Club Lexus 2019: Looking Back at the Best Moments of the Year
A look back at the biggest news of 2019 — from the arrival of the LC Convertible Concept to scoring eight J.D. Power Dependability Awards.
The year 2019 was good to Lexus, and it made for an interesting year on Club Lexus as well. From new car launches, interesting ad campaigns, and a trend of growth and expansion, Lexus took the last 12 months by storm, all while celebrating 30 years of the company.
To help show off just how wild the year has been, here are some of the most interesting and exciting stories we covered on Club Lexus in 2019.
Lexus UX’s New Ad Campaign
The year started off strong with Lexus reaching out to new and underserved markets. With the all-new UX coming in hot, Lexus decided to get progressive and start marketing to marginalized groups like Hispanic and LGBTQ communities. The UX embodied a new design focus, with an aim to create a car that was built to thrive in an urban environment. And with that, Lexus felt it was time to start enticing a new kind of buyer. In a year that was full of political and societal tensions, Lexus took the high ground early, and expressed an openness to embrace buyers from all walks of life.
LC Convertible Concept Arrives
From SUVs to super-coupes, Lexus flipped gears for the Detroit Auto Show in January. We’ve been talking about the rumors since the original LC debuted, but 2019 got its first real look at what an LC-based convertible would really look like. And wouldn’t you know, it is absolutely stunning. The long hood, sleek sill lines and aggressive lighting treatments all survived the conversion. It would take nearly a full year for the sexy roadster to move from concept to official model, but just a few weeks ago at the LA Auto Show, we had the reveal of the production model. It looks a little frumpy with the cloth top up, but when that lid comes down, it is downright beautiful.
Pushing Autonomous Tech with Custom LS500h
As a brand that has always been on the cusp of advancing technology and luxury features, it is no surprise that Lexus is pushing deep into autonomous driving technology. But while Toyota as a whole has been dabbling in this tech for a while, 2019 saw one of the biggest pushes yet. With a specially designed LS500h, the Toyota Research Institute is testing all kinds of new software profiles and sensors to create a truly self-driving experience. Dubbed the TRI-P4, this slab of luxury and science combined could pave the future for a Lexus that drives you work all on its own.
Lexus Goes Racing
One of the big announcements at the start of 2019 was the racing team AIM Vasser Sullivan was fielding a pair of RC F GT3s in the IMSA racing series. Not only did the cars compete, but they were successful. The team’s first race at the Rolex 24 at Daytona resulted in a podium finish. From there the team went on to score a top-ten finish at the Twelve Hours of Sebring. They followed that up with wins at Mid-Ohio and Belle Isle. Then came a pair of top-ten finishes at Road America. Overall the team managed to finish sixth place in the championship and took home two wins and five podiums on the way. The season finished a little rough with multiple car issues causing low scoring in Monterey and Atlanta, but things only look better for 2020. With Toyota’s winningest NASCAR driver Kyle Bush joining the team for the next Rolex 24.
Going Big On Design with ‘Design Miami’ Partnership
Anyone who has seen a Lexus for the last few years understands that the company is pushing the absolute edge of modern car design. But Lexus took that design leadership to the next level with support for Design Miami. This makes Lexus the first automotive company to join ranks with the fashion-forward design fair and puts Lexus in the same company as design icons like Fendi, Louis Vuitton and Panerai.
Lexus Scores Eight Consecutive Dependability Awards
On top of Lexus’ penchant for creating attractive luxury cars, the Japanese marque has also built a legendary reputation for reliability. That pedigree only increased further when back in February, J. D. Power announced that Lexus took the top spot in the Dependability Study. That puts Lexus ahead of rivals like Porsche, and Buick, even beating our parent company Toyota. It also marks the eight time in a row that Lexus has claimed the top step of the reliability podium.
Million-mile Lexus is Unstoppable
Considering that unbreakable streak of reliability awards, perhaps it’s not surprising to hear about a Lexus with a million miles. Twenty-three years after it rolled off the factory line, and four years after journalist and YouTube star Matt Farah bought the 1996 Lexus LS400, the car officially crossed over the 1-million mile mark. We’ve been covering the saga of the car since back in 2014, and it’s exciting to see the car finally hit the milestone for which it was named.
RC F Track Edition Arrives
Considering how successful the race car has been, is anyone surprised that Lexus made an even hotter and more exciting variant of the RC F? Launched this summer as a 2020 model, the RC F Track Edition is a lighter, more powerful version of the RC F that comes wrapped in an even sexier wrapper. A new bumper and fender treatment, coupled with revised headlamps gives the whole car and even more aggressive appearance, while the 176-pound weight reduction and stiffer suspension combine for quicker lap times and a more engaging drive. Finally, that raucous V8 motor under the hood got a few horsepower and better throttle response.
Lexus Celebrates 30 Years
Of course, this all ignores the most important piece of news for Lexus and Club Lexus in 2019. This year is the 30th anniversary of Lexus, and the company has so much to celebrate. From the 10-million cars sold mark, to the industry leading reliability wards, to the impressive racing season and more, Lexus has never looked like a stronger or more exciting brand.
With 2020 coming, we expect to see even more progress. Lexus has the all-new UX finishing its first year of sales, as well as the all-new LC Convertible and a refreshed RX in showrooms. Plus with new concept cars like the LF-30 showing the future path for electric cars and design ideas, Lexus fans will soon have a Tesla-killer to lust after. The first 30 years have seen Lexus dominate the industry like no other car company has ever managed. We can’t wait to see what happens in the next 30 years.
Join the Club Lexus forums now!
