Understanding Lexus Model Naming Conventions: A Guide

We all know that Lexus is synonymous with luxury. But another thing you may have noticed is the manufacturer’s penchant for using different letters in its model and trim names. These offerings include IS, ES, GX, RX, GS F, UX, LC, RC F, and NX. Read on to find out just how easy it is to decipher the ABCs of Lexus and learn about a few models touting their letter-based nomenclature.

What Do Those Letters Mean?

Each letter stands for something. The first letter in these vehicle names is the model’s class. Let’s take a look:

• L: Luxury.
• E: Executive.
• G: Grand.
• N: Nimble.
• R: Radical or Radiant.
• S: Sports.
• U: Urban.

Now, look at the letter(s) the model or trim ends with. This tells you the body style. Here’s a simple breakdown:

• S: Sedan.
• X: Crossover or SUV.
• C: Coupe.
• F: High-performance trims of the S, X, and C models.
• H: Hybrid trims of the S, X, and C models.

Most Lexus vehicles sport this class + body style formula. Any additional words in a trim or model’s name speak for themselves. Some examples include Luxury, Ultra Luxury, Sport Design, and Sport Handling. There aren’t many exceptions to the above, but they do exist. These include IS, which stands for Intelligent Sports; CT, which stands for Creative Touring; and LFA, which once stood for Lexus Future Advance but evolved to stand for Lexus F-Sports Apex.

Combining these letters gives you a clear picture of what the model is, whether that’s a Luxury Sedan (LS), Executive Crossover (EX), Grand Sedan with high-performance (GS F), or any other combination.

Now that we understand the Lexus alphabet, let’s see what some of these models have to offer:

2023 Lexus RX

This radiant crossover comes in 10 trims, giving life to the saying, “There’s something for everyone.” These trims are RX 350, 350h AWD, 350 Premium, 350h Premium AWD, 350 Premium+, 350h Premium+ AWD, 350 Luxury, 350h Luxury AWD, 350 F Sport Handling AWD, and 500h F Sport Performance AWD. Let’s explore the Premium+ AWD, a top-of-the-range all-wheel-drive model from Lexus.

The starting MSRP is $55,150, and that gets you a Turbo inline four-cylinder 2.4L 275 hp engine with dual-cam, 16-valve valvetrain with variable valve timing with intelligence (VVT-i) that’ll go from zero to 60 in 7.2 seconds. It’s a certified super ultra-low emission vehicle that produces 317 lb-ft of torque. EPA estimates are 21 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 24 mpg combined.

Interior features include SmartAccess with push-button Start/Stop, Thematic Ambient Illumination, heated and ventilated front seats, a perforated leather-trimmed interior, and a heated wood- and leather-trimmed steering wheel. You’ll get Bluetooth and USB smartphone connectivity, Digital Latch with safe exit assist, and the Lexus interface with a 14-inch multimedia touch-screen display that offers Intelligent Assistant and Cloud Navigation with a subscription.

2023 Lexus LS

This luxury sedan’s starting MSRP is $78,535 and is available in three trims: 500, 500 F Sport, and 500h AWD. Let’s look at the 500. Under the hood, you’ll find a V-6, twin-turbo 3.4L engine with a four-cam valvetrain, four valves per cylinder, dual VVT-i, and electronic intake valve timing. The LS is a certified ultra-low emission vehicle that produces 442 lb-ft of torque at 1,600-4,800 rpm.

It features rear-wheel drive and 10-speed electronically controlled direct shift automatic transmission with paddle shifters. This model goes from zero to 60 in 4.6 seconds. The EPA estimates its fuel economy at 18 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined.

Moving inside, the LS 500 features 16-way power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats, a power rear sunshade, dual-zone climate control, a leather-wrapped heated steering wheel, and SmartAccess with push-button Start/Stop. It comes equipped with Active Sound Control and active noise cancellation, a 12-speaker premium audio system, and the Lexus interface with a 12.3-inch touch-screen color LCD multimedia display.

Like so many Lexus models, safety features abound in the LS 500. It comes standard with road sign assist, All-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Intelligent High Beam, a backup camera, 10 airbags, brake assist, and Smart Stop Technology.

2024 Lexus GX

This up-and-coming grand SUV will offer 550 Premium, 550 Luxury, and 550 Overtrail trims, each with a + option to add or replace a host of features and specs based on your preferences. Let’s look at what we can expect from the 550 Overtrail. Its engine will deliver 349 hp with a 10-speed direction-shift automatic transmission and 479 lb-ft of torque. You’ll also get an incredible 8,000-pound towing capacity, Crawl Control with Turn Assist, Multi-Terrain Select, and Downhill Assist Control.

The exterior features include 18-inch alloy wheels, 33-inch all-terrain tires, black utility roof rails, headlamp washers, LED fog lamps, and windshield wiper deicer. Upgrading to the Overtrail+ gets you the power rear door with a kick sensor and outside mirrors with puddle lamps.

The interior has seating for five, a heated leather-trimmed steering wheel, and four USB-C ports. The Overtrail+ adds many upgraded interior features, such as Thematic Ambient Illumination, a wireless phone charger, front massaging seats, a second-row sunshade, heated second-row outboard seats, and a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel.

Options available include a cool box, a Digital Key with an included 3-year Remote Connect subscription, a Mark Levinson 21-speaker, a 1,800-watt surround sound system, a traffic jam assist, a head-up display, and a tonneau cover.

Concept Vehicles

Lexus’s existing lineup is full of high-performance, ultra-luxury vehicles. It may be hard to believe, but its concept vehicles are even more impressive. It envisions an electrified future across all models. For instance, the Lexus Electrified Sport concept hopes to use solid-state batteries to take this supercar from zero to 60 in two seconds and exceed 430 miles cruising.

Its futuristic sedan and SUV concepts are equally dynamic, sleek, and ready to usher in what tomorrow could bring. Smooth lines, metallic finishes, flush door handles, sporty headlights, and taillights will make you feel like you’re driving straight into a movie.

What’s Your Favorite Letter Combination?

Are you more of an L or an N? An X or a C? Are you the kind of person who wants to throw an F or an H in? One way to know for sure is to head over to Eskridge Lexus in Oklahoma City today to take the Lexus alphabet for a spin. We can’t wait to see what you choose.

A Lexus RX Parked at a Courtyard by Kadir Avşar is licensed with Pexels License