Open main menu
Home
Random
Recent changes
Special pages
Community portal
Preferences
About Wikipedia
Disclaimers
Incubator escapee wiki
Search
User menu
Talk
Dark mode
Contributions
Create account
Log in
Editing
Lexus LS
(section)
Warning:
You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you
log in
or
create an account
, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.
Anti-spam check. Do
not
fill this in!
=== 1992β1994 === [[File:Lexus LS 400 UCF10 II Silver Taupe.jpg|thumb|right|1992β1994 Lexus LS 400 (UCF10 II)]] Debuting in September 1992 as a 1993 model, the refreshed LS 400 (designed through 1991) was introduced with more than 50 changes, largely in response to customer and dealer requests.<ref name=ucf10update>Jedlicka, Dan (2005-01-03). "Lexus gives U.S. another take on luxury." ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]''.</ref> The vehicle received larger [[disc brake]]s, wheels, and tires, and adjustments were made to the suspension and [[power steering]] systems to improve handling.<ref name=comfortable>{{cite web|url=http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Features/articleId=115368 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705230718/http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Features/articleId%3D115368 |archive-date=2008-07-05 |title=Lexus LS 400, LS 430 and LS 460 Generations: Setting the Standard in the Most Comfortable Way Possible |access-date=2007-04-08 |publisher=[[Edmunds.com]] |date=2003-03-13 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Stylistic changes included additional [[Automotive molding|body side moldings]] and a revised grille, along with a greater selection of colours.<ref name=comfortable/> For the interior, a standard passenger front airbag (making this vehicle the first Toyota-built series production car available with passenger front airbag),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.toyota-global.com/company/history_of_toyota/75years/data/automotive_business/products_technology/technology_development/electronics_parts/index.html |title=Technical Development Electronics Parts |publisher=Toyota Motor Corporation |year=2012 |access-date=2015-01-15}}</ref> external temperature gauge, digital [[odometer]], [[Seat belt#Pretensioners and webclamps|seat belt pretensioners]], and [[chlorofluorocarbon]]-free refrigerant were added.<ref name=comfortable/><ref>{{Harvnb|Long|2001|pp=60β63}}.</ref> In 1992, the Celsior introduced the world's first [[Automotive navigation system|GPS navigation system with voice instructions]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.toyota-global.com/company/history_of_toyota/75years/data/automotive_business/products_technology/technology_development/electronics_parts/index.html |title=Technical Development Electronics Parts |publisher=Toyota Motor Corporation |year=2012 |access-date=2015-01-14}}</ref> supplied by [[Aisin]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aisin-aw.co.jp/en/products/information/index.html |title=Car Navigation System |publisher=Aisin |access-date=2016-03-22}}</ref> By 1994, the LS 400's U.S. base price exceeded {{USD|50,000}}, a figure that had steadily risen since the vehicle's introduction. Customer demand for the vehicle and shifts in foreign [[exchange rates]] contributed to the increase in price.<ref>{{Harvnb|Dawson|2004|pp=145β147}}.</ref> [[File:Lexus LS400 cabin.jpg|thumb|left|First-generation LS 400 cabin (UCF10 II)]] A considerable point is that in the years after the LS400/Celsior went out of production in 1994, the car has continued to influence the entire world of manufacturing. The [[Toyota Production System]] largely infiltrated American manufacturing around the time MIT's IMVP academic group coined [[lean manufacturing]], as MBA [[John Krafcik]] used his Lexus-influenced knowledge learned to model Genesis, as Hyundai-Kia themselves used TPS to become benchmarks in modern day.<ref>{{citation |last=Roos |first=Daniel |title=The Machine that Changed the World |publisher=MIT Cambridge}}.</ref> Within Toyota's own development efforts, the LS400's innovative advancements spread down through the company line-up. Through leveraging sister platforms, Toyota also used the economic conditions of currency differentials to trickle down to the high standards set by the LS400. This type of reputation-setting effort was monumental and not very profitable for Toyota, but they saw it as a way to gain a sterling reputation for quality and reliability. Afterwards Toyota planners would look for ways to reduce costs in the lower models (in their next generations). For example, the MX83 [[Toyota Cressida]] was the first glimpse at the LS400 and SXV10 [[Camry]] to come following in 1992. The MX83 was a clear step up from the 2nd generation V20 Camry. Additionally, Toyota saw it as an educational experience of refinement for engineering researchers in the United States market. It was large (notably more so than V20 Camry), and was designed to be a proper mid-size American car. Toyota used the MX83 as a hollow shell to build the LS400 interior concept until that cabin was transferred to a larger, more bubble-type body shell. Extensive audio testing with Nakamichi systems was done by using LS400 prototype interiors in Cressida bodies.<ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YfVEImFz7k&t=191s |title=Lexus History |publisher=Toyota |location=Japan |via=YouTube |access-date=3 August 2020}}</ref> As the LS400 was then refined, Toyota went through extraordinary efforts to refine the standards of the MX83 even slightly further, as fit and finish became the best in the industry. This level of fit and finish trickled down to the 1992 XV10 Toyota Camry/Lexus ES300 shared platform. The 1992 Camry shocked the industry as it was only a non-luxury midsize family sedan (in base non-XLE trims, at least). However, the complex flushed window stamping and flowing one-piece roof were modeled from new processes learned by Toyota making the LS400, as were the triple sealing framed doors. To accomplish this, the doors use indented rubber gaskets to seal the door in a fashion similar to that used by Tupperware food containers. There were no other mid-size sedans built to such fit and finish standards, except the high-end German [[BMW 5-series]] and [[Mercedes-Benz E-class]] cars. This point was made by Chris Goffey during BBC's 1991 Motorfair Top Gear coverage.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NJczSA3tr4&t=262s |title= Top Gear 91 Motorfair coverage |first=Chris |last=Goffey |date= 30 April 2020 |publisher=BBC tv |location=UK|access-date=2020-08-03}}</ref> Principles such as [[Heijunka]] boards, [[andon (manufacturing)|andon]] pull cords, and [[Gemba]] walking have become embedded in [[aerospace engineering]] production at [[Boeing]] and its subsidiaries. The [[Federal Aviation Administration]] lists the [[Toyota UZ engine#FV2400-2TC|FV2400-2TC]] (a 1UZ-FE derivative) as aviation certified. [[Intel]] modeled the "[[Internet of Things]]" on what was learned from Toyota's LS 400 quality standards.<ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=F5vtCRFRAK0 |title=How Toyota Changed the Way we Make Things |publisher=Bloomberg |location=US |via=YouTube |access-date=2020-08-09}}</ref> {{clear}}
Edit summary
(Briefly describe your changes)
By publishing changes, you agree to the
Terms of Use
, and you irrevocably agree to release your contribution under the
CC BY-SA 4.0 License
and the
GFDL
. You agree that a hyperlink or URL is sufficient attribution under the Creative Commons license.
Cancel
Editing help
(opens in new window)