Editing Lexus (section)

====Hybrids and F models====

In 2006, Lexus began sales of the [[GS 450h]], a [[V6 engine|V6]] hybrid performance sedan,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessweek.com/autos/content/sep2006/bw20060912_991505.htm?chan=search |title=2007 Lexus GS 450h |date=13 September 2006 |work=BusinessWeek |last=Peterson |first=Thane |access-date=21 June 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206011133/http://www.businessweek.com/autos/content/sep2006/bw20060912_991505.htm?chan=search |archive-date=6 December 2008}}</ref> and launched the fourth generation [[Lexus LS (XF40)|LS line]], comprising both standard- and long-[[wheelbase]] V8 (LS 460 and LS 460 L) and hybrid (LS 600h and LS 600h L) versions.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/comment/columnists/article/126053 |title=Quiet crown contender |date=17 September 2006 |work=The Star |last=Tojiagic |first=Mark |access-date=21 June 2008 |location=Toronto |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125225943/http://www.thestar.com/comment/columnists/article/126053 |archive-date=25 November 2010}}</ref> The fifth generation ES 350 also debuted in the same year. The LS 600h L subsequently went on sale as the most expensive sedan ever produced in Japan.<ref name=ult>{{cite web|url= http://www.nextautos.com/countriesmarkets/japan/lexus-ls600hl-to-displace-toyota-century-as-japans-priciest-auto |title=Japan Report: Lexus LS600hl To Displace Toyota Century As Japan's Priciest Auto|date=8 May 2007|work=Winding Road|access-date=1 October 2007|archive-date=10 May 2009|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090510122900/http://www.nextautos.com/countriesmarkets/japan/lexus-ls600hl-to-displace-toyota-century-as-japans-priciest-auto}}</ref> By the end of 2006, Lexus' annual sales had reached 475,000 vehicles worldwide.<ref name=global/> In January 2007, Lexus announced a new [[Lexus#F marque|F marque]] performance division, which would produce racing-inspired versions of its performance models. The IS F, made its debut at the [[North American International Auto Show#2007|2007 North American International Auto Show]],<ref name=F>{{cite web|url=http://www.thecarconnection.com/autoshownews/1010188_lexus-confirms-f-performance-cars|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130111101613/http://www.thecarconnection.com/autoshownews/1010188_lexus-confirms-f-performance-cars|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 January 2013|title=Lexus Confirms "F" Performance Cars|date=11 December 2006|publisher=The Car Connection|last=Padgett|first=Marty|access-date=6 May 2007}}</ref> accompanied by a concept car, the [[Lexus LF|LF-A]].

[[File:Tino Rossini's Reviews - 025 - 2010 Lexus GS450h.jpg|thumb|2006 [[Lexus GS (S190)|GS 450h]], first rear-wheel-drive hybrid|alt=Front quarter view of a sedan.]]

In October 2007, Lexus entered the [[SEMA (association)|Specialty Equipment Market Association]] show in the U.S. for the first time with the IS F, and announced its [[Lexus F#F Sport|F-Sport]] performance trim level and factory-sanctioned accessory line.<ref name="Ramsey">{{cite web|url=http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/31/sema-2007-lexus-f-sport-performance-accessories/|title=SEMA 2007: Lexus F-Sport performance accessories|date=31 October 2007|publisher=Autoblog.com|last=Ramsey|first=Jonathan|access-date=21 June 2008|archive-date=20 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120151956/https://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/31/sema-2007-lexus-f-sport-performance-accessories/|url-status=live}}</ref> Increased emphasis on sporty models was an effort to target rivals from Mercedes-Benz's [[Mercedes-AMG|AMG]] and BMW's [[BMW M|M]] divisions.<ref name=F/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businesscar.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=1182|title=Lexus ISF proves Japanese brand can do sporty|date=16 March 2007|publisher=BusinessCar|access-date=1 October 2007|archive-date=1 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120801095156/http://www.businesscar.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=1182|url-status=live}}</ref> Models such as the SC 400 and GS 400 had received favorable reactions from sport luxury buyers,<ref>{{Harvnb|Dawson|2004|pp=141–47, 163–65}}</ref> most Lexus models had been characterized as favoring comfort over sporty road feel and handling, compared with European rivals.<ref name=motorweek>{{cite web|url=http://www.mpt.org/motorweek/reviews/rt2621a.shtml |title=Motorweek Lexus LS 460 test drive |year=2007 |access-date=29 July 2011 |work=MotorWeek |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110702123038/http://www.mpt.org/motorweek/reviews/rt2621a.shtml |archive-date=2 July 2011}}</ref> By the end of 2007, Lexus annual worldwide sales had surpassed 500,000 vehicles,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/19/lexus-targets-500-000-units-for-2007/|title=Lexus targets 500,000 units for 2007|publisher=Autoblog.com|last=Waterman|first=Stuart|date=19 September 2006|access-date=6 May 2007|archive-date=28 September 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928100821/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/19/lexus-targets-500-000-units-for-2007/|url-status=live}}</ref> and the marque ranked as the top-selling premium import in China for the first time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gasgoo.com/autobiz/3393/Lexus-knocks-out-Mercedes-in-China-s-high-end-car-market.html |title=Lexus knocks out Mercedes in China's high-end car market |date=24 September 2007 |publisher=Global Auto Sourcing |last=Jiu |first=Joanne |access-date=28 September 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013071327/http://gasgoo.com/autobiz/3393/Lexus-knocks-out-Mercedes-in-China-s-high-end-car-market.html |archive-date=13 October 2007}}</ref> The largest sales markets in order of size for 2007 were the U.S., Japan, the UK, China, Canada, and Russia.<ref name=global>Tierney, Christine (2007-08-07). "Lexus aims to conquer globe with luxury sales". ''Detroit News''. <!-- http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070908/AUTO01/105280001. --> Retrieved 2007-09-28.</ref><ref name=07s>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/feb2008/bw20080222_305511.htm |title=The Top Dogs of the Automotive Pack |date=22 February 2008 |last=Henry |first=Jim |work=BusinessWeek |access-date=25 December 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012004238/http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/feb2008/bw20080222_305511.htm |archive-date=12 October 2008}}</ref>

In 2008, amidst the [[late-2000s recession]] and a weakened world car market, global sales fell 16 percent to 435,000,<ref name="gazoo"><!-- https://gazoo.com/NEWS/NewsDetail.aspx?NewsId=7ba4ecf2-5277-4b43-9485-0012ebfda71e -->"2009 Lexus sales" (in Japanese). Gazoo/レクサス. 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-22.</ref><ref name=luxs>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB122782355321662353?mod=googlenews_wsj|title=Luxury Cars Sit As Both Money, Mood Slip Away|date=28 November 2008|work=The Wall Street Journal|last=Linebaugh|first=Kate|access-date=8 December 2008|archive-date=3 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803050514/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB122782355321662353?mod=googlenews_wsj|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=08l>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601100&sid=aE7P22QvyOuI|title=BMW, Mercedes, Lexus Car Sales May Drop to 13-Year Low in U.S.|date=9 January 2009|publisher=Bloomberg|last1=Green|first1=Jeff|last2=Ramsey|first2=Mike|access-date=11 January 2009}}</ref> with declines in markets such as the U.S. and Europe where deliveries fell by 21 percent and 27.5 percent, respectively.<ref name=08s>{{cite web|url=http://www.autonews.com/assets/PDF/CA5945419.PDF|title=U.S. car and light-truck sales by make – 12 months 2008|work=Automotive News|access-date=20 March 2009|year=2009|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303201629/http://www.autonews.com/assets/PDF/CA5945419.PDF|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.acea.be/index.php/news/news_detail/passenger_cars_european_market_posts_fifteen_year_low_in_2008_78|title=ACEA Passenger Cars – European Market Posts Fifteen Year Low|publisher=ACEA|access-date=4 August 2008|archive-date=29 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629131713/http://www.acea.be/news/news_detail/passenger_cars_european_market_posts_fifteen_year_low_in_2008_78|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2009, the marque launched the [[Lexus HS|HS 250h]],<ref name=hs>{{cite web|url=http://autos.canada.com/2009detroit1/story.html?id=ab0a6063-8d73-4391-8821-0d3da7eae485&p=1 |title=Full details on Hybrid Lexus HS 250h |publisher=Driving.ca |date=11 January 2009 |access-date=18 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090315113810/http://autos.canada.com/2009detroit1/story.html?id=ab0a6063-8d73-4391-8821-0d3da7eae485&p=1 |archive-date=15 March 2009}}</ref> a dedicated hybrid sedan for North America and Japan, the [[Lexus RX (AL10)|RX 450h]], the second generation hybrid SUV replacing the earlier RX 400h, and later that year debuted the {{USD|375,000}} production [[Lexus LFA|LFA]] exotic coupe.<ref name=bwl>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessweek.com/autos/autobeat/archives/2009/10/introducing_the_1.html |title=Lexus launches $375k LFA |work=BusinessWeek |access-date=23 October 2009 |last=Rowley |first=Ian |date=21 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091024031038/http://www.businessweek.com/autos/autobeat/archives/2009/10/introducing_the_1.html |archive-date=24 October 2009}}</ref> In late 2009, citing higher sales of hybrid models over their petrol counterparts,<ref name=ukh/><ref>{{cite news |last=Hughes |first=Steve |date=6 October 2006 |title=Successful Mix |newspaper=Daily Record }}</ref> Lexus announced plans to become a hybrid-only marque in Europe.<ref name=euh>{{cite web|url=http://www.motortrader.com/industry-news/car-dealer-news/29338-lexus-network-set-for-overhaul-as-brand-goes-hybrid-only.html |title=Lexus network set for overhaul as brand goes hybrid-only |publisher=Motortrader |access-date=25 September 2009 |date=18 September 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090923105020/http://www.motortrader.com/industry-news/car-dealer-news/29338-lexus-network-set-for-overhaul-as-brand-goes-hybrid-only.html |archive-date=23 September 2009}}</ref> By the end of the decade, Lexus ranked as the fourth-largest premium car make in the world by volume,<ref name=sales/> and was the number one selling premium car marque in the U.S. for 10 consecutive years.<ref name=08l/><ref name=sales>{{cite news |last=van Loon |first=Jeremy |date=4 May 2007 |title=BMW Luxury Lead Threatened by Lexus, Stagnant Margins |work=Bloomberg }}</ref><ref name=09s>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601100&sid=a2txYe.J5ma8|title=Toyota's Lexus Holds Off BMW, Keeps Luxury Lead for 10th Year|publisher=Bloomberg|access-date=15 May 2010|last=Ramsey|first=Mike|date=5 January 2010}}</ref>