%E5%88%9D%E4%BB%A3_XF10%E5%9E%8B%EF%BC%881989%E5%B9%B4_-_1994%E5%B9%B4%EF%BC%89
mag.lexus.co.uk/innovations-of-the-first-generation-lexus-ls
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexis_Colby
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_Tax_Act
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexus_SC
archive.fortune.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1989/08/14/72355/index.htm
web.archive.org/web/20071013114639/http:/www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,971153-1,00.html
nytimes.com/1995/05/17/business/sanctions-japan-overview-100-tariffs-set-13-top-models-japanese-cars.html
nytimes.com/1995/06/24/business/case-nerves-high-end-dealers-for-japanese-luxury-cars-uncertain-tariff-deadline.html
mag.lexus.co.uk/innovations-of-the-second-generation-lexus-ls
mag.lexus.co.uk/innovations-of-the-third-generation-lexus-ls
mag.lexus.co.uk/innovations-of-the-fourth-generation-lexus-ls
web.archive.org/web/20090923105020/http:/www.motortrader.com/industry-news/car-dealer-news/29338-lexus-network-set-for-overhaul-as-brand-goes-hybrid-only.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexus_LF
mag.lexus.co.uk/2018-lexus-ls-automotive-luxury
lexusenthusiast.com/2022/01/04/lexus-usa-2021-sales-report
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_New_Global_Architecture#GA-L
chevrolet.com/cars/spark
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Spark
carfax.com/blog/cheapest-cars
#bigcar
It’s rare that a car company sets out to build “the best car in the world”. But with an almost limitless budget, Toyota had a better shot than most. The car they created, the LS400, was a statement of intent, and an engineering marvel. It was also an audacious bid to take on the finest luxury marques, from a company that just a few years before had been known for making cheap, tinny cars. But what’s clear is their first car, the LS helped establish Lexus as a successful luxury name faster than any other car company. Why did Toyota decide they needed to build the LS, and did this audacious bid to beat the finest luxury marques succeed?
Optional Extra bonus video: youtu.be/yutqRCOIqJY
Music (from the YouTube audio library):
* Metamorphosis - Quincas Moreira
* Take it Slow - SefChol
If you'd like to support what I do, and get early access to advert-free videos and exclusive channel updates, please consider supporting the channel from just $1 or 80p a month: patreon.com/bigcar
Support me using PayPal: paypal.com/paypalme/bigcartv
Big Car merch: teespring.com/stores/bigcartv
Twitter: twitter.com/bigcartv
My second channel - Little Car: youtube.com/littlecar
Sources:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexus
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexus_LS
ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%AC%E3%82%AF%E3%82%B5%E3%82%B9%E3%83%BBLS
ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%AC%E3%82%AF%E3%82%B5%E3%82%B9
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voluntary_export_restraint
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Century
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Crown
mag.lexus.co.uk/lexus-history
toyota-global.com/company/history_of_toyota/75years/data/automotive_business/products_technology/vehicle_lineage_chart/origin/index.html
web.archive.org/web/20080322220809/http://www.motortrader.com.my/NUS/articles/article_740/page_m.asp
ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%88%E3%83%A8%E3%82%BF%E3%83%BB%E3%82%BB%E3%83%AB%E3%82%B7%E3%82%AA#%E5%88%9D%E4%BB%A3_XF10%E5%9E%8B%EF%BC%881989%E5%B9%B4_-_1994%E5%B9%B4%EF%BC%89
mag.lexus.co.uk/innovations-of-the-first-generation-lexus-ls
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexis_Colby
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_Tax_Act
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexus_SC
archive.fortune.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1989/08/14/72355/index.htm
web.archive.org/web/20071013114639/http:/www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,971153-1,00.html
nytimes.com/1995/05/17/business/sanctions-japan-overview-100-tariffs-set-13-top-models-japanese-cars.html
nytimes.com/1995/06/24/business/case-nerves-high-end-dealers-for-japanese-luxury-cars-uncertain-tariff-deadline.html
mag.lexus.co.uk/innovations-of-the-second-generation-lexus-ls
mag.lexus.co.uk/innovations-of-the-third-generation-lexus-ls
mag.lexus.co.uk/innovations-of-the-fourth-generation-lexus-ls
web.archive.org/web/20090923105020/http:/www.motortrader.com/industry-news/car-dealer-news/29338-lexus-network-set-for-overhaul-as-brand-goes-hybrid-only.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexus_LF
mag.lexus.co.uk/2018-lexus-ls-automotive-luxury
lexusenthusiast.com/2022/01/04/lexus-usa-2021-sales-report
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_New_Global_Architecture#GA-L
chevrolet.com/cars/spark
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Spark
carfax.com/blog/cheapest-cars
#bigcar
