What is the name of the Lexus is200 in Japan?
In Japan, the Lexus IS200 was marketed under the Toyota Altezza nameplate (アルテッツァ), not as Lexus IS200.
Branding across Japan and the rest of the world
When the first-generation IS arrived in 1999, Toyota and Lexus used different branding for domestic and international markets. In Japan, the same car was sold as the Toyota Altezza through Toyota stores, while many export markets branded the car as a Lexus IS with variations by engine size (for example, IS 200 in Europe and IS 300 in the United States). The Altezza name also became associated with the car’s distinctive tail-light design, which remains a notable cultural reference among enthusiasts.
Key differences you might encounter
To understand how the same vehicle carried different names, here are the essentials:
- Domestic market name: Toyota Altezza (アルテッツァ) in Japan.
- Export market branding: Lexus IS 200 in some regions (2.0L engine) and Lexus IS 300 in others (3.0L engine).
- Cultural note: The Altezza’s tail-light design became a widely recognized styling cue.
These points illustrate how a single generation of the car was marketed under different brands and names depending on the country and dealer network.
Summary
In Japan, the Lexus IS200 is known as the Toyota Altezza (アルテッツァ). The same model was marketed abroad under the Lexus IS banner, with regional variations such as IS 200 and IS 300 reflecting different engines and markets. This naming difference highlights how branding strategies can diverge between domestic and international markets for the same vehicle.
