I bought an IS350 about 2 weeks ago and it was made 04/06 and is a 2006 year model. My wife bought a new RX350 and the born date was 03/06... and it is a 2007... Its funny how my car was built a month after hers and it is only a 2006...

 

maybe its because IS is so hot and short on stock?
dunno just guessing

 

Not surprising at all since the IS350 was launched fall last year as a 2006 model, & all IS models anyone can buy from then until the 2007 IS350 comes out fall this year will be designated as a 2006 model.
The RX350 was just launched recently a couple months ago this year, not the more common fall introduction, so it's a mid-year model, they usually would designate such a car as an early 2007 model. It's the same way with the new GS last year in March when they launched it , it's already called a 2006 model right from the beginning, the same as the GS you can buy right now.

This practice is not just with Lexus either, all other manufacturers do it the same way. For example, The brand new redesigned Mercedes Benz S550 was launched in this April as a 2007 model, same with the SL500 which was just recently upgraded about a month or two ago to SL550, but they are already calling it the 2007 SL550.

 

And I wonder, the IS was built in Japan but was the RX built in Japan or Canada?

BTW, congrats on your new Lexus vehicles!

 

The good thing about having a 2007 car in 2006, it will depreciate less quickly because it won't be considered "last year's model" for another 18 months. KBB doesn't even have values for most 2006 models, such as the IS (which came out 9 months ago) or even the GS (which came out 16 months ago)!!!

 

Hey! Thank you! This is me and my wifes first lexus. We love them so far!!

 

yeah model yr really has little to do with the built yr. just like the new gs. it first came out in early 05, but that's 06 model already. so it could be made in jan or feb 05 and it's a 06 yr

happens a lot of times before already, even to other manufacturers

 

I believe I read where most of the RX350's sold in the US are built in Canada and all of the RX 400h's are built in Japan.

 

since MY is just marketing, it follows no sense.