What does luxury look like from inside? Interiors of the entire Lexus line up compared

When luxury comes as standard, the only thing left to ask is, which model would you choose?

When a name confers an image, evokes a meaning or creates a perception, the associative imagery demonstrates the power of the company's branding. Companies work very hard to pursue a singular brand identity because the human brain can only create, retain and recall one meaning at a time. The stronger the recollection of that meaning, the more successful that brand has been at creating consumer awareness. 

In the cluster of Australasian countries, Lexus has kept to just one branding statement. You'll find it on billboards, advertisement insertions and even on the back of the business cards handed out by the sales consultants. The statement reads: Only Lexus promises the true luxury.

True to their word, every Lexus since the inaugural and iconic LS 400 of 1989 has lived up to the promise of peerless luxury. Every Lexus cabin is a silent chamber on wheels, affording occupants unequalled isolation from the world outside. And every Lexus brims with technology which operates quietly in the background, but works to an astonishing degree of intelligence to keep you safe at all speeds the vehicle is driven at. 

What can you expect when you step inside the cabin of a Lexus? That's what I decided to find out. What follows next is an invitation into the cabin of every Lexus from the base line CT to the top of the line LS.

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Just days after launching the Lexus LC 500, Akio Toyoda resigns from the Tokyo Olympic committee

How does this affect Lexus? 

Just days after launching the hauntingly beautiful Lexus LC 500, Akio Toyoda, President of the Toyota Motor Corporation and Chief Branding Officer of Lexus International, is again making the headlines.

This time, for a different reason...

According to Associated Press reports, Akio Toyoda has stepped down as Vice President of the organising committee for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. He is expected to be replaced by Kazuhiro Tsuga, the President of Panasonic. 

A Tokyo Olympic official told reporters Toyoda-san may have been concerned about a possible conflict of interest arising out of the fact he is also a current member of the Keidanren committee on the Olympics (Keidanren being Japan's biggest business lobby). As a result, he has decided to reorganise his roles to intensify efforts to encourage business support for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. 



Why is this important to Lexus? How does Toyoda-san's resignation from the organising committee for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics affect Lexus? A clue lies in something I wrote in December last year:

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Is a second hand Lexus LS 460 worth the RM120,000 risk? Top 3 most expensive problems settle the question once and for all.

Top of the range. A spec list that would turn a Mercedes S class green with envy. All for just RM120,000. What's the catch?

You've been going out with the same girl for a few years now. She's the same age, equally-educated, and all the boxes tick: Fairly attractive, good career prospects, she'd make a good wife. She's a safe bet.

Then one day, you meet an older woman at a meeting. She's several years your senior but boy is she gorgeous! The chemistry is electric and you admire her because she has none of the emotional tantrums your girlfriend puts you through; maturity has equipped her well to handle the odd bumps in life. But deep down, you know it doesn't make sense: She's too old to have kids, there's a cultural gap, or perhaps you're afraid because at that age, women have seen the puppet show; they know their worth. Still, it could be fun in the short run. 

Ask yourself: Current girlfriend or quick dalliance with Monica Bellucci?

Right now, you could pick up a brand new Toyota Altis for RM120,000. It's a sensible option, it's not going to break down anytime soon, and it's respectable enough. Thing is, it's not sexy.

And that's why, at the other corner, is that alluring mature woman, whose index finger curls at you in a hooked position. A year 2007 Lexus LS 460 is an entirely different proposition, but it's an itch you've been dying to scratch.

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Official state cars Part 2: Lexus the choice for Kings, Queens, Presidents and Prime Ministers

Part 2 of Picture gallery: Lexus honoured as official state car in 20 countries

Continuing from Part 1 where we reviewed briefly the process of selecting an official state car, here we explore the next 20 official head of state cars driven by leaders of the free world and ask: 

What does it mean to be chosen to supply these vehicles? 

It is considered the highest honour bestowed upon an automotive manufacturer to be chosen to supply an official state car. This prestige that comes with it extends far beyond functionality as a mode of transportation; it becomes a national symbol of the people, portraying the unified image of strength and supremacy of that nation, as well as an image the country's subjects and the global community can invest their trust in.

Countries that have indigenous automobile manufacturers normally choose their nationally-made cars to show their support. If this is not an option, the government will purchase an official state car from an automobile manufacturer originating in a country with whom it shares warm diplomatic ties and strong bilateral trade. Exceptions are observed wherein a country with a national auto industry nonetheless opts to commission an official state car from another country.

For the first 10 head of state cars, click here.

Head of State Cars (continued)

11. Japan

Even though Japan exports two other luxury brands - the Acura and Infiniti - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe trusts Lexus as his official state car. His personal choice? An armoured Lexus LS 600h L, seen here in Kuala Lumpur during the recent 2015 ASEAN summit.

12. Malaysia

Lexus is a popular choice among Sultans of Malaysia. Most of what you see is the Lexus LS 600h L. For a change, I decided to show what the Sultan of Pahang is driven in: A previous generation Lexus LX.

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Official state cars Part 1: Lexus the choice for Kings, Queens, Presidents and Prime Ministers

Part 1 of Picture gallery: Lexus honoured as official state car in 20 countries

An official state car is a vehicle specifically chosen and usually specifically customised to transport its head of state, be it a King, Queen, President, Prime Minister or high ranking government official. Usually, these official state cars are selected on exacting standards of comfort, security, specification, performance and the overall public image it represents. 

I'm a President. How do I choose my ride?

Doesn't work quite like that!

In every case, the head of state has direct influence in the rigorous selection process of an official state car. Due to the nature of the task at hand, the consultation between the head of state and the government security personnel may take several months of pre-testing across different scenarios, conditions and outcomes. 

Once the selection is made, representatives from the chosen automobile manufacturer are invited to meet with the security team that serves at the behest of the head of state to run through a battery of customisations to ensure the delivered car, the final product, is adequately securitised, reinforced, strengthened, armoured and equipped to address these scenarios. Bearing in mind official state cars are frequently driven along narrow streets usually lined by a sea of people, driven at low speeds, advanced built-in capabilities need to counter potentially invasive and life-threatening risks from enemies of the state or even the general public. 

For security reasons, more than one vehicle will be customised. Some of these act as transport for the consort or spouse of the head of state or as a back-up vehicle, or a back-up to the back-up, or as decoy to create misdirection if unwanted attention can be foreseen. 


So what do leaders from these 20 nations have in common? Let's look at what these heads of states have chosen as their official state car:


Head of State Cars

1. Austria 

Senior members of the Austrian government use the Lexus GS.

2. Bolivia

President of Bolivia uses an armoured Lexus LS 460 L 

3. Chile

Newly-elected President of Chile Sebastian Pinera chose the Lexus LS 600h L as the presidential car

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You read it here first! All-new 2017 Lexus LS Part 2 - Next generation LS 500h replaces halo model LS 600h!

Flagship Lexus launching May 2017, aims to be official car for Tokyo Olympics 2020!

You're looking at the all-new 2017 Lexus LS. Japanese Magazine MAG-X has published these rather unflattering images of the next-generation Lexus LS test mule currently undergoing track tests in Japan. But make no mistake: Under this underwhelming shell lies advanced technology and plushness designed to push the limits of 'luxury on wheels' to new levels. More on the looks later. For now...

I see the Lexus LC 500 in the picture above. What does the new 2017 Lexus LS have to do with it?

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You read it here first! All-new 2017 Lexus LS Part 1 - Details emerge why Lexus' flagship is taking so long

Collapse of the Lehman Brothers in 2008 and Japan Earthquake of 2011 crucial factors

Lexus, Lexus, what's taking you so long with the new LS? 

The current generation LS has been with us since 2006 in LS 460, LS 460L, LS 600h and LS 600h L versions. In 2012, Lexus gave its headliner model a substantial update; the extent of which was rather unusual. Whilst other manufacturers are content merely to update their cars on a superficial level, Lexus gave the LS a completely new front cabin in addition to new headlights, engine diagnostics and infotainment software and front bumper to incorporate the signature spindle grille. 

All Lexus has just found the reason why Lexus gave the LS an unusually-thorough makeover in 2012: It was not just to fend off the launch of the all-new 2013 Mercedes S Class. There were two more important factors: 

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