Carmaker1
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We all know the story of how Toyota chairman Eiji Toyoda in August 1983 called a meeting of executives and sat down to discuss creation of a flagship luxury car that would go head to head with the Mercedes-Benz S-Class (at the time, BMW and Audi weren't known for their flagships until 1986 E32 and 1994 A8).
However, in addition to the LS, when it became obvious to Toyota HQ management that a single model sitting at the top of the Toyota brand line-up (above Cressida), wasn't suitable to Toyota USA reps (to HQ's chagrin), a new brand was created in 1986 called Lexus and the need of additional products.
I remember learning that in 1987 as they were reaching design freeze on the F1/XF10 LS programme, Toyoda then did order development of an additional model (entry level) in a two-stage process. Rapid work on a stop-gap offering based on a higher-spec JDM version of the second generation Camry, which had been introduced at that moment as the Vista and Camry Prominent.
Stage 2 of that plan, was parallel to that, a full programme for an all-new FWD platform began for what become the ES 300, later launched in October 1991 as a 1992 model.
In early 1988, over Toyota USA execs' criticism towards a Gen 3 Camry clay model shown to them of the proposed MY 1991 redesign, the new ES 300 platform was adapted to the next generation Camry in record time, pushing back a new Camry over a year and that of the Gen 2 MMC from MY 1989 in late 1988 to MY 1990 in late 1989.
Development of a sport coupe based on the Soarer redesign was also commissioned and that of development of another four door offering, positioned below the LS flagship a Mercedes-Benz 300E and BMW 5-Series competitor. While internal design work began for both the coupe and new sedan alongside the XV10 (ES 300), ItalDesign didn't start working with Toyota until 1988.
Between 1988 and 1989, these proposals by Toyota internal design efforts and that of Giorgetto Giugiaro's ItalDesign, were created and presented in 1:1 (full-size clay). The internal proposal favoured that of four-door Soarer/SC sedan, which was of course in development at the same time and also that of Mazda's 929/Sentia design (finalized on X-mas Eve 1988).
1988-1989 S140 Design Process
Does this look familiar to any of the above pictures? The 1990 Jaguar Kensington
Toyota settled on Ital Design effort, likely favouring look for the mid-sizer that distinct from the upcoming coupe. With great collaboration between ID and TMC engineers, in 1989 Toyota successfully completed design freeze of the new S140 saloon, just as the Lexus brand was being launched in North America.
After significant prototype testing, first starting with Toyota Chaser-based mules in 1989 and running prototypes from the onset of 1990, in late 1991 Toyota unveiled the S140 Aristo to the Japanese Domestic Market and quietly trademark the GS 300 nameplate at the USPTO and various patent offices across Europe.
1991 (MY1992) Toyota Aristo
1991 Toyota Aristo UK Prototype
What I have never understood, is why was there an 18-month delay between Aristo October 1991 launch and GS 300 launch in April 1993? Does anyone have an idea as to why this happened?
MY 1993 Lexus GS 300
From what I can see, the 2JZ I6 was ready to go by late 1991, so it's not like what happened with the 1G-powered I6 IS 200 coming out in Europe in early 1999 and 2JZ-powered I6 IS 300 to USA in July 2000, over Lexus USA demanding a more powerful US-export market engine.
When the Aristo went on sale, it was a 2.5 year old design (based on when they completed it in 1989) which is typical for the marketplace in accounting for development time. By the time Lexus-badged GS 300 itself went on sale, it was a 4-year old design and the Gen 2 S160 already being in development by 1993.
1993 Debut of GS 300 on US television.
That, plus strong Yen currency factors hurt its sales performance in the US, that even the barely noticeable refresh for the 1996 model year didn't do much to help it.
1995-1997 GS 300
It is good to see that Lexus has hopefully abandoned this practice and now launch all new models in differing markets as close as possible.
On another note, I would like to discuss development of the SC coupe, which also began in early 1987. Designers started out with infamously using plaster-filled balloons, to mold the design into car shapes.
Here are some of Calty's early results from 1987 to 1988.
1988 CALTY Concept
Later Photos of 1988 Concept (1990s-2000s)
1988-1989
Z30 Design Freeze; 1989
Many innovations were introduced by the Z30 (aka SC), such as Active 4WS (1991), active hydropneumatic suspension (1991), TFT LCD screen (1991), world's first reverse or backup camera (even in colour) for passenger vehicle (invented 1987, 1991 intro), GPS Navigation (1991 for TMC only), Toyota's first passenger airbag in non-4 door Toyota product (standard from mid-1992, also in '93 LS400), and many more.
April/May 1991 Dealer Introduction Video Lexus SC 400
I am curious also, why it took until 1993 for Lexus to greenlight development of the IS sports sedan under the 038T project code and why Lexus never made the never made they were planning. As well as another compact Lexus FWD model than sounds like an early CT sedan (would've been redundant with ES 300).
Here was one proposal presented in 1994, which was RWD called Landau.
EDIT: Forgot to list how Toyota is responsible for back-up cameras solely being introduced to market.
However, in addition to the LS, when it became obvious to Toyota HQ management that a single model sitting at the top of the Toyota brand line-up (above Cressida), wasn't suitable to Toyota USA reps (to HQ's chagrin), a new brand was created in 1986 called Lexus and the need of additional products.
I remember learning that in 1987 as they were reaching design freeze on the F1/XF10 LS programme, Toyoda then did order development of an additional model (entry level) in a two-stage process. Rapid work on a stop-gap offering based on a higher-spec JDM version of the second generation Camry, which had been introduced at that moment as the Vista and Camry Prominent.
Stage 2 of that plan, was parallel to that, a full programme for an all-new FWD platform began for what become the ES 300, later launched in October 1991 as a 1992 model.
In early 1988, over Toyota USA execs' criticism towards a Gen 3 Camry clay model shown to them of the proposed MY 1991 redesign, the new ES 300 platform was adapted to the next generation Camry in record time, pushing back a new Camry over a year and that of the Gen 2 MMC from MY 1989 in late 1988 to MY 1990 in late 1989.
Development of a sport coupe based on the Soarer redesign was also commissioned and that of development of another four door offering, positioned below the LS flagship a Mercedes-Benz 300E and BMW 5-Series competitor. While internal design work began for both the coupe and new sedan alongside the XV10 (ES 300), ItalDesign didn't start working with Toyota until 1988.
Between 1988 and 1989, these proposals by Toyota internal design efforts and that of Giorgetto Giugiaro's ItalDesign, were created and presented in 1:1 (full-size clay). The internal proposal favoured that of four-door Soarer/SC sedan, which was of course in development at the same time and also that of Mazda's 929/Sentia design (finalized on X-mas Eve 1988).
1988-1989 S140 Design Process
Does this look familiar to any of the above pictures? The 1990 Jaguar Kensington
Toyota settled on Ital Design effort, likely favouring look for the mid-sizer that distinct from the upcoming coupe. With great collaboration between ID and TMC engineers, in 1989 Toyota successfully completed design freeze of the new S140 saloon, just as the Lexus brand was being launched in North America.
After significant prototype testing, first starting with Toyota Chaser-based mules in 1989 and running prototypes from the onset of 1990, in late 1991 Toyota unveiled the S140 Aristo to the Japanese Domestic Market and quietly trademark the GS 300 nameplate at the USPTO and various patent offices across Europe.
1991 (MY1992) Toyota Aristo
1991 Toyota Aristo UK Prototype
What I have never understood, is why was there an 18-month delay between Aristo October 1991 launch and GS 300 launch in April 1993? Does anyone have an idea as to why this happened?
MY 1993 Lexus GS 300
From what I can see, the 2JZ I6 was ready to go by late 1991, so it's not like what happened with the 1G-powered I6 IS 200 coming out in Europe in early 1999 and 2JZ-powered I6 IS 300 to USA in July 2000, over Lexus USA demanding a more powerful US-export market engine.
When the Aristo went on sale, it was a 2.5 year old design (based on when they completed it in 1989) which is typical for the marketplace in accounting for development time. By the time Lexus-badged GS 300 itself went on sale, it was a 4-year old design and the Gen 2 S160 already being in development by 1993.
1993 Debut of GS 300 on US television.
That, plus strong Yen currency factors hurt its sales performance in the US, that even the barely noticeable refresh for the 1996 model year didn't do much to help it.
1995-1997 GS 300
It is good to see that Lexus has hopefully abandoned this practice and now launch all new models in differing markets as close as possible.
On another note, I would like to discuss development of the SC coupe, which also began in early 1987. Designers started out with infamously using plaster-filled balloons, to mold the design into car shapes.
Here are some of Calty's early results from 1987 to 1988.
1988 CALTY Concept
Later Photos of 1988 Concept (1990s-2000s)
1988-1989
Z30 Design Freeze; 1989
Many innovations were introduced by the Z30 (aka SC), such as Active 4WS (1991), active hydropneumatic suspension (1991), TFT LCD screen (1991), world's first reverse or backup camera (even in colour) for passenger vehicle (invented 1987, 1991 intro), GPS Navigation (1991 for TMC only), Toyota's first passenger airbag in non-4 door Toyota product (standard from mid-1992, also in '93 LS400), and many more.
April/May 1991 Dealer Introduction Video Lexus SC 400
I am curious also, why it took until 1993 for Lexus to greenlight development of the IS sports sedan under the 038T project code and why Lexus never made the never made they were planning. As well as another compact Lexus FWD model than sounds like an early CT sedan (would've been redundant with ES 300).
Here was one proposal presented in 1994, which was RWD called Landau.
EDIT: Forgot to list how Toyota is responsible for back-up cameras solely being introduced to market.
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