Does anyone remember early Lexus advertisements that claimed the headlights were made of Waterford crystal? Does anyone know why Lexus stopped using Waterford crystal?

 

Cost?... What is waterford crystal anyways?

 

They are crystal products from Ireland, & has a pretty long history, like 200 years+. I have a few of their products in our living room . . .

I like Swarovski Crystals more anyway, but not for cars

 

I think the advertisement said that they were made to RESEMBLE fine crystal not made of it.

 

According to

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...s460_road_test

"We were more taken by the details, such as the projector-headlight lenses that Lexus says are inspired by Baccarat crystal tumblers"

From

http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2...09/021326.html

The designers wanted the LS 460's xenon projector-beam headlights to have lenses with crystal-like properties - so they built a lens out of crystal. Its optical properties were carefully determined, and the production lenses designed and built to emulate crystal.

From

http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/65046.html

Engineers wanted the headlights to look like crystal, so they built a set out of real crystal, studied it and then replicated the look in hand-polished plastic.

So I am not sure the LS460 at least is even real crystal .. don't know about the 600hl

But this guy from cars.com blogs says

http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2...exus_ls_4.html

The wood trims are made by Yamaha, and the crystal on the headlights are made by Waterford Crystals.

so who knows though I wouldn't trust a blog over more reliable sources.

 

Baccarat - somewhat removed from Waterford. Waterford btw is a small town in Ireland where the crystal factory resides. Been there. Waterford also owns the German Rosenthal porcelain works. I'm sure most of your wives know all bout this...

 

i believe they said it was baccarat. i havent heard of waterford even being mentioned.

 

Here's a Baccarat crystal tumbler laid on its side. See the resemblance?

 

Yes, from what I've read, and the official Lexus USA press presentation, the headlights were made to resemble Baccarat glass tumblers, and I'm pretty sure they are not manufactured by Waterford.