When the Lexus LS400 first appeared in 1989, people laughed. There was no way that a Japanese-built car could compete in the prestige-car market in terms of design, heritage, and performance. Or so American consumers were led to believe by so-called automotive experts in Detroit, Munich, and Stuttgart. Of course, those of us at Automobile Magazine knew better than to believe their xenophobic bleatings, and two decades of automotive development have borne out our judgment. It's fair to say that the LS400 didn't break a lot of new technical ground, as its whisper-quiet performance, excellent reliability, and derivative styling had long been traditional characteristics of Japanese cars such as Toyota's own Camry. But the LS400 took these attributes and raised them to a new standard. It combined splendid isolation with both a powerful V-8 engine and fail-safe handling. The LS400 not only performed with impeccable reliability, it also helped Lexus transform the dealer-based vehicle maintenance process into a genuine, how-can-I-help-you luxury experience akin to shopping at the most exclusive designer boutiques. And the car's ordinary styling was rendered truly remarkable by Lexus's excellent craftsmanship. Before long, Lexus became a model not only for other carmakers, but for luxury consumer brands in other businesses. Eventually, even BMW, Cadillac, and Mercedes-Benz shamelessly copied the car they had initially derided as a shameless copy. By making affordability, reliability, and convenience as important as time-worn values like prestige and heritage, the Lexus LS400 transformed the car business.