The Lexus Flagship That Once Had an Optional Built-in Fax Machine

The Original Lexus LS Was a Landmark Moment

You’ve heard this so many times already, but the Lexus LS was a huge turning point in the luxury market. It certainly ruffled the feathers of the German establishment to a point where Lexus was accused of dumping in the US because the LS undercut its rivals by a significant margin.

But it was really because of the favorable exchange rates at the time. It also helped that its competition, namely the BMW 7 Series, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, and Jaguar XJ, were already feeling their age by then. The LS was a breath of fresh air and put Japan on the map as a serious player in the luxury market.

Also Known as the Toyota Celsior

Lexus became a sensation practically overnight, especially in North America. The thing is, Lexus wouldn’t be introduced in Japan until 2006, but a good number of them ended up with Toyota counterparts. In the case of the LS, its home market version was called the Toyota Celsior.

If you thought the LS was well equipped, the Celsior had several features that made the American version seem barren. There were the ultrasonic side-mirror cleaners, the electronically controlled suspension, and even a ceiling-mounted LCD display for the rear passengers. But one particular option can be considered peak-’90s.

Office on Wheels

If there was one option in the Celsior that really caught our attention, it’s the built-in fax machine. While not entirely obsolete, fax machines can be considered relics from days gone by. Commonly used before the days of digitalization, but only seeing practical use in select fields.

Faxes were office staples back in the day, and so it’s fitting that the Celsior would get such an option. After all, there’s a good chance that this luxury sedan would be owned by captains of industry and/or high-ranking executives. They need updates on the go and make crucial decisions while on the move.

The mini fax machine was mounted in the car’s glovebox and ate up all the space in there. Amazingly, the passenger airbag wasn’t sacrificed to put that in. The best part? The mini fax even had Toyota labels on it. It can be loaded with different paper sizes, and the product was officially called the Toyota Mobile Facsimile A II. Oh, how we miss the ’90s.

The Lexus LS Today

Lexus’ obsessive-compulsive development of the LS would continue throughout its life. For instance, the second-generation had laser-guided cruise control for the Japanese-market Celsior, and the third-generation was designed in the same wind tunnel for bullet trains. Sadly, the crown jewel of the Lexus lineup couldn’t replicate the success of the first model.

The LS sedan will be facing the chopping block soon, but the name will carry on in a way that’s far detached from the 1989 model. From Luxury Sedan to Luxury Space, the LS will be rebooted as a lavish minivan. It sounds like an odd move for Western ears, but luxury minivans are a huge market in Asia. Heck, Lexus already has one in the form of the LM.

Per the usual, we’re expecting loads of surprise-and-delight features we didn’t know we wanted or needed, along with plush touches and a smattering of convenience features. That said, we’re not expecting the mobile fax machine to be part of the options list.

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