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Black 1994 Lexus LS 400 (first generation, UCF10), rear three-quarter view at Montlhery.

Manufacturers / LEXUS

Lexus

レクサス

LS 400 (first generation) — crash71100 / CC0

01 — History

Founded
1989
Brand launched in North America in 1989 (US sales from September 1989); introduced in Japan in August 2005. Development began in 1983 as Toyota's 'F1' project.
Marque launched
1989
Founder
Eiji Toyoda

Toyota's luxury marque, launched with the LS 400 in 1989.

  1. 1983

    Toyota chairman Eiji Toyoda launched the F1 project to build the world's best car.

    Source: Lexus — Wikipedia (English)
  2. 1989

    The LS 400 debuted at the Detroit show in January; sales began in September at 81 new US Lexus dealerships.

    Source: Lexus — Wikipedia (English)
  3. 1991

    Lexus became the top-selling premium car import in the US.

    Source: Lexus — Wikipedia (English)
  4. 2005

    Lexus dealerships opened in Japan, making it the first Japanese premium marque to launch in its home market.

    Source: Lexus — Wikipedia (English)
  5. 2007

    The F performance marque debuted with the IS F, followed by the LFA supercar in 2009.

    Source: Lexus — Wikipedia (English)

02 — Timeline

Timeline.

  1. 1983Toyota chairman Eiji Toyoda launched the F1 project to build the world's best car.
  2. 1989The LS 400 debuted at the Detroit show in January; sales began in September at 81 new US Lexus dealerships.
  3. 1989Lexus LS 400 (first generation) XF10
  4. 1991Lexus became the top-selling premium car import in the US.
  5. 2005Lexus dealerships opened in Japan, making it the first Japanese premium marque to launch in its home market.
  6. 2007The F performance marque debuted with the IS F, followed by the LFA supercar in 2009.
  7. 2010Lexus LFA LFA10

03 — Machines in the archive

Iconiccars.

05 — Motorsport

  1. An LF-A prototype won the SP8 class at a Nürburgring 4-hour VLN race on 10 May 2008, finishing 77th overall.

    Source: Lexus LFA — Wikipedia (English)

  2. Gazoo Racing entered LF-As in the 24 Hours Nürburgring in 2008 and 2009; in 2009 car No. 14 finished 4th in the SP8 class.

    Source: Lexus LFA — Wikipedia (English)

06 — Design & gallery

Black 1994 Lexus LS 400 (first generation, UCF10), rear three-quarter view at Montlhery.
crash71100 / CC0 / Wikimedia Commons
Black Lexus LFA, front view, in a collection garage.
Calreyn88 / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons

07 — Sources

  1. 01Lexus – WikipediaWikipedia · reference · accessed 2026-09-26
  2. 02レクサス – Wikipedia (ja)Wikipedia · reference · accessed 2026-09-26

08 — Photo credits

  • Black 1994 Lexus LS 400 (first generation, UCF10), rear three-quarter view at Montlhery.

    Lexus LS 400 (first generation)

    Black 1994 Lexus LS 400 (first generation, UCF10), rear three-quarter view at Montlhery.

    Bycrash71100

    CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

  • Black Lexus LFA, front view, in a collection garage.

    Lexus LFA

    Black Lexus LFA, front view, in a collection garage.

    ByCalreyn88

    CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons