Lexus SC Z30 (first generation)

The first generation Lexus SC, Z30, was a grand touring coupe aimed at the American market. Press reports in the early 1990s pointed to a full-size Lexus coupe that would compete with the luxury GT coupes of other marques, including the Mercedes-Benz CL, the Acura Legend coupe, the Buick Riviera, the Cadillac Eldorado, the Lincoln Mark VIII, the Jaguar XJS and the BMW 8 Series. At that time Toyota's luxury coupe was the Soarer, and a coupe would complement the V8-powered, rear-wheel-drive LS 400 sedan. The development of its exterior design was given to the Calty Design Research centre in California in 1987. The generation debuted as the V8-powered SC 400 in 1991, the SC 300 was added in 1992, and it lasted in production until 7 July 2000.