The Five Most Significant Engines in Lexus History
Lexus redefined luxury and performance in many ways. These five fine engines delivered more than power to the brand’s legacy.
Just over 30 years ago, Toyota dropped a bombshell upon the luxury landscape: Lexus. Formerly the territory of Teutonic titans and American land yachts, the luxury performance brand rewrote the rules of the game, opening the door for Japan’s own elite ambitions for years to come.
Part of Lexus’s success included more than a few engines. Some reinforced Toyota’s own rep for durability and efficiency, others delivered power never seen before. We present to you five such engines, each contributing to the brand’s legacy in their own way.
1LR-GUE
The ultimate expression of Lexus’s ambitions still is to this day the LFA. The madness to make such a masterpiece possible knew no bounds, resulting in a rarity with no parity.
Part of the magic was in the 1LR-GUE. Exclusive to the LFA, the 4.8-liter V10 received singing lessons from none other than Yamaha’s music division. The whole thing makes use of alloy metals like there’s no tomorrow, and redlines so hard, it broke the world record in 2012 with a zero to red time of 0.6 seconds.
