Great Read "Lexus The Relentless Pursuit"

[SH20]

If you haven't  read or seen this book by Chester Dawson then I would say try it.  It's a fantastic history of Lexus and it's association with Toyota and if nothing else it explains how crucial the USA were to Lexus in their pursuit of a world player in prestige car manufacturing.  It's  a warts and all tale of amazing achievements and some significant failures with micro detail that, at times, can get a little heavy.  I read it while in hospital recently to pass the time.  My daughter bought for me off amazon.   The profits Lexus achieved are eye watering at their peak and covers the recalls, the law suits even the name Lexus was challenged by an American Company called Lexis who took Lexus to court just days before the official launch of the brand,  sales brochures, US          dealers who had all their branding completed, forecourt signage, business cards printed etc etc.   Anyway I have only owned my LS460 for 4 months  and was amazed at what Lexus started in 1989 and achieved over the following 25 years.  

         

[Bluesman]

Thanks for the heads up, ordered from amazon. Mike.

[stevet]

Orders in :)

[RgrWynne]

Thanks for update on book......have ordered copy,

Roger

[Cotswold Pete]

Certainly got lots of other books to read, but this one is going on the order list.

Thanks for the heads up

[Colin M]

I can confirm it is a great read. I bought a copy not long after I bought my first LS400 in 2012.

Well worth buying and enjoy the read!

[Spacewagon52]

How are you chaps getting on with the book? I am on page 189 and finding it a fascinating read. 

 

I particularly liked this quote on page 123 from Car and Driver on Mercedes Benz  (October 2000) (http://www.caranddriver.com/)

 

 

"Before Lexus came along, the Germans were riding a reputation of design and engineering infallibility stretching back to the 60's, a myth they lveraged into a monopoly of the luxury car trade. But as happens with monopolists, they become arrogant and complacent, raisingprices to nose-bleed altitudes with impunity and getting by with incremental upgrades of their carsfrom year to year rather than keeping them up to date with timely redesigns."

[RgrWynne]

Excellent read, bought it to take with me on holiday to Barbados. Up to page 212, will finish it tomorrow, just in time for return flight.

Was fascinated to read about the detail of the original development of the LS series.

Glad you told us about it,

Cheers,

Roger

[Bluesman]

Haven't started mine yet as I am reading one which I am half way through. Mike.

[stevet]

Mines arrived but not allowed to open it until my birthday on Wednesday

[Spacewagon52]

Finished it! A very interesting read. Shows how accountants with spreadsheets take over. When companies expand too quickly they lose something - usually money! Getting back to basics is fundamental - engineering first, accounting second!

 

I drove the old girl today with a feeling that I was driving history.

[RgrWynne]

Also just finished on plane home. Totally agree with your sentiments, but I do think the recovery for

Toyota has started . They have now been massively helped by the VW scandal , and if ever there was a lesson in "how not to cheat " this is it . It will have massive repercussions for VW at a time when Toyota have refocused .

Cheers,

Roger

[stevet]

Just finished reading mine. Very informative and detailed. Think I'll drop into the local dealers and test them. Thank god Lucidia never made it!