Lexus RX: 1st Generation (1999-2003)

On the eve of the new 2010 Lexus RX debut, I thought it would be a good time to reach back and take a look at the introduction of the original RX, including some footage of the Lexus SLV concept, courtesy of Motor Week:

Would the RX have been as successful with that trunk spoiler on the production model? Too bad we’ll never know.

(The new 2010 RX debuts tomorrow at 1:20PST, so expect a torrent of info throughout the day.)

It’s only nine years old, but this 1999 Lexus RX commercial featuring Jeannie from I Dream of Jeannie really feels like it’s from another era entirely:

Lexus’ current phase of emotionally-driven advertising is interesting and all, but there’s definitely something to be said for some straight forward throwaway humor.

It would be remiss of me not to post this second lion-man Lexus RX 300/Harrier commercial, considering how floored I was by the first one:

This one is even better than the first, as we get to see lion-man lounging by the pool, reading a report, while his beauty swims in the pool. I’m so glad he’s well-to-do, I guess Japan is a much more accepting country, because in America, lion-men have to live in the sewers.

I’m unsure exactly how this commercial would have been pitched, “You see, there’s this lion-man, ok, and he rescues this damsel in distress, all while driving a Harrier! Wild but Formal!”:

Seriously, a lion-man?

(Thought it was very cool to see a body kit advert at the end of the commercial, though.)

When I started this site, never did I think I would see the day where I’d be writing about Andy Rooney, but the world’s a funny place, and I go where the Lexus news takes me.

I’m sure that most people, after selling or trading in a car, have wondered where it ended up, who the new owners were, how it was getting along. Well, in 2004, the always curious Andy decided to take it one step further and find out the answer:

A few months ago, I traded in my five-year-old Lexus with 85,000 miles on it for a smaller BMW. I worry about what happens to an old friend, so I decided to find out.

The BMW dealer in Connecticut gave me $10,000 on a trade-in, so I started to trace my old car there. All of a sudden, someone stepped in front of the camera and stopped the interview.

Man: Mr. Rooney, we prefer that you don’t film anything inside our dealership, sir.

I felt like Mike Wallace. I figured they must be doing something sneaky. The next day, the owner ruined my story, though, by apologizing and sending me a good letter telling me everything.

It’s a story without many twists and turns, though with that ever-so-clever Rooney wit, it’s still a cute little read. The video segment is also available on the CBS website, should you have a hankering..

It all started with the LS400.

I remember the first time I noticed one, admittedly mistaking it for a Mercedes, only to see that silver L and think I’d seen something rare, like a Ferrari or a Lamborgini.

Of course, that wasn’t the case, but the truth impressed me even more, a Japanese Luxury brand, created by Toyota. I was and remain enamored with Japanese culture, and to me it seemed like the perfect vehicle. I knew what my first car purchase was going to be.

Fast forward nine years, finally in the position to buy a car, and there was only one choice — My girlfriend and I bought a 1994 LS400 and my obsession was solidified:

Of course, buying the car was just the beginning. I started spending more and more time on the Lexus forums researching and reading up on every conceivable topic, following every single shred of news. It wasn’t too long before my car and Lexus became an obsession.

This website is a result of that obsession. Welcome to The Passionate Pursuit, dedicated to bringing you all the most up-to-date and interesting news on all things Lexus.

My name is Kevin RE Watts and I can be contacted here.

Let’s begin.