Vehicle Lineage Chart
Data: Origin of a car's name
The name origins mentioned are limited to principal ones and are not exhaustive for some models.
In Japanese alphabetical order.
|
Model name
|
Origin
|
Released date of the 1st model
|
---|---|---|---|
iQ
|
The "i" stands for "individuality," and also brings to mind "innovation" and "intelligence." The "Q" stands for "quality," hints at the vehicle's "cubic" form, and is a "cue" for owners to move toward new values and lifestyles.
|
Nov.20,2008
|
|
Urban Supporter
(Dyna/Toyoace) |
This sister vehicle of the Quick Delivery van was so named because the van could weave through city traffic to facilitate delivery.
|
July 27,2001
|
|
ISIS
|
Named after the Egyptian goddess of fruitfulness and productivity in the hope that the vehicle would enrich the lives of its passengers.
|
Sep.28,2004
|
|
Aqua
|
Derived from the Latin word meaning water. The name is meant to evoke an image of clean transparency as well as of something that is universally cherished. Also, the name suggests something fluid and unconstrained -- like free-flowing water -- representing the manufacturer's wish that many people draw plenty of enjoyment from this car.
|
Dec.26,2011
|
|
AVALON
|
A mythical island paradise in Celtic legends.
|
May 9,1995
|
|
AVENSIS
|
Derived from "avancer," the French word for "to advance."
|
Oct. 6,2003
|
|
ALLION
|
A name inspired by the "All-in-One" concept of the vehicle and reflecting the manufacturer's ambition to integrate the advantages of all vehicle types into this car.
|
Dec.25,2001
|
|
ARISTO
|
A prefix of Greek origin meaning "best."
|
Oct.31,1991
|
|
ALTEZZA
|
An Italian word meaning "height" or "nobility."
|
Oct.30,1998
|
|
|
ALTEZZA GITA
|
"Altezza" means "height" or "nobility"
and Gita means "trip" or "excursion" in Italian.
|
July 2,2001
|
ALPHARD
|
"Alphard," which is derived from the Greek word "alpha," was intended to evoke an image of the brightest star in a constellation.
|
May 22,2002
|
|
|
ALPHARD G
|
"Alphard," which is derived from the Greek word "alpha," was intended to evoke an image of the brightest star in a constellation.
The "G" stands for "grand."
|
May 22,2002
|
ALPHARD V
|
"Alphard," which is derived from the Greek word "alpha," was intended to evoke an image of the brightest star in a constellation.
The "V" stands for "victory."
|
May.22,2002
|
|
ALLEX
|
Derived from the French word "allez" (meaning "to go") and combined with the letter X, the name suggests that you can "go anywhere you like."
|
Jan.24,2001
|
|
ist
|
Derived from the suffix "-ist," the name points to a person who is passionate about something (stylist, artist, and so on).
|
May 8,2002
|
|
IPSUM
|
This is the Latin word for "itself."
|
May 21,1996
|
|
VANGUARD
|
Signifies those who are at the forefront of new developments.
|
Aug.30,2007
|
|
WISH
|
Named in the hope that owners would be able to get everything they could possibly want in a car in terms of design, packaging, and driving performance.
|
Jan.20,2003
|
|
VITZ
|
Derived from "Witz," a German word meaning "wit" or "witticism."
|
Jan.13,1999
|
|
WINDOM
|
The combination of "win" and the suffix "-dom" expresses a state of perpetual victory.
|
Sep.30,1991
|
|
WiLL CYPHA
|
"WiLL" was the name of a multi-industry marketing project aimed at forward-looking and strong-willed young consumers.
"Cypha" is short for "cyber phaeton," representing an advanced IT car equipped with the latest network service.
|
Oct.21,2002
|
|
WiLL Vi
|
"WiLL" stands for people who are determined and forward-looking.
The "V" in Vi stands for vehicle, and the "i" stands for "identity," "independence," and "individuality," as well as being the personal pronoun "I" -- concepts we knew would appeal to the target customers (single women in their late 20s). The lower-case "i" was chosen to emphasize the unique "identity" of this vehicle.
|
Jan.17,2000
|
|
WiLL VS
|
"WiLL" stands for people who are determined and forward-looking.
The "V" in VS stands for "vehicle," and the "S" is for "smart" and "sporty" -- the attributes that characterize the target customers. |
Apr. 6,2001
|
|
VELLFIRE
|
Derived from "velvet" and "fire" to emphasize the vehicle's "smooth" and "passionate" characteristics.
|
May 12,2008
|
|
VEROSSA
|
Comes from the Italian words "vero" (truth) and "rosso" (red).
|
July 6,2001
|
|
VOXY
|
The name starts with the Latin word for "voice" (vox), and the Y at the end suggests the car's "boxy" shape, giving the vehicle eloquent appeal to young customers.
|
Nov.16,2001
|
|
VOLTZ
|
Derived from "volt," the name evokes the vehicle's stunning appeal and exciting features.
|
Aug.20,2002
|
|
ESTIMA
|
The name comes from "estimable."
|
May 30,1990
|
|
|
ESTIMA T
|
"Estima" derives from "estimable."
The "T" stands for both "tradition" and "Toyota."
|
Jan.11,2000
|
ESTIMA L
|
"Estima" derives from "estimable."
The "L" stands for "liberty" and "luxury."
|
Jan.11,2000
|
|
ESTIMA EMINA
|
The name comes from "estimable" and "eminent."
|
Jan.13,1992
|
|
ESTIMA LUCIDA
|
"Estima" derives from "estimable."
"Lucida" refers to the brightest star in a constellation.
|
Jan.13,1992
|
|
FJ CRUISER
|
The name comes from "FJ40" and "Land Cruiser."
The FJ40 was a type of Land Cruiser produced between 1960 and 1984.
|
Dec. 4,2010
|
|
MR2
|
Stands for "midship runabout 2-seater."
|
June 8,1984
|
|
MR-S
|
Stands for "midship runabout - sports."
|
Oct.12,1999
|
|
Opa
|
"Opa" is an exclamation indicating surprise in Portuguese.
|
May 24,2000
|
|
AURIS
|
Derived from the Latin word "aurum" (gold) and the English word "aura," the name signifies a car with a distinct aura.
|
Oct.23,2006
|
|
GAIA
|
Named after the earth goddess in Greek mythology.
|
May 29,1998
|
|
CAMRY
|
Comes from the Japanese word "kanmuri (kamuri)" (crown).
|
Mar.24,1982
|
|
CAMRY GRACIA
|
"Camry" comes from the Japanese word "kanmuri (kamuri)" (crown), and "Gracia" is Spanish for "grace."
|
Dec.16,1996
|
|
CARINA
|
A southern constellation (the Keel).
|
Dec. 1,1970
|
|
|
CARINA ED
|
A southern constellation (the Keel). The acronym ED stands for "exciting and dressy."
|
Aug.20,1985
|
CALDINA
|
Inspired by the Italian (and English) adjective "cardinal," meaning "essential" or "fundamental."
|
Nov.16,1992
|
|
Curren
|
The meaning is the same as in English "Current".
|
Jan.27,1994
|
|
COROLLA
|
A "corolla" is the ring of petals around the central part of a flower. The name was intended to evoke the image of a beautifully styled, eye-catching compact car.
|
Nov. 5,1966
|
|
|
COROLLA AXIO
|
A "corolla" is the ring of petals around the central part of a flower.
"Axio" comes from the Greek word "axia" ("value" or "quality").
|
Oct.10,2006
|
COROLLA FX
|
A "corolla" is the ring of petals around the central part of a flower. The name was intended to evoke the image of a beautifully styled, eye-catching compact car. The FX subname was derived from the first and last letters of "FF 2-box."
|
Oct. 3,1984
|
|
COROLLA CERES
|
A "corolla" is the ring of petals around the central part of a flower. "Ceres" comes from Roman mythology.
|
May 18,1992
|
|
COROLLA FIELDER
|
A "corolla" is the ring of petals around the central part of a flower.
"Fielder" suggests the car's suitability for field excursions and other leisure activities.
|
Aug.28,2000
|
|
COROLLA II
|
The name was intended to identify this car as the Corolla's "little brother"
|
May 19,1982
|
|
COROLLA SPACIO
|
A "corolla" is the ring of petals around the central part of a flower.
"Spacio" comes from the Italian word "spazio," meaning "room" or "space."
|
Jan.13,1997
|
|
COROLLA RUNX
|
A "corolla" is the ring of petals around the central part of a flower. "Runx" comes from "run" and, with the addition of an "X," represents the ultimate in driving performance.
|
Jan.24,2001
|
|
COROLLA RUMION
|
A "corolla" is the ring of petals around the central part of a flower. "Rumion" combines "roomy" and "unique" to represent a car with a spacious cabin and distinctive styling.
|
Oct. 9,2007
|
|
COROLLA LEVIN
|
A "corolla" is the ring of petals around the central part of a flower. "Levin" is a poetic word for "lightning."
|
Jan.31,1977
|
|
CAMI
|
Combines "casual" and "mini."
|
May 17,1999
|
|
Quick Delivery
|
So named because the delivery van provided walkthrough access to the cargo area to speed up delivery.
|
Sep.28,1982
|
|
CROWN
|
The meaning is the same as in English.
|
Jan. 7,1955
|
|
|
CROWN ATHLETE
|
The meanings of "crown" and "athlete" are the same as in English.
|
Sep.24,1999
|
CROWN ESTATE
|
The meaning of "crown" is the same as in English.
An "estate car" to the British is what Americans call a "station wagon."
|
Dec.15,1999
|
|
CROWN MAJESTA
|
The meaning of "crown" is the same as in English.
"Majesta" derives from "majesty."
|
Oct.28,1991
|
|
CROWN ROYAL
|
The meanings of "crown" and "royal" are the same as in English.
|
Oct.28,1991
|
|
CROWN EIGHT
|
The meaning of "crown" is the same as in English.
"Eight" comes from the first V8 unit to power a Japanese automobile.
|
Apr.20,1964
|
|
KLUGER L
|
"Kluger" comes from the German adjective "klug" ("wise" or "smart").
The "L" stands for "liberty."
|
Aug.28,2003
|
|
KLUGER V
|
"Kluger" comes from the German adjective "klug" ("wise" or "smart").
The "V" stands for "victory."
|
Nov.24,2000
|
|
CRESTA
|
"Cresta" is the Spanish word for "crest," the symbolic design of a coat of arms.
|
Apr. 1,1980
|
|
GRAND HIACE
|
The meaning of "grand" is the same as in English.
"Hiace" combines "high" and "ace," signifying that this vehicle surpasses its predecessor, the Toyoace.
|
Aug. 3,1999
|
|
GRANVIA
|
A combination of the Italian words "gran" (great) and "via" (road).
|
Aug.22,1995
|
|
CORSA
|
"Corsa" is the Italian word for "race" or "run"
|
Aug. 3,1978
|
|
CORONA
|
The "corona" is the ring of pearly light around the sun.
The name was apt for this robust and approachable family car.
|
July 1,1957
|
|
CORONA EXIV
|
The "corona" is the ring of pearly light around the sun. The name was apt for this robust and approachable family car."Exiv" stands for "Extra impressive".
|
Sep. 6,1989
|
|
COASTER
|
A "coaster" is a ship that is used to carry cargo along the coast from port to port.
|
Feb. 3,1969
|
|
COASTER R
|
A "coaster" is a ship that is used to carry cargo along the coast from port to port. The "R" signifies that the engine is "rear-mounted."
|
May 29,1996
|
|
COMFORT
|
The meaning is the same as in English.
|
Dec.19,1995
|
|
SAI
|
The name comes from the Japanese word "sai"-which means "talent" when written with the character "才" and "coloration" when written with the character "彩."
|
Dec. 7,2009
|
|
CYNOS
|
Comes from the English word "cynosure," which means someone or something that is the center of attention.
|
Jan.21,1991
|
|
SUCCEED
|
The meaning is the same as in English.
|
July 2,2002
|
|
SIENTA
|
This is a combined form of the Spanish word "siete" (seven) and the English word "entertain."
|
Sep.29,2003
|
|
SUPRA
|
Comes from the Latin word "supra" ("transcending" or "above").
|
Feb. 6,1986
|
|
STARLET
|
This means a small star burning brightly.
|
Apr.11,1973
|
|
STARLET CARAT
|
"Starlet" means a small star burning brightly,
and "carat" refers to the value of a precious stone.
|
Apr. 7,1997
|
|
STARLET GLANZA
|
The meaning of "starlet" is the same as in English.
"Glanza" comes from the German word "Glanz" ("brilliancy" or "sparkle").
|
Jan. 6,1996
|
|
STARLET REFLET
|
"Starlet" means a small star burning brightly,
and "Reflet" is French for "reflection."
|
Jan. 6,1996
|
|
SPARKY
|
This is taken from the English word "spark."
|
Sep.28,2000
|
|
SPRINTER
|
The meaning is the same as in English.
|
May 1,1968
|
|
|
SPRINTER CARIB
|
The meaning of "sprinter" is the same as in English.
"Carib" is meant as an abbreviation of "caribou" (reindeer).
|
Aug.30,1982
|
SPRINTER CIELO
|
The meaning of "sprinter" is the same as in English. "Cielo" is Spanish for "celestial" or "heavenly."
|
May 15,1987
|
|
SPRINTER TRUENO
|
The meaning of "sprinter" is the same as in English.
"Trueno" is Spanish for "thunderclap." |
May 12,1983
|
|
SPRINTER MARINO
|
The meaning of "sprinter" is the same as in English. "Marino" comes from the English word "Marine" (ocean).
|
May 18,1992
|
|
SCEPTER
|
The meaning is the same as in English "Scepter".
|
Sep. 1,1992
|
|
SERA
|
"Sera"is derived from a future tense of the French verb "être." The name evokes the image of a dream car that transports us to the future.
|
Mar. 8,1990
|
|
CELICA
|
"Celica" is Spanish for "celestial" or "heavenly."
|
Dec. 1,1970
|
|
CELICA XX
|
"Celica" is Spanish for "celestial" or "heavenly."
"XX" is derived from "unknown" quantity |
Apr.13,1978
|
|
CELSIOR
|
Comes from the Latin "celsus" ("lofty" or "elevated").
|
Oct. 9,1991
|
|
CENTURY
|
The meaning is the same as in English. The Century was built to celebrate the centennial of the birth of Sakichi Toyoda, the founder of the Toyota group of companies.
|
Nov.,1967
|
|
SOARER
|
"Soarer" is used with its meaning of a high-performance glider.
|
Feb.27,1981
|
|
TERCEL
|
The meaning is the same as in English (peregrine falcon).
|
Aug. 3,1978
|
|
DYNA
|
"Dyna" is short for "dynamic."
|
Apr.,1959
|
|
TOWNACE
|
A combination of "town" and "ace."
|
Oct. 4,1976
|
|
TOWNACE NOAH
|
"Townace" is a combination of "town" and "ace,"
and "Noah" was chosen purely for its soothing sound - no biblical reference was intended.
|
Oct.23,1996
|
|
CHASER
|
The meaning is the same as in English.
|
June 24,1977
|
|
TOURING HIACE
|
"Touring" was chosen to represent this touring car with an aerodynamic body. "Hiace" combines "high" and "ace," signifying a vehicle that surpasses its predecessor, the Toyoace.
|
Aug. 3,1999
|
|
DUET
|
The meaning is the same as in English. The name was chosen for its pleasing sound, which we felt matched the styling of the car.
|
Sep.24,1998
|
|
Deliboy
|
The name evokes an image of an agile delivery boy, which is suitable for this walkthrough van with easy ingress/egress and loading/unloading of cargo. The van also serves as a billboard-on-wheels, which is consistent with the image of a messenger.
|
July 20,1989
|
|
TOYOACE
|
"Toyoace" is a combination of "Toyota" and "ace."
|
Sep.,1954
|
|
TOYOTA CAVALIER
|
"Cavalier" is an archaic English word meaning "horseman" or "courtly gentleman." The name was inherited from GM's Chevrolet Cavalier.
|
Jan.,1996
|
|
TOYOTA CLASSIC
|
The name is derived from the vehicle's classic exterior and interior design modeled after the Toyoda Model AA.
|
June 20,1996
|
|
TOYOPET MASTER
|
The Toyopet brand name was chosen in a public naming competition. "Master" signifies a person in charge of a group.
|
Jan. 7,1955
|
|
NADIA
|
"Nadia" is a popular girl's name derived from the Russian word "nadezhda" ("hope").
|
Aug. 3,1998
|
|
NOAH
|
"Noah" was chosen purely for its soothing sound, and no biblical reference was intended.
|
Nov.16,2001
|
|
HIACE
|
"Hiace" combines "high" and "ace," signifying a vehicle that surpasses its predecessor, the Toyoace.
|
Oct. 2,1967
|
|
HIMEDIC
|
The name signifies a vehicle equipped with sophisticated medical devices.
|
June 8,1992
|
|
HILUX
|
"Hilux" is a combination of "high" and "luxury."
|
Mar.21,1968
|
|
HILUX SURF
|
"Hilux" is a combination of "high" and "luxury". "Surf" means large waves which symbolize the expansiveness of the vehicle's utility.
|
May 2,1984
|
|
HILUX SPORTS PICKUP
|
"Hilux" is a combination of "high" and "luxury," and the meaning of "pickup" is the same as in English.
|
Feb. 3,1992
|
|
HARRIER
|
The harrier is a long-winged, slender-bodied bird of prey.
|
Dec.25,1997
|
|
86
|
"86" is a reference to the model code AE86 (the Corolla Levin and Sprinter Trueno lines).
|
Apr. 6,2012
|
|
PASSO
|
"Passo" is Italian for "step." The name conjures up the image of a casual and approachable car.
|
June 7,2004
|
|
PASSO SETTE
|
"Passo" is Italian for "step." The name conjures up the image of a casual and approachable car.
"Sette" means "seven" in Italian, indicating that the vehicle can accommodate seven people.
|
Dec.25,2008
|
|
PUBLICA
|
Derived from "public" and "car," the name signifies "a car cherished by the public." The name was chosen in a public naming competition that attracted nearly 1.1 million entries.
|
June 30,1961
|
|
PIXIS SPACE
|
The name comes from "PIXE" and "PIXY."
|
Sep.26,2011
|
|
VISTA
|
The meaning is the same as in English.
|
Mar.24,1982
|
|
VISTA ARDEO
|
The meaning of "Vista" is the same as in English. "Ardeo" means "I glow" or "I desire ardently" in Latin.
|
July 1,1998
|
|
bB
|
The first letters of "black box."
|
Feb. 3,2000
|
|
FUN CARGO
|
The two words mean just what they do in English.
|
Aug.31,1999
|
|
BLADE
|
The meaning is the same as in English. The name signifies a leading-edge car with sharp and attractive features.
|
Dec.21,2006
|
|
BREVIS
|
Comes from the English word "brave."
|
June 4,2001
|
|
PLATZ
|
Comes from "Platz" (square) in German.
|
Aug.31,1999
|
|
PRIUS
|
"Prius" is Latin for "prior" or "previous."
|
Dec.10,1997
|
|
PRIUS a (alpha)
|
"Prius" is Latin for "prior" or "previous." "a" is English for "alpha", which signifies an added value to the present condition.
|
May 13,2011
|
|
BLIZZARD
|
The meaning is the same as in English.
|
Apr. 1,1980
|
|
PREMIO
|
Premio is Spanish for "prize," "reward," or "premium."
|
Dec.25,2001
|
|
PROGRES
|
Means "progress" in French.
|
May 14,1998
|
|
PRONARD
|
Comes from the French word "proner" ("to praise/glorify").
|
Apr. 7,2000
|
|
PROBOX
|
A combination of "professional" and "box."
|
July 2,2002
|
|
BELTA
|
"Belta" is the Italian word for "beauty."
|
Nov.28,2005
|
|
PORTE
|
Means "gate" in French. The car was given this name because of its wide-opening sliding door.
|
July 26,2004
|
|
MARK II
|
The various meanings of "Mark" are the same as in English (target, grade, fame). "Corona Mark II" can be taken to mean that the car is both "the second-generation model" and "an upgraded version" of the Corona.
|
Sep.21,1968
|
|
MARK II WAGON QUALIS
|
The various meanings of "Mark" are the same as in English (target, grade, fame). "Corona Mark II" can be taken to mean that the car is both "the second-generation model" and "an upgraded version" of the Corona.
"Qualis" comes from the English word "quality," and it also means "of the kind that" in Latin.
|
Apr.23,1997
|
|
MARK II BLIT
|
The various meanings of "Mark" are the same as in English (target, grade, fame). "Corona Mark II" can be taken to mean that the car is both "the second-generation model" and "an upgraded version" of the Corona.
"Blit" comes from "Blitz," which means "lightning" in German.
|
Jan.25,2002
|
|
MARK Ⅹ
|
The various meanings of "Mark" are the same as in English (target, grade, fame). The "X" denotes something unknown or unspecified, implying a car for future generations.
|
Nov. 9,2004
|
|
MARK Ⅹ ZIO
|
The various meanings of "Mark" are the same as in English (target, grade, fame).
The "X" denotes something unknown or unspecified.
|
Sep.26,2007
|
|
MASTER ACE SURF
|
"Masterace" is a combination of "master" and "ace," signifying a vehicle that leads a group and excels at what it does. "Surf" means large waves which symbolize the expansiveness of the vehicle's utility.
|
Nov. 8,1982
|
|
MINI ACE
|
"Miniace" combines "mini " and "ace," signifying a small truck.
|
Nov.15,1967
|
|
MEGA CRUISER
|
The meaning is the same as in English.
|
Jan. 9,1996
|
|
LITEACE
|
"Liteace" combines "light" and "ace."
|
Nov.14,1970
|
|
LITEACE NOAH
|
"Liteace" combines "light" and "ace." "Noah" was chosen purely for its soothing sound, and no biblical reference was intended.
|
Oct.23,1996
|
|
RAUM
|
"Raum" in German means "space" or "room."
|
May 20,1997
|
|
RACTIS
|
The name means "runner with activity and space." The Ractis was designed with high performance and high capacity as its themes, allowing for spirited driving and a spacious interior.
|
Oct. 3,2005
|
|
RUSH
|
The meaning is the same as in English. The name evokes the image of a brisk and energetic car.
|
Jan.17,2006
|
|
RAV4 L
|
"RAV4" is the acronym of Recreational Active Vehicle with 4-wheel-drive.
The "L" stands for "liberty."
|
May 10,1994
|
|
RAV4 J
|
"RAV4" is the acronym of Recreational Active Vehicle with 4-wheel-drive,
and the "J" stands for "joyful."
|
May 10,1994
|
|
LAND CRUISER
|
The meaning is the same as in English.
|
Aug. 1,1951
|
|
LAND CRUISER CYGNUS
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The meaning of "Land Cruiser" is the same as in English. "Cygnus" is a northern constellation (the Swan).
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Jan. 6,1999
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LAND CRUISER PRADO
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The meaning of "Land Cruiser" is the same as in English. "Prado" is Portuguese for "meadow" or "field."
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Apr.13,1990
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REGIUS
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"Regius" is Latin for "magnificent" or "splendid." The name suggests the stylish body and magnificent performance of the vehicle.
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Apr. 8,1997
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REGIUS ACE
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"Regius" is Latin for "magnificent" or "splendid." The name signifies the stylish body and magnificent performance of the vehicle. The meaning of "Ace" is the same as in English.
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Apr. 8,1997
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LEXUS
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LEXUS CT
(CT200h) |
"CT" stands for "Creative Touring," and "200h" signifies a hybrid car with a power output equivalent to that of a 2-liter gasoline engine vehicle.
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Jan.12,2011
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LEXUS GS
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"GS" stands for "Grand Sedan."
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Aug.30,2005
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LEXUS IS
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"IS" stands for "Intelligent Sports (Sedan)."
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Sep.28,2005
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LEXUS HS
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"HS" stands for "Harmonious Sedan."
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July.14,2009
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LEXUS LFA
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The "A" in the name stands for "Apex" of the Lexus LF line of premium sports cars.
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Oct.21,2009
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LEXUS LS
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"LS" stands for "Luxury Sedan."
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Sep.16,2006
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LEXUS RX
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"RX" stands for "Radiant Crossover (X)."
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Jan.19,2009
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LEXUS SC
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"SC" stands for "Sports Coupe."
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Aug.30,2005
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