Toyota launched the Lexus luxury brand in 1989.
The project began in 1983 under the code name F1, when Toyota set out to create a premium sedan for international markets. Engineers developed a new V8 engine, rear-wheel-drive chassis, quiet cabin, and carefully refined aerodynamics rather than simply adding luxury equipment to an existing Toyota.
The first Lexus models, the LS 400 and ES 250, debuted in 1989. The LS 400 appeared at the Detroit auto show in January, and sales began in the United States that September through 81 new Lexus dealerships. Lexus was therefore a new marque, not merely a trim level or model designation.
A common mix-up is Japan’s launch date: Lexus did not become a separate brand in its home market until 2005. Before then, Japanese-market versions of internationally sold Lexus vehicles carried Toyota badges and different model names. The brand’s first production year was 1989, although many early cars were sold as 1990 model-year vehicles.