Your Guide to the Lexus Naming Scheme

"Wobbles the Mind" (wobblesthemind)
02/02/2016 at 00:50 • Filed to: Lexus

Lexus has one of the best nomenclature systems in the industry. The first letter denotes the vehicle’s starting price (which will always sometimes coincide with vehicle size). The second letter tells you the bodystyle while the numbers give you an engine displacement figure multipled by 100.

All this makes for a system that is as easy as chewing gum while breathing in through your nose. Completely natural until you start thinking about it. Let’s dive on in!

Primary Letters

So the first letter denotes the price and size of vehicles. Here is the Lexus alphabet in ascending order:

C, H, N, I, E, R, G, S, L

Which when combined correctly will resemble the Japanese character for “fuck it!”

Now some people will tell you the letters stand for words like compact/creative, hybrid, intelligent, executive, grand, luxurious, and blah-de-bloop. Really, the letters stand for any old adjective you can think of for the model it’s attached to.

Secondary Letters

The second set of letters tells you the bodystyle, and thank the Lada it’s idiot-proof:

C - Coupe

S - Sedan

X - CUV/SUV

T - This is a hatchback but don’t tell the Americans.

Thus an RC will be a fairly upper end coupe, an NX is a lower end CUV, and an LS is a wicked lineup of engines...or the top sedan at Lexus. Whatever. Anyways...

Numeric Designations

Finally, the best part of any alphanumeric system is the numeric. It makes up a majority of the word! Here at Lexus, we keep to tradition and use the engine displacement multipled by 100 as the good Lada intended!

A 5.0L becomes a “500" model. A 2.5L becomes a “250" model. A 4.6L becomes a “460" model. How great is that for simplicity?!

Pop Quiz!!!

Question 1.

If the vehicle uses a 2.0T engine, what would the designation be?

If you answered “200T” you are correct! The engine is a 2.0T so all you have do is multiply by 100. Great job!

Question b.

If the vehicle uses a 3.5L engine, what would the designation be?

If you answered “350" you are correct! However, not technically correct, which is the best kind of correct. You see, the 3.5L V6 that makes 255hp is pretty shitty for a 3.5L, so it’s designated with a “300" and paired with an “IOU-0.5L” voucher from Lexus on your next lease. Now the 306hp version of the 3.5L is the “350" you’ll be reimbursed with.

Question IIIth.

If you have a 5.0L on a hybrid model, what is that models designation?

If you answered “500h” you would be correct again!...if that were the right answer, which it’s not! But seriously, electric motors are not applied to the engine like a turbocharger, they’re space-agey doodads that make your engine specs look better than the engine’s actual output. Therefore, you can bump up the designation to “600h.” Make sure you add in that “h” so that no one gets confused!

Future Lexus Lineup

Completely conjecture from here but I think the Lexus line up will end up around the following:

N - Subcompact/Entry (Level 1)

I - Compact (Level 2)

R - Small-Midsize (Level 3)

G - Large-Midsize (Level 4),

L - Fullsize/Top End (Level 5)

However, there won’t be a CX or IX crossover to match the IS since iX and CX are currently taken. Similarly, there won’t be an RS model to match the RX/RC since that is way too confusing with other automakers. There also won’t be an IC coupe, because “eye see” and “icy” puns are low brow, and Lexus is above that shit! So “SC” will be slotted between the RC and LC making a lineup as follows:

Sedans - CS, IS, (no RS), GS, LS

CUV/SUVs - (no CX or IX), NX, RX, GX, LX

Coupes - (no CS or IC), RC, SC/GC, LC

Then don’t forget that “-F” means top performance and “-C” means convertible. Hyphens have historically caused the displacement nomenclature to drop off because no one cares about the engine size when it’s a performance model or convertible. It’s a Lexus, Becky! Ex. RC-F and IS-C.

Hmm, that badge seems to have numbers on it...oh well, that won’t have any impact on the system. It’s old!

It’s kind of the funny actually, a brand that has never used nouns for models is the one that needs regular old names the most! Maybe they’ll switch the order to Bodystyle-Heirarchy-Performance just to really mess with people and appear more consistent. Hahaha, disappointment is neat!!

DISCUSSION (16)

EL_ULY > Wobbles the Mind
02/02/2016 at 00:57

From the old school ES250, with its cooling fan that ran off p/s fluid to the technological showcases of today, me gusta the Lexicles!

LS600hL... basically the result of a Mercedes S Class having coitus with a TS-040 LMP1. So much WANT

RallyWrench > Wobbles the Mind
02/02/2016 at 00:58

So if I've understood this detailed guide, they copied a system the Germans invented but have now fucked up beyond all recognition, and have now fucked it up beyond all recognition? Seems legit.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Wobbles the Mind
02/02/2016 at 00:59

I like Lexus.

Wobbles the Mind > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
02/02/2016 at 01:02

Me too!

Wobbles the Mind > EL_ULY
02/02/2016 at 01:02

When it put it that way, now I want one too, more so!

Wobbles the Mind > RallyWrench
02/02/2016 at 01:03

You got it! You answered the secret 4rd question correctly!!

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > Wobbles the Mind
02/02/2016 at 01:10

I honestly think at this point all manufacture numbers are lies. With that said, I wouldn’t kick a Lexus out of the garage if I had one. I’d drive the crap out of one on my commute and then try to track it for fun (I like to get my money’s worth dammit!).

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Wobbles the Mind
02/02/2016 at 01:13

I just wish they would bring in some new styling people.

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > Wobbles the Mind
02/02/2016 at 06:08

Still makes more sense than Infiniti in their awkward naming period.

Wobbles the Mind > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist)
02/02/2016 at 06:32

Infiniti has an awesome naming scheme!

http://wobblesthemind.kinja.com/your-guide-to-…

Jdrentarol > Wobbles the Mind
02/02/2016 at 07:34

Don’t forget a 2.0T engine means it’s a supercharged 200!

gin-san - shitpost specialist > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC
02/02/2016 at 09:58

Even if you couldn’t set a fast lap you’d surely set one of the most comfortable laps. The LS, despite starting off life as a S-class clone, is one of their better looking cars. The new, large grille looks more at home on the LS than their other models to me.

Carbon Fiber Sasquatch > Jdrentarol
02/02/2016 at 14:42

Thupercharged 2.0L

Jdrentarol > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch
02/02/2016 at 14:51

Audi used to call some of their supercharged engines 2.0T, instead of 2.0S

Carbon Fiber Sasquatch > Jdrentarol
02/02/2016 at 15:36

Yep, any 3.0L Audi still says 3.0T even though it’s supercharged. I like to believe they tell people it’s because T is one better than S lol

Carbon Fiber Sasquatch > Wobbles the Mind
02/02/2016 at 15:48

If I’m honest, I too would probably enjoy daily driving an IS or GS plus crazy high reliability that you don’t get in the Germans but their cars are just not good looking.

I applaud them for finally trying but I would not want to walk out and see that front fascia looking at me every day.