"When the first Lexus luxury 4-door made its debut in 1989, it generated more than a bit of angst among its competitors in the automotive industry. In fact, at a Mercedes-Benz new-model introduction that took place right about then, I tried to placate my German host by telling him that the LS 400 looked like nothing more than an S-Class clone. "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery," I said cheerily. "Yah," he replied somberly, "that's what we are afraid of."
History has shown us that he had reason to be concerned. Since its debut, Lexus has become one of the most revered names in the industry. Although some of the company's designs are not what I would call breakthrough, the marque has developed a reputation for being supremely reliable. Above all, Lexus has set the standard for customer satisfaction, something other manufacturers envy to this day."
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