What is the Toyota name for Lexus LS400?
The Toyota name for the Lexus LS400 in Japan is Toyota Celsior. In other markets, the same car was sold as the Lexus LS400. This reflects Toyota’s strategy of using different branding in domestic versus export markets for the luxury sedan introduced in the late 1980s.
Market naming distinctions
The first generation of the LS sedan appeared under two different badges depending on the market. In Japan, Toyota used a domestic nameplate, while in most other regions the vehicle carried the Lexus badge. The following summarizes the primary market names for this generation.
- Japan: Toyota Celsior (セルシオ)
- Global markets (including the United States and Europe): Lexus LS400
These names refer to the same underlying vehicle, marketed under different brands to suit regional strategies.
Origins of the Celsior name
Meaning and branding rationale
The name "Celsior" was selected by Toyota for its domestic executive sedan to convey elegance and sophistication in the Japanese market. At the time, it was marketed under the Toyota banner rather than the Lexus brand in Japan.
Later branding developments
Lexus presence in Japan
As Lexus expanded globally, the branding evolved, but the first-generation Japanese variant remained known as the Celsior in its home market. The LS400 served as the bridge between Toyota’s traditional luxury offerings in Japan and the global Lexus luxury brand that would become more prominent worldwide.
Summary
In short, the Toyota name for the Lexus LS400 in its home market is Celsior. The vehicle was marketed as the Lexus LS400 in most export markets, illustrating how Toyota used distinct branding for domestic and international audiences during the model’s early years.
Which Toyota is the Lexus LS based on?
| Lexus LS (XF40) | |
|---|---|
| Platform | Toyota N platform |
| Related | Toyota Century (G60) (for LS 600h L) |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 4.6 L 1UR-FE V8 4.6 L 1UR-FSE V8 5.0 L 2UR-FSE V8 (hybrid) |
Is the Toyota Celsior the same as the LS 400?
The Toyota Celsior, essentially the Lexus LS400 for the Japanese market, mirrored these qualities, offering the same level of luxury, performance, and reliability. The Celsior further solidified Toyota's reputation in its home country as a manufacturer capable of producing a world-class luxury sedan.
What is the Toyota version of LS 400?
The Toyota equivalent to the Lexus LS400 is the Toyota Celsior, which was the version sold in the Japanese domestic market. The Celsior and the LS400 are essentially the same car, sharing the same luxury, performance, and reliability, with only minor differences in features like lighting and badging for each market.
- Same platform: The Celsior and LS400 share the same platform and mechanical components, including the original 4.0L V8 engine.
- Market-specific features: The primary differences were market-specific, with the Celsior having features like different headlights and a wider third brake light to comply with Japanese regulations.
- Brand strategy: Toyota launched the LS400 as the top-end model for the new Lexus brand in foreign markets, while the Celsior was its counterpart for the Japanese market to compete with European luxury brands.
What was the LS 400 called in Japan?
Seeking to enter the luxury car market, Toyota debuted this vehicle at the Detroit Auto Show in January 1989 as the Lexus LS400. After releasing it in the North American market as the top-end model of the Lexus brand, Toyota placed it on the Japanese market as the Celsior.
