Wednesday, May 10, 2006 - 08:30 pm, by: Justin Hughes(Juzza)
The body was designed in California. The Soarer was only Sold in a Few countries as a LEXUS in either a 3.0L six or 4.0L eight. (thats where SC400 and SC300 comes from) Only Japan got the 2.5L Turbo Versions. Also the Jap Spec Soarers have more options. All our Lexus/Soarers ARE Soarers (Jap cars are RHD) I've heard of 1 or 2 LHD SC400's that have been converted to RHD.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006 - 08:50 pm, by: Robert Hayden(The_boss)
Both the Celsior (Lexus LS400) and the Soarer (Lexus SC400) were primarily designed in the Toyota design studios in Calty, California.
The cars were built and designated Lexus, as Toyota's initial attempt to gain entry into the World luxury car market which had been dominated by Mercedes and BMW.
Huge market research was done into the affluent USA population and from that research evolved the Lexus branded LS400 and SC400 / SC300 models.
Local production commenced in Japan in 1989 for the LS400 and in 1991 for the SC400. Basically, 90% were sold off to the Americas and Europe as Lexus with the remaining 10% (approx) remaining in Japan where they were branded Celsior and Soarer as the Lexus name was not actually used in Japan until this year.
To gain market entry into the USA luxury market the cars had to be made and promoted at a price which would ensure USA sales. To this end, Toyota added such necessities as leather interiors and all nice superficial trimmings, but kept the car mechanical options down, therefore the Yanks perceived this great luxury vehicle, but overlooked the fact that it was lacking somewhat in certain technical and/or mechanical areas.
The Jap's continued local development of the cars and hence we see the TT version, UZZ31 air suspended car, and the ultimate Soarer, the UZZ32 with active hydraulic suspension and 4 wheel steering. In the Celsior, most LS400's were UCF10 models, with no air suspension and certainly no EMV screens. TEMS air suspension was a costly option that was made available to the Yanks in the early days.
So even though the old Soarer/Celsior versus Lexus debate ranges strongly to this day, effectively, all SC400's are Soarer's as are all LS400 are Celsiors.
So without Toyota there is no Lexus, and without Soarer and Celsior, there are no Lexus V8's.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006 - 09:04 pm, by: Hesham Hammoudah(Iverson)
thanks!!, because what was running in my mind was the v8s are made by lexus and the TT's are made my toyota....the engines that is....so if i was to put lexus badges on my TT there wouldn't be anything wrong with it like say for example putting a porsche badge on a holden?
Wednesday, May 10, 2006 - 11:44 pm, by: Hesham Hammoudah(Iverson)
Justin i feel for you...thats why i wanna badge mine as a lexus, not because of the fast and furiousness, but the slow and luxurious...so next time my mate tells me lexus is crap ill just make sure i have one of those extra large lexus badges to stick up his ****
Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 12:23 am, by: Justin Hughes(Juzza)
I don't know what you mean. I've had a V8 Soarer with LEXUS SC400 Badges on it for the last 7 Years; I feel just at home in my New TT with TOYOTA SOARER badges on it which I've had for 1 Month.
Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 06:59 am, by: Matthew Sharpe(Madmatt)
Ben Daniel wrote on Wednesday, May 10, 2006 - 11:23 pm:
thought the 1JZ-GTE was actualy an engine supplied to Toyota by Yamaha and that the 2JZ-GTE was Toyota showing yamaha how much smarter they are.
I think the cylinder heads were designed by Yamaha (as they are really good at that) - pretty sure both the 1JZ and 2JZ are all Toyota from the top of the block down. Someone here will know the full story.
Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 07:49 am, by: Lawrence Ostle(Lawrence)
Matthew, at the front of the TT engine, there is 'YAMAHA' in raised letters, a nod (I understand) to Yamaha's input into the head design.
As far as the Lexus/Toyota thing:
- those who know a bit about cars KNOW it's a rebadged Soarer, so they're not fooled. - those who don't know cars don't care (and don't matter!), and probably don't know the difference between a Lexus and a Hyundai.
...so I'm not exactly sure who those who rebadge cars are trying to impress.
Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 08:50 am, by: David Vaughan(Davidv)
Themselves, most probably, which means it is both effective and harmless. It is the ones who insist other people should change their badges that bother me.
Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 09:01 am, by: David Vaughan(Davidv)
Not picking on you Jose, but this comment:
quote:
All Soarers (Z30 chassis) are made in Japan at Toyota plant(s).
reminds me that all current Aston Martins are made in Ford plants, Lamborghinis are made in Volkswagen plants and Ferraris are made in Fiat plants (and Nakamichi is made by Matsushita).
Well, wacky do.
How does it drive?
Tom Kneebone TryHard WA factory 5 spd TT : Auto TT
Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 09:53 am, by: Tom Kneebone(Tomk)
Story I was told re Yamaha was that they have a patented formula / method for airflow design and almost all high performance engines are yamaha designed or designed under a license arrangement.
Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 02:40 pm, by: Mike Triggs(Mikeandimah)
We once had a Toyota Levin- with the 4AGE-20v engine. The cylinder heads were made by Yamaha, who were the first (I believe) to make a head with 5 valves- a Yamaha 4-cyl (and therefore 20 valve) 750cc quite some years ago. Yamaha have specialised in making multivale heads ever since, and of course everything is multivalve, now.
Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 04:58 pm, by: Mark Stott(Rinmax)
Also just for the record if you go back to the 1st gen Celica's (ta22) you will find the Yamaha stamp on the 2T-G heads too. So looks like Toyota and Yamaha have been in bed for a while.
Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 05:21 pm, by: Gareth Richards(Garethr)
I believe that Yamaha's first job for Toyota was the 2000GT in the mid-60s. Yamaha was originally a maker of musical instruments. Their knowledge of air flow was transferred firstly to their 2-stroke racing bikes, and then to 4-stroke head design. A lot of engine design is sub-contracted, often to comparatively small companies like Ricardo (which has a history going back over a hundred years) or Cosworth.
David Vaughan wrote on Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 08:50 am:
Themselves, most probably, which means it is both effective and harmless
Ok, so you're saying those people who don't have the money to buy a real locally delivered Lexus, buy a 15K car that is very closely related to a lexus (JZZ30, UZZ31 and 32), rebadge it, and then make themselves feel better that they actually drive a lexus Man, now that just tops it I won't comment
Ok, so it is mostly lexus, but that reason up here ^^^^^ is just..... never mind, I'll go and see my psychiatrist now
Previous
It is the ones who insist other people should change their badges that bother me.
Man, now that just tops it 
I won't comment 
