Toyota Altezza

The Toyota Altezza was a compact sports sedan introduced in 1998 by the Japanese automaker Toyota. Designed to compete with European luxury compacts, it achieved significant acclaim for its rear-wheel-drive layout and balanced handling. In international markets, the vehicle was primarily sold as the Lexus IS, but it retained the Altezza nameplate in Japan until 2005.

The car was manufactured at the Iwate plant in Japan, reflecting Toyota's commitment to high-quality engineering during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Its design became iconic, particularly due to its 'Altezza-style' clear taillights, which sparked a global aftermarket trend in the automotive industry. Ownership remains under the Toyota Motor Corporation, which consolidated its luxury branding in Japan in the mid-2000s, leading to the discontinuation of the Altezza name in favor of the Lexus IS brand.