Daily Slideshow: In a World Where Every Lexus Drives Like the LC
When you do something right, why not copy that magic so it can be spread all around?
Many positive upgrades are planned for the Lexus brand.
The Lexus brand was officially launched by Toyota back in 1989 to compete with other luxury makes from Europe and USA market. Some critics suggested these cars were going to be nothing but badge engineered vehicles; in other words, a Lexus emblem on the outside, but a simple Toyota on the inside, and plenty of fluff in between. Certainly, there has been some platform sharing between the two products, but this is not unusual with any upscale make. It is the end result that counts and the Lexus you see on the dealers’ lot is a far cry from a common Toyota.
A Lexus LC500 is the brands flagship
Now, chief engineer Chica Kako has announced they are striving to ensure all vehicles in the Lexus lineup have the dynamic characteristics of the top line LC models. This covers such areas as outside styling, cabin materials, ride comfort, and cornering ability in tight corners.
We drove an LC 500h factory test car for a week to get the feel of what will be expected on other models. When parked at the local country club, it certainly got plenty of attention from onlookers. In fact, when the car was parked in a restricted area it didn't belong, security just waved the car in, and with a smile on their face. It doesn't get more VIP than that. This is the type of status Lexus is attempting to place on all of their vehicles.
Lexus steering: Electric efficiency with hydraulic feel
One area where Lexus engineers have done required homework is in the electric power steering. The units on most vehicle brands are mediocre at best, with limited feedback, no feel, and over-assist issues. A decade ago, they introduced an improved system that actually gave very good steering feel, improved feedback, and enough good features overall to fool drivers into thinking they were using an older hydraulic power steering pump. This enjoyable electric unit is now being spread not only on the entire Lexus lineup but many Toyota models as well.
NX200t SUV performance with LC styling
We also drove the new NX200t SUV. It is based on the Toyota RAV platform, but only 10% of its parts are carried over. With a 235 horsepower engine, it certainly wasn't as quick as that LC-500h at 354 ponies but was brisk enough. The steering, handling, brake performance, and ride comfort were certainly good enough to justify it $46K sticker price. This shows the plan to put LC abilities in lower-priced Lexus models is working.
The much anticipated Lexus UX model
Now Lexus is scheduled to introduce a new compact SUV called the UX, which was developed by Chika Kako. It will ride on the same platform as a Toyota CH-R, and likely use a four-cylinder engine and CVT transmission under the hood. As a result, there will be limits on expected performance. On the other hand, engineer Kako has made it clear as many characteristics from the upgraded LC series will be applied to the final product. The end result is to have a vehicle with the same feel as European offerings such as the Audi A3, BMW 1-Series, and certain Mercedes A-class competition. This not only applies to the UX, but any new vehicles introduced by Lexus in the future.
To keep your Lexus on the road and running right check out the How-to section of ClubLexus.