After a challenge by the chairman of the company in 1983, two dozen teams of Toyota engineers, designers, and technicians assembled to create the world’s best car. A handful headed off to California and rented a beach house, where they could note the tastes and lifestyles of the upper-class customer. The ultimate result was the Lexus LS 400, a rear-wheel drive car with a 4.0-litre V8 engine. It debuted in 1989, setting a new standard for luxury cars around the world. Since then, Lexus has continued to innovate, delight, and astonish, with a full range of premium models, as well as the world’s first luxury hybrid, the RX 400h, in 2005.