Ichiro Suzuki (engineer)
Ichiro Suzuki 鈴木 一郎 | |
---|---|
Born | Tokyo, Japan | February 14, 1937
Nationality | Japanese |
Education | Nagoya University |
Occupation | Engineer |
Engineering career | |
Discipline | Mechanical engineering |
Projects | F1 project |
Significant design | Lexus LS 400 |
Ichiro Suzuki (鈴木 一郎, Suzuki Ichirō, born February 14, 1937) is a Japanese
Early life
Suzuki was born in Tokyo in 1937.
Career
Following graduation, Suzuki applied for a job at Toyota Motor Corporation, which had its headquarters in Nagoya. Suzuki was initially assigned to vehicle body assembly despite a professed interested in engines.[1] Over the years, Suzuki was mentored by senior department members, and worked with teams from numerous company departments.[1] In 1983, company chairman Eiji Toyoda initiated the F1 project, a plan to create a brand-new luxury sedan which would challenge the top models from Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Engineers Ichirō Suzuki and Shoji Jimbo were initially selected to head the development effort in 1984.[2]
In 1985, Suzuki sent a team of engineers to New York and California to determine the expectations of luxury consumers.[3][4] His team developed a set of key criteria that their new sedan had to achieve in order to be successful in the luxury market.[5] Suzuki also developed a series of "no-compromise goals", which were seemingly contradictory or mutually exclusive design targets (e.g. high top speed yet low fuel consumption).[4] These goals became known as "Lexus Musts" which have since been used as benchmark standards for vehicle development within Lexus.[6] As chief engineer, Suzuki ensured that the completed LS 400 sedan met each of the design criteria, intended to exceed rival vehicles in key aspects.[4]
The 1989 launch of Suzuki's biggest project, the Lexus LS, proved to be a major success, with the sedan outselling rival flagship models within its first year on the market.[5] With this achievement, Suzuki gained legendary status within the company as the "Michael Jordan of chief engineers."[4] In 2000, Suzuki was honored with the title of gikan, or executive advisory engineer, and mentored other Lexus engineers before retiring in 2003.[7]
References
- ^ ISBN 0-470-82110-8.
- ^ "Lexus milestones". Automotive News. January 17, 2005. Retrieved November 1, 2009.
- ISBN 0-07-145883-2.
- ^ ISBN 0-07-139231-9.
- ^ ISBN 1-56327-282-2.
- ^ Vasilash, Gary (October 2005). "Feature Article - Introducing The '06 IS". Automotive Design & Production. Archived from the original on January 12, 2009. Retrieved November 1, 2009.
- ^ Dawson 2004, p. 139.