I have a question that has bothered me a while. Lexus seems to to have their models in somewhat alphabetical order similar to Mercedes. Mercedes has the entry level C class and onto E class etc. each one a step up in alphabetical order and price. Lexus starts with ES which seems higher classed than the IS and than has GX which is higher classed than the RX. Does anyone know what the letters stand for and why not label each model with letters that move higher to match the class/price level. It seems the IS should be the entry level and the RX should be before the GX and LX. Sorry to confuse, It just never quite made sense.

 

I think we'll need someone from the Lexus marketing department to chime in on this one.

As you mentioned, Mercedes has the C, E, and S class. BMW has the 3, 5, and 7 series.

Things are not so simple at Lexus.

You definitely cannot use the alpha sequence of letters to indicate pecking order.

In the beginning, I think the LS was luxury sedan and the ES was entry sedan. The SC stands for sport coupe.

The RX was given the X for crossover, but that has now been generalized for all of the Lexus SUV's. I still don't know what the R stands for.

LX must stand for luxury SUV.

I don't know what the G stands for in GX and GS.

The IS is the new entry level, but again, I have no idea what the "I" stands for... maybe "insane".

They've really created quite an alphabet soup.

 

Well I should point out that Mercedes has the CL-Class (eventually to be S-Coupe again), and the GLK and GL and ML, so it's not all alphabetically accurate there.

In general, Lexus models go up higher in rank with the lettering, but GS/GX and RX are the exceptions, along with ES.

RX > GX > LX
HS > IS > ES > GS > LS

I think they went with RX because EX sounds more like a trimline or smaller car than the crossover it is. The GS/GX designation is commonly thought to represent Grand, as in Grand Sport/Sedan and Grand SUV. Some have thought that the RX stood for Recreational SUV, but it is listed as Radiant Crossover; the IS designation stands for Intelligent Sport.

 

I think the "S" stands for sedan, while the "X" stands for 4x4/SUV. I read from a Japanese website that the first letter of each model stands for the following:

IS - Individual Sedan
ES - Executive Sedan
GS - Grand Sedan
LS - Luxury Sedan
HS - Hybrid Sedan

RX - sorry can't remember this one
GX - Grand SUV
LX - Luxury SUV

The only exception is SC, which stands for Sport Coupe

 

I think this is closer.

IS - Intelligent Sport
IS C- Intelligent Sport Coupe
ES - Elegant Sedan
HS - Harmonious Sedan
GS - Geniune Sport
LS - Luxury Sedan
SC - Sport Coupe

RX - .......... Crossover
GX - Geniune SUV
LX - Luxury SUV

 

I think I like Grand SUV over Genuine.

 

Yeah, add to the list...

IS - Intelligent Sport
IS C - Intelligent Sport Coupe
IS F - Intelligent Sport F
ES - Elegant Sedan
HS - Harmonious Sedan
GS - Grand Sport
LS - Luxury Sedan
SC - Sport Coupe

RX - Radiant Crossover
GX - Grand SUV
LX - Luxury SUV

LFA - Lexus F Apex