}}
1989–1992 In August 1983, Toyota chairman
Eiji Toyoda initiated the F1 project ("Flagship" and "No. 1" vehicle; alternatively called the "Circle-F" project), as a clandestine effort aimed at producing a world-class luxury sedan for international markets. The F1 development effort did not have a specific budget or time constraints, and the resulting vehicle did not use existing Toyota
platforms or parts. Instead, chief engineer Ichiro Suzuki sought to develop an all-new design, aiming to surpass rival American and European flagship sedans in specific target areas, including
aerodynamics, cabin
quietness, overall top speed, and
fuel efficiency. During development, the 60 designers with 1,400 engineers in 24 teams, 2,300 technicians and over 200 support workers built approximately 450 flagship prototypes and 900 engine prototypes. The teams logged of testing on locations ranging from winter Europe roadways to deserts in
Arizona, Australia, or Saudi Arabia, to American highways and wilderness. In May 1985, designers started work on the F1 project. In late 1985, designers presented the first exterior study models to F1 management, featuring a
sports car-like design with a low-slung bonnet and narrow front profile. By 1986, the sedan used a
three-box design with an upright stance, more prominent
grille, and a two-tone body. For the passenger cabin, the materials-selection tests evaluated 24 different kinds of wood and multiple types of leather for two years before settling on specific trim combinations. By 1986, the Lexus marque was created to support the launch of the flagship sedan, and the vehicle became known as the Lexus LS. and over US$1 billion in development expenses, the final design for the production Lexus LS 400 (chassis code UCF10) was frozen in May 1987 with design patents filed on 20 February 1987 and 13 May 1987. In January 1989, the LS 400 made its debut as a 1990 model at the
North American International Auto Show, in Detroit, Michigan. Production began on 15 May 1989, with the first shipments leaving Japanese ports in late June 1989. The first cars were available in August 1989, and U.S. sales officially began on 1 September 1989, followed by limited exports to Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom starting in 1990. Sales in certain, lesser markets only started in late 1991, nearly three years after the car's introduction, as Lexus chose to focus on the North American and home markets. Production was limited to about 50,000 cars per year in order to maintain desired quality standards; 40,000 of these were earmarked for the United States, 8,000 for Japan, and only about 2,000 examples for the rest of the world. The LS 400's new 4.0-litre
1UZ-FE 32-valve V8 engine, capable of and of torque, was linked to a new four-speed automatic transmission with ECT-i
electronically controlled shifts, super-flow
torque converter and rear differential. The
chassis used an independent, high-mount upper arm
double-wishbone suspension setup with twin tube shock absorbers, The LS 400's 0– time was 8.5 seconds, and its top speed was . Compared to its rivals, namely the
BMW 735i (E32) and
Mercedes-Benz 420 SE (W126), the LS 400 had a quieter cabin, with 58
dB at ; a higher top speed; a lower drag coefficient and
curb weight; it also avoided the U.S.
Gas Guzzler Tax. In European tests, the noise level at was measured at 74 dBA, equal to a BMW 735i at . At its introduction in 1989, the Celsior won the
Car of the Year Japan award. The LS 400 was among the first luxury sedans to feature an automatic tilt-and-telescoping
steering wheel with
SRS airbag, power adjustable shoulder
seat belts, and an
electrochromic rear-view mirror. The five-passenger cabin included
California walnut and leather trim, power-adjustable seats, and soft-touch controls. A back-lit
electro-luminescent gauge cluster featured a
holographic visual effect, with indicator lights projected onto the
instrument panel. The memory system stored the driver's seat, side mirror, steering wheel, and seat belt positions. Available luxury options included a
Nakamichi premium sound system and an integrated
cellular telephone with
hands-free capabilities. The LS 400 further contained some 300 technological innovations to aid smooth operation and silence, vibration-insulating rubber mounts, and sandwich steel body panels. In Japan, the launch of Lexus was complicated by Toyota's existing four domestic dealership networks at the time of its introduction. The
Toyota Crown and
Toyota Century were exclusive to
Toyota Store locations. During the LS 400's development, local dealers' requests for a
Japanese domestic market version had grown, The Celsior, named after the
Latin word for "supreme," was largely identical to the LS. The Crown and the
Crown Majesta, which appeared later in 1991, were only available at
Toyota Store locations which carried Japan-only Toyota luxury models, like the Century. The Celsior introduced two world firsts: high-performance twin-tube shock absorbers and an
air suspension combined with an upgraded version of Toyota's semi-active Toyota Electronic Modulated Suspension, called
Piezo TEMS. Adding incentive for early U.S. sales was a base price of US$35,000 ($ in dollars ), which undercut competitors by thousands of dollars and brought accusations of
selling below cost from rival
BMW. In December 1989, shortly after the LS 400's launch, Lexus ordered a voluntary recall of the 8,000 vehicles sold so far, based upon two customer complaints over defective wiring and an overheated
brake light. All vehicles were serviced within 20 days, and the incident helped establish Lexus'
customer service reputation. By 1990, U.S. sales of the LS 400 had surpassed those of competing
Mercedes-Benz,
BMW, and
Jaguar models. Production of the first-generation LS 400 totaled over 165,000 units. The LS 400 made
Consumer Reports 2007 list of recommended vehicles that regularly last or more, with proper maintenance.
1992–1994 Debuting in September 1992 as a 1993 model, the refreshed LS 400 (designed through 1991) was introduced with more than 50 changes, largely in response to customer and dealer requests. The vehicle received larger
disc brakes, wheels, and tires, and adjustments were made to the suspension and
power steering systems to improve handling. Stylistic changes included additional
body side moldings and a revised grille, along with a greater selection of colors. external temperature gauge, digital
odometer,
seat belt pretensioners, and
chlorofluorocarbon-free refrigerant were added. In 1992, the Celsior introduced the world's first
GPS navigation system with voice instructions, supplied by
Aisin. By 1994, the LS 400's U.S. base price exceeded , a figure that had steadily risen since the vehicle's introduction. Customer demand for the vehicle and shifts in foreign
exchange rates contributed to the increase in price. == Second generation (XF20; 1994) ==