Top 5 Lexus Models of the 1990s
The top five Lexus models of the 1990s not only shook up the luxury car market but they also raised the bar for what a luxury car should be.
The 1990s was a decade of change. The Berlin Wall fell in 1989, followed by the end of the Cold War. The internet revolutionized information, commerce, and how we communicate. “Seinfeld” and “Friends” dominated Thursday night TV. Rap went mainstream, and flannel-tinted grunge pierced the airwaves. Cars got sleeker, more rounded, and more powerful. And Toyota bet big, launching a new flagship that upended the auto industry.
It’s hard to overstate Lexus’ impact 30 years ago. The company quickly launched a succession of cars that lured buyers away from American and European luxury marques. The top five cars on this list represent Lexus’ best of that decade, showing why the company became synonymous with luxury and quality.
5. Lexus GS 300
Lexus commissioned Italdesign Giugiaro to design the first GS 300. The result was a more European design that blended features of the LS and SC models into a sleek four-door sedan. Produced from 1993 to 1997, it featured Toyota’s 2JZ-GE inline-six engine coupled to a four-speed automatic transmission.
The Lexus GS 300 wasn’t as popular as the LS or ES. It also didn’t capture the public’s attention like the SC coupe. But what makes it significant is the styling that sprang from Giorgetto Giugiaro’s own hand. Known as one of the leading car designers of the 20th century, Giugiaro penned some of the most iconic designs for Alfa Romeo, De Tomaso, and Maserati.
