Is Lexus the same as Lingzhi?
3 Answers
Lexus is Lingzhi. Lingzhi was the original name of Lexus, but since the name Lingzhi was already registered in China, it has been called Lexus ever since. The Lexus sold in China is a purely imported model and has not been localized. Lexus is a luxury model under Toyota, with dimensions of 497mm in length, 1866mm in width, and 1447mm in height, and a wheelbase of 2870mm. The Lexus ES features front-engine, front-wheel drive, with a front suspension type of MacPherson strut independent suspension with a stabilizer bar, and a rear suspension type of multi-link independent suspension. The body structure is a unibody design.
I used to be confused about the relationship between Lexus and Lingzhi (Lexus' former Chinese name), but later found out through research that they are actually the same brand. In the early years, it was commonly referred to as Lingzhi in Guangdong and Hong Kong regions. When Lexus first entered the Chinese market in the 1990s, its official name was Lingzhi. I still remember seeing luxury cars with 'Lingzhi LS400' badges on their rear when I was a kid. Later, Toyota unified its global naming strategy and changed it to Lexus, just like how 'Prado' was renamed from 'Land Cruiser Prado'. Now, the newer models only feature the 'LEXUS' lettering logo.
When my friend first bought a used old Lexus, I was puzzled whether Lexus and Lingzhi were sibling brands. I specifically consulted an experienced car mechanic and learned that they are actually the same manufacturer's different naming conventions from different periods. The vehicle registration certificates of old cars licensed in the 1990s still read 'Toyota Lingzhi'. However, now all dealerships uniformly call it Lexus, and even the 'Lingzhi' lettering has been removed from new models.
