chromedome

I've always wondered why different factories have different levels of orange peel paint. They're all using robot sprayers now so the quality should be very similar if the calibrations are correct. That said, my ES has the best paint of any car I've had so far, no orange peel areas on the Starfire Pearl paint at all.

Vihzel

The ES300h will continue to be built in Japan, but the ES350 will now be built at the Kentucky plant with MY16.

Arty101

VOC and other environmental regulations in the U.S.?

airgas1998

yeah....i'd believe that, but i think Japan is even more stringent.

SW17LS

My 2003 ES built in Japan had pretty terrible orange peel lol. Japanese built Prius was a rattle trap.

PirelliRC

why are the hybrids being built in Japan and the petrol engine in Kentucky ? Maybe because the battery factories are in Japan and its cost effective ?

Vihzel

Spotted in the US!

I really want to see it in black.

NickTee

Nope, nope, nope. I've seen their work, this is only going to lead to some extremely poor assembly. Cars built in Japan seem like they're assembled by people with extreme OCD, while American-built workers seem like they don't care.
There is a very apparent difference in fit and finish between the two.

chromedome

I really, really want that grille. Makes my 2014 ES look frumpy in comparison. I'd say the new grille makes light colors like white and silver look a lot better.

SW17LS

And you know this how? So all Toyotas built in the US seem like they were made by workers who don't care? I absolutely disagree.

bc6152

I also disagree with this assessment. In order to remain competitive and save on tariffs and taxes, many manufacturers now build in America. M-B, BMW, VW, Honda, Toyota, and probably additional others. I don't believe that any of these companies would risk their reputation and company bottom line on poor quality. Word gets out fast and sales would decline. Look at GM in the eighties and nineties. It is my opinion that Americans can build cars just as good as others as long as they are properly trained and the company demands perfection. This, I see Lexus (Toyota) doing in Kentucky. An additional plus are the jobs created for Americans. I'm quite sure that the 2016 Lexus built in Kentucky will be under the microscope for quality issues. Time will tell...

NickTee

I know this from having seen countless cars that demonstrate this exact statement. Did I say that every Toyota is built like that? No. I said the ones I have I seen, and that is a very large number, look like that.
Time will tell, but I will not be surprised to see complaints on fit and finish straight from the dealership floor.

Arty101

The best selling Lexus, the RX line is mostly built in NAmerica. We don't hear any issue about them, nor for the Toyota Camerys or Avalons. I have to agree with bc6152 Bob.

SW17LS

So where do you see this "very large number" of US built Toyotas? I've look at a lot of Toyotas when shopping for the Jeep, looking at the Highlander, etc, looking at minivans...I haven't seen these "very large numbers" of poorly built US spec Toyotas.

Lexus already makes the RX in Canada, where are the complaints?

don1

The RX is built in Canada not more than 5 miles from my home and is as highly regarded as any Lexus IMO. I know that cars can be built to high standards in the U.S. as well having owned 3 generations of Acura TLs built in Ohio which were all high quality reliable cars.