Sparked by a decision from Toyota Chairman Eiji Toyoda in 1983 to challenge the best luxury vehicles, Lexus has since grown into one of the world’s most inspiring brand. The first Lexus models went on sale in September 1989.
Smooth leather, rich walnut trim, precision alloy and volatile organic compounds – Lexus Engineers are fixated on these things and thousands more. That is because Lexus does not simply make cars and Lexus’ environmental efforts are tireless. Not because of Government mandates, but out of genuine respect and concern for the planet.

Starting with the earliest phases of design, tangible evidence of Lexus’ environmentally conscious approach is apparent in every car the company builds. A key area is the perpetual effort to improve the efficiency of vehicle design. Efficiency take many forms, and pays benefits that are both environmental and visceral. The form of design efficiency is to build a vehicle that is exceptionally lean in use of raw materials for manufacturing, the fuel it buying equal and in its impact on the environment. All these important positives must be accomplished while simultaneously pushing the boundaries of performance, luxury and quality - all of when are defining Lexus attributes.

Lexus LS 430
 

A core factor in overall vehicle efficiency is weight. All things being otherwise lighter is better; less fuel gets burned to accelerate the vehicle’s mass and the brakes need to do less work (and wear less) to bring it all to a stop. Lexus goes after unwanted weight of its vehicles with sophisticated computer modeling that allows excess material to be designed out of components during engineering to produce lighter, more compact parts. Extensive testing validates the strength and durability of each component before it goes into production.
 
Lexus LS 430
 
 

Lexus also pushes the frontiers of vehicle efficiency on the aerodynamic front. For the legendary LS430, Lexus uses wind-tunnel-tuned, computer-modeled details to relentlessly whittle away at aerodynamic drag.

Lexus uses other strategies to ensure that its power plants are well equipped to deliver maximum power out of the minimum amount of fuel, with remarkably low exhaust emissions.

  
Lexus LS 430

All Lexus models meet LEV (Low Emission Vehicle) or even more stringent U-LEV (Ultra Low Emission Vehicle) standards.


Even minor parts are positive factors in the overall Lexus environmental strategy. For example, LS430’s door trim panels and the rear parcel tray are made of a new material that uses ‘Kenaf’ (a non-wood annual plant in the Hollyhock family). This fast-growing renewable crop absorbs significantly more CO2 during growth than timber, which has a positive effect on atmospheric quality. Plastic materials in LS430 are molded of a highly recyclable and lightweight material called TSOP (Toyota Super Olefin Polymer) that is used in the vehicle’s interior and exterior.

  
Lexus LS 430
       

Lexus’ thoughtful approach to manufacturing pays tremendous environmental dividends. Water use in manufacturing continues to trend downward, while water-based paints and highly efficient robotic painting systems work together to minimize environmental impact and waste.
 

Research is ongoing at the Automobile Recycle Technical Center, where vehicle dismantling methods and recycling technologies are being developed to allow Lexus vehicles to meet a vehicle material recovery rate of 95% by 2015.
 

The estimated world-wide population of Lexus vehicles as on July 2001 is 1,218,131 units.