# American equivalents to Lexus/Acura/Infiniti? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 22, 2013, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-equivalents-to-lexus-acura-infiniti/671897 "2013-10-22T02:06:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-equivalents-to-lexus-acura-infiniti/671897/1 "2013-10-22T02:06:00Z")
Lexus is the luxury badge for Toyota. Acura is the luxury badge for Honda. Infiniti is the luxury badge for Nissan. I heard that Buick was the upscale Pontiac. Mercury is the upscale Ford. Is Cadillac the upscale Chevy? What are the other upscale badges for American cars? ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-equivalents-to-lexus-acura-infiniti/671897/2 "2013-10-22T02:10:38Z")
I thought Lincoln was upscale ford. Cadillac would be luxury GM. I wasn’t aware that Infiniti was the luxury version of Nissan. Learn something new everyday. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-equivalents-to-lexus-acura-infiniti/671897/3 "2013-10-22T02:17:05Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > I thought Lincoln was upscale ford. Cadillac would be luxury GM. ISTM that Buicks and Mercurys are as upscale to Pontiac (?) and Ford, as the Japanese marques are to their parent cars. Lincoln and Cadillac seem like another comparative level. Like, the Japanese have the parent model and the luxury division; and Americans have the parent model, and upscale division, and a luxury division. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-equivalents-to-lexus-acura-infiniti/671897/4 "2013-10-22T02:26:58Z")
Chevrolet, Buick, and Cadillac are all GM brands. Buicks are basically Chevys that are a little more upscale. Cadillacs are super-upscale Chevys. E.g. the Cadillac Escalade is basically a Chevy Suburban underneath. Pontiac used to be another GM marque that emphasized performance and sportiness, but it got axed in the recession. Ford’s upscale brand today is Lincoln. Ford used to market middle of the road cars ala Buick under the Mercury nameplate, but they retired the brand during the financial crisis to save money. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-equivalents-to-lexus-acura-infiniti/671897/5 "2013-10-22T02:32:25Z")
Also, Chrysler markets cars under the Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep brands, though they got bought out by Fiat and so might no longer be considered truly American cars. I think Dodge was supposed to be a little more upscale than Chrysler-badged cars. IIRC, Jeep is what remains of the AMC brand name when Chrysler bought them out. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-equivalents-to-lexus-acura-infiniti/671897/6 "2013-10-22T02:35:11Z")
> [@robert\_columbia](#): > > Chrysler… got bought out by Fiat and so might no longer be considered truly American cars. Old joke: Is DaimlerChrysler pronouned ‘Dime-ler Chrysler’, or ‘Dame-ler Chrysler’? Daimler. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-equivalents-to-lexus-acura-infiniti/671897/7 "2013-10-22T03:18:51Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Old joke: > > Is DaimlerChrysler pronouned ‘Dime-ler Chrysler’, or ‘Dame-ler Chrysler’? > > Daimler. Huh??? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-equivalents-to-lexus-acura-infiniti/671897/8 "2013-10-22T03:20:25Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > Huh??? 😕 It was supposed to be a somewhat equal partnership; but Daimler was really in charge, which became quickly apparent. So the punchline should have been ‘Daimler. The “Chrysler” is silent.’ Sorry about that. . ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-equivalents-to-lexus-acura-infiniti/671897/9 "2013-10-22T03:30:22Z")
I don’t believe american car makers have made luxury cars since maybe the mid 70’s. Historically, they just stick a body kit or emblem on their usual cars. Under the hood, you probably can’t tell a cadillac from any other american car. On the other hand, american sports cars have a long and storied history, e.g. the corvette, mustang, camaro, t-bird, etc. Those cars are fundamentally different than the everyday models. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-equivalents-to-lexus-acura-infiniti/671897/10 "2013-10-22T07:48:22Z")
Ever hear of the Chrysler building? Before WWII, Chrysler was a luxury car - as were Cadillac and Lincoln. Both Cadillac and Lincoln wre known for their town cars (the limos with the open driver’s compartment and enclosed cab. Cadillac made a V12 model, for instance. One other data point: When GM was first assembled - (don’t remember his name) bought up each manufacturer - the Cadillac cost 10x what the Chevy cost. Does Cadillac still use the “Body by Fisher”? Up until the 1930’s some cars had the running gear made by the “car” builder, and then shipped to a coach builder. Wiki has an artivle on Fisher Body. ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-equivalents-to-lexus-acura-infiniti/671897/11 "2013-10-22T08:04:21Z")
Lincoln is/was more luxury than Mercury, which is more luxury or niche than Ford. (in a rough sort of concept… things like LTD versions of Ford’s cause problems) Toyota is to Lexus as GM is to … General Motors produces vehicles in 37 countries under eleven brands, including Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Baojun, Holden, Isuzu, Jie Fang, Opel, Vauxhall, and Wuling. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-equivalents-to-lexus-acura-infiniti/671897/12 "2013-10-22T09:28:30Z")
I should also note that Lexus and Acura (probably infinity too) just put new bodies on their regular cars. My Camry is the same as a lexus in everything except a few features and the body panels. Parts are completely interchangeable. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-equivalents-to-lexus-acura-infiniti/671897/13 "2013-10-22T12:44:20Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > I don’t believe american car makers have made luxury cars since maybe the mid 70’s. Historically, they just stick a body kit or emblem on their usual cars. Under the hood, you probably can’t tell a cadillac from any other american car. > > On the other hand, american sports cars have a long and storied history, e.g. the corvette, mustang, camaro, t-bird, etc. Those cars are fundamentally different than the everyday models. Bwahahahaha. Mustang fundamentally different? You do realize a 64 mustang was a Ford Falcon with different body panels, right? ---
**Author:** ![Fish\_Cheer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fish_cheer/32/17179_2.png) [@Fish\_Cheer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish_Cheer)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-equivalents-to-lexus-acura-infiniti/671897/14 "2013-10-22T12:51:15Z")
> [@Isilder](#): > > General Motors produces vehicles in 37 countries under eleven brands, including Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Baojun, Holden, Isuzu, Jie Fang, Opel, Vauxhall, and Wuling. It is my understanding, though, that Holden, Opel and Vauxhall are essentially the same cars, only with different hood emblems, in Australia, Central Europe and the UK, respectively. ---
**Author:** ![Francis\_Vaughan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/francis_vaughan/32/3093_2.png) [@Francis\_Vaughan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francis_Vaughan)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-equivalents-to-lexus-acura-infiniti/671897/15 "2013-10-22T13:18:39Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > I should also note that Lexus and Acura (probably infinity too) just put new bodies on their regular cars. My Camry is the same as a lexus in everything except a few features and the body panels. Parts are completely interchangeable. There are some Lexuses (Lexi??) that are rebadged Toyotas - the reset of the Lexus range is bespoke, and does not share design or major components with Toyotas. The LX470 is the same as the Toyota Landcruiser (albeit with a very much upgraded interior), and the ES is built on a Camry. The RX is a version of the Harrier. The Lexus IS, GS, LS, SC, and LSF are very much stand alone cars. (Both the IS 200 and SC400 were branded Toyota in some markets in a rather curious reversal.) The IS is designed and marketed as a BMW 3 series competitor, and succeeds in this. Similarly the GS is a BWM/Merc E competitor, and the LS a BMW 7 and Merc S series competitor. The SC 430 competes with nothing and is awful but sells well in Florida, and the LFA is simply insane, and like no Toyota you will ever see. In some ways Lexus trying to have things both ways. The true Lexus cars are credible alternatives to the usual German marques. Those built on Toyota platforms however sell well and make Toyota a lot of money, in part leaning on the brand name built on the luxury cars. The original LS 400 remains an astounding car, and scared the hell out of Mercedes and BMW, as it was clearly better than anything they made at the time. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-equivalents-to-lexus-acura-infiniti/671897/16 "2013-10-22T13:40:14Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > I don’t believe american car makers have made luxury cars since maybe the mid 70’s. Historically, they just stick a body kit or emblem on their usual cars. Under the hood, you probably can’t tell a cadillac from any other american car. > > On the other hand, american sports cars have a long and storied history, e.g. the corvette, mustang, camaro, t-bird, etc. Those cars are fundamentally different than the everyday models. Complete BS. I am a technology supplier that does development work on GM/Cadillac and Nissan/Infiniti vehicles everyday and can tell you that there is a lot of technology that goes into Cadillac’s and Infiniti’s that aren’t even considered for mass produced GM and Nissan line cars. Corvette is the only sports car that you mention that isn’t a “regular” car, I’ve worked on those as well. Mustangs and Camaro’s are toy cars with big engines and flashy sheet metal/plastic facades; nothing really special about them that hadn’t already been done on one of the luxury brands. ---
**Author:** ![Caffeine.addict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f475e1/32.png) [@Caffeine.addict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caffeine.addict)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-equivalents-to-lexus-acura-infiniti/671897/17 "2013-10-22T13:40:51Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Lexus is the luxury badge for Toyota. Acura is the luxury badge for Honda. Infiniti is the luxury badge for Nissan. I heard that Buick was the upscale Pontiac. Mercury is the upscale Ford. Is Cadillac the upscale Chevy? What are the other upscale badges for American cars? The way it worked for Ford was that Fords were entry level, Mercury was the mid-tier, and Lincoln was the top level luxury brand. With GM, it ran Chevy\< Pontiac\< Oldsmobile\< Buick\< Cadillac, with Cadillac being the top level luxury brand for them. The differences in brands for GM, started getting muddled in the 60s, with Chevrolet releasing a few luxury models that blurred the lines. For Chrysler, it was Plymout\ **Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-equivalents-to-lexus-acura-infiniti/671897/18 "2013-10-22T13:47:23Z") > [@Caffeine.addict](#): > > The way it worked for Ford was that Fords were entry level, Mercury was the mid-tier, and Lincoln was the top level luxury brand. > > With GM, it ran Chevy\< Pontiac\< Oldsmobile\< Buick\< Cadillac, with Cadillac being the top level luxury brand for them. > > The differences in brands for GM, started getting muddled in the 60s, with Chevrolet releasing a few luxury models that blurred the lines. That must be why I asked the question. The divisions of the Japanese cars are clear-cut. (Although when Lexus first came out, I called it a ‘Camry with a facelift’.) I didn’t start driving until the late-'70s, and it appears from your post that not only were there not simply ‘regular’ and ‘upscale’ divisions; there were three or four tiers. And those tiers had become fairly blurred (except for Lincoln and Cadillac) by then. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-equivalents-to-lexus-acura-infiniti/671897/19 "2013-10-22T13:47:30Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > Does Cadillac still use the “Body by Fisher”? Up until the 1930’s some cars had the running gear made by the “car” builder, and then shipped to a coach builder. Wiki has an artivle on Fisher Body. [Fisher Body](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisher_Body) as more than just a nameplate has been gone for quite some time now; they even stopped using the badge back in the 90’s. ---
**Author:** ![Pjen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Pjen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pjen)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-equivalents-to-lexus-acura-infiniti/671897/20 "2013-10-22T13:52:52Z")
I lived in the US in the sixties and as I remember it, the badge engineering was not only to do with ordinary, better, best, but some badges were aimed at certain age groups- I forget which, but older people were happier with certain names and so ranges were produced for the gray market. Could be wrong but that is my memory. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-equivalents-to-lexus-acura-infiniti/671897.md?page=2)