Lexus innovations that have changed the automotive world
When Lexus premiered in the automotive landscape in 1990, the then-unknown Japanese car marker slammed a sledgehammer against established German marques. For the first time, buyers were given something they never had before: A car that would combine refined levels of luxury and brisk performance with unsurpassed reliability and customer-oriented service.
A quarter of century has passed since Lexus rolled out its first model, the LS400. In honour of 25 years Lexus has dedicated themselves to the pursuit of perfection, here we celebrate 25 innovative technologies that were world-first features.
A quarter of century has passed since Lexus rolled out its first model, the LS400. In honour of 25 years Lexus has dedicated themselves to the pursuit of perfection, here we celebrate 25 innovative technologies that were world-first features.
1. Full hybrid V8 powertrain
The Lexus LS 600h was the world’s first full hybrid V8 at launch in 2007.
2. Climate Concierge system
The Climate Concierge system fitted to the current-generation LS 600h is a world-first climate control technology. It uses infra-red sensors to monitor the facial temperature of everyone on board and adjusts the temperature of each zone accordingly.
3. Satellite navigation system as standard
The European-specification LS 400 of 1998 was the first car in the world to have satellite navigation fitted as standard.
4. Torque-Vectoring Differential
The Lexus RC F is the first front engine/rear-wheel drive sports car to feature a Torque-Vectoring Differential. It uses a series of multi-plate clutches to distribute torque between the rear wheels.
5. Clari-Fi™ premium sound system
The Lexus NX 300h Premier marries a Mark Levinson Premium sound system with Clari-Fi™ – a technology that analyses and improves the audio quality of all types of compressed, digital music sources.
6. Rear-wheel drive luxury hybrid vehicle
Lexus engineered the world’s first mass-produced rear-wheel drive luxury hybrid vehicle, the GS 450h in 2007.
7. Eight-speed automatic transmission
The 2006 Lexus LS 460 debuted the world’s first eight-speed automatic transmission.
8. Dedicated hybrid powertrain manufacturing plant
The Lexus Kokura plant in Japan is the world’s first and only dedicated hybrid manufacturing facility. The assembly line has a positive air pressure system to prevent airborne particles from contaminating any of the hybrid powertrain components.
9. Twin-chamber front passenger airbag
In 2005, the second-generation Lexus IS became the first car in the world to be fitted with a twin-chamber front passenger airbag, designed to deliver greater protection to the neck and shoulders in an impact.
10. Switchable air suspension
Switchable air suspension debuted on the 2000 model year Lexus LS 430. The system maintains vehicle ride height at a specified level regardless of the number of passengers or load level. It can be raised by 20mm for uneven roads and is automatically lowered at high speeds to improve aerodynamics.
The 2005 Lexus RX 400h was the world’s first full hybrid luxury SUV. It mated a 3.3-litre V6 petrol engine with an electric motor to produce 269bhp.
12. Efficient hybrid battery recycling
Lexus pioneered the recycling of used nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries from hybrid vehicles and was the first to put in place a system that recycled the rare earth metals neodymium and dysprosium that are used in the magnets of hybrid vehicle motors. Unique businesses have also been set up to recycle cemented carbide scraps into tungsten, which is then made into highly resilient carbide tools. These efforts were part of a commitment to achieve a 95 per cent recovery rate in Lexus vehicles by 2015.
13. Hybrid drivetrain silencer plate
The intake tract of the Lexus Hybrid Drive powertrain on the CT 200h is designed with a special porous material featuring the world’s first silencer plate. The result is quieter performance but with a pleasing air intake note.
14. High-resolution 12.3-inch wide screen
The current-generation Lexus GS 300h and GS 450h models feature a 12.3″ wide high-resolution multimedia display, a world first in a mass-produced vehicle.
15. Bamboo steering wheel
The current Lexus GS range can be specified with a steering wheel manufactured using sustainable bamboo material.
16. Joystick-operated Remote Touch Interface
The Lexus RX 450h is equipped with a second-generation Remote Touch Interface that features the world’s first slide-type joystick mechanism. The joystick functions much like a computer mouse, controlling multimedia in the cabin.
17. Quiet Mark for the Lexus CT 200h.
The Lexus CT 200h was the first car to be awarded the prestigious Quiet Mark, recognition from the Noise Abatement Society for its contribution to an improved aural environment.
18. Tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel with an SRS airbag
The 1989 Lexus LS 400 was the first car to feature a steering wheel with a supplementary restraint system airbag as well as a broad range of tilt and telescopic adjustment.
19. Low reflection windscreen
The third-generation Lexus LS 430 featured a low reflection windscreen. A special coating applied to the glass helped to reduce glare in bright sunlight, which was particularly useful on models specified with light-coloured dashboards.
20. Electronically controlled variable valve timing
VVT-iE was the world’s first electronically controlled variable valve timing system to be fitted to intake camshafts, and was fitted to the fourth-generation LS 460 of 2007. It differed to the previous hydraulically-activated system by optimising the full spectrum of engine speed and temperature. Variable valve timing continually monitors the timing and lift duration of valves in a combustion engine to improve performance.
21. Laser-screw welding
Laser-screw welding is a Lexus-first technology that employs incredibly accurate laser beams to create perfect spot welds around panel joints for optimal body stiffness and construction accuracy. It was first used on the current Lexus LS.
22. Six-disc CD auto-changer
The 1995 Lexus LS 400 was the first car to offer an optional six-disc CD auto-changer as part of its audio system.
23. Engine component integration
As a result of more than one million kilometres of rigorous development testing, the 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine in the Lexus NX is the first in the world to combine a water-cooled cylinder head with an integral, four-into-two exhaust manifold and a twin-scroll turbocharger.
24. Collapsible steering column
The second-generation Lexus LS 400 was the first production car to feature a collapsible steering column. This patented innovation featured a corrugated shaft coupling designed to absorb primary and secondary impacts in the event of a collision.
25. Unprecedented number of JD Power wins
In 2014, Lexus became the first car brand in the automotive industry to top the annual WhatCar?/JD Power customer satisfaction survey 12 times.
Credit to http://blog.lexus.co.uk/
Cheers!
All Lexus
No comments:
Post a Comment