Lexus: IS News
#481
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Originally Posted by gavriil
Is that official? If yes, when and by who?
#482
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Originally Posted by biker
I think BMW is more worried with MB than Audi, so since the A class is not in the US they are not too worried about the 1 series in the US. I always see lots more A3s around here than 1 class.
I saw the 130 in Geneva - BMWs answer to the pocket rocket - albeit a somewhat expensive one.
I saw the 130 in Geneva - BMWs answer to the pocket rocket - albeit a somewhat expensive one.
But MB is coming with the B-Class to th states. So they'll have an offering in that segment very soon.
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Originally Posted by Infamous425
the latest word is that the B-class has been held back... europe release only
From Automotive News:
The B class will not come to the United States because Mercedes-Benz cannot price the vehicle to make a profit, says the brand's CEO. Mercedes-Benz in January decided to ax the B class from the future U.S. product range.
#486
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Originally Posted by domn
Toronto Sun automtive reporter Glen Woodcock is reporting from Geneva that the IS will have a 283HP 4.3L V8 and a 249HP 3.0L V6.
Take this with a grain of salt I guess.
Take this with a grain of salt I guess.
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Originally Posted by VTEC=happiness
If a 4.3L did come out, it better have well over 300hp.
If the V8 is used it will for sure have more than 300 HP. The V8 used in Europe in the LS and GS for some reason makes less power than it does in the USA. Same for the V6 in the RX.
#488
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From Canadian driver today.
Lexus showed its new IS 250 sport sedan and not unexpectedly, it follows the new swoopy design cues of the recently revised GS. Now 86-millimetres longer and 76-mm wider, the IS 250 will feature a high-revving 2.5-litre direct injection V6 engine making 201-horsepower. A 300-hp version will be introduced later this year, giving Lexus two IS models set to compete with BMW's new 328i and 330i.
#489
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Originally Posted by gavriil
Same for the V6 in the RX.
But you're right, European mills are sometimes tuned for a little less HP. I expect the 204HP IS250 in European trim to translate to right around 215HP in US trim. It has to match the 218HP in the 325.
#490
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New Lexus Is
Some pics of the new Lexus Is. Will be supplied (in Europe anyway) as a Is250 with a 2,5L V6 (204HP/250NM) and as a Is220d with a 2.2L I4 diesel (177HP/400NM).
#491
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After seeing how sexy the new GS is in person...I have full confidence that this car will be awesome as well.
#494
Originally Posted by titan
I'm loving the interior. Better than the GS's.
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Originally Posted by phile
That's what I said. I think it's cool the shiftgate is integrated into the center console, no shift plate to draw attention to it.
thts true....but i would only take this car in a stick shift
#497
Originally Posted by sarlacc23
thts true....but i would only take this car in a stick shift
#498
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Originally Posted by SeCsTaC
So does this car compete at all with the TSX? I'm guessing the TSX can battle the IS250, but damn this new car owns the last car 5x over.
#499
I miss my 03 CL-S :(
Yeah I'm guessing the price point will be quite a bit higher than the TSX and it won't compete directly. I'm sure it'll be seen as competition for the 325/330, while still being in the same class as the TSX. Does that make sense? Didn't think so.
#500
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Originally Posted by einsatz
Yeah I'm guessing the price point will be quite a bit higher than the TSX and it won't compete directly. I'm sure it'll be seen as competition for the 325/330, while still being in the same class as the TSX. Does that make sense? Didn't think so.
Don't know where the guy got the info, but on is3000.net (aka www.my.is), the follwing is shown:
2006 IS 350 (FULLY LOADED) $40,475 AUTOMATIC E-SHIFT-RWD
2006 IS 250 (BASE MODEL) $26,585-MANUAL-RWD $27,955 AUTOMATIC E-SHIFT RWD $29,905 AUTOMATIC E- SHIFT-AWD
There are 197 days left until you can purchase a new IS250 - IS350
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Originally Posted by VTEC=happiness
Don't know where the guy got the info, but on is3000.net (aka www.my.is), the follwing is shown:
2006 IS 350 (FULLY LOADED) $40,475 AUTOMATIC E-SHIFT-RWD
2006 IS 250 (BASE MODEL) $26,585-MANUAL-RWD $27,955 AUTOMATIC E-SHIFT RWD $29,905 AUTOMATIC E- SHIFT-AWD
There are 197 days left until you can purchase a new IS250 - IS350
2006 IS 350 (FULLY LOADED) $40,475 AUTOMATIC E-SHIFT-RWD
2006 IS 250 (BASE MODEL) $26,585-MANUAL-RWD $27,955 AUTOMATIC E-SHIFT RWD $29,905 AUTOMATIC E- SHIFT-AWD
There are 197 days left until you can purchase a new IS250 - IS350
#503
Originally Posted by TSX Hokie
Those may be valid base model prices, but I gaurantee you won't find any on dealer lots with a sticker below $30k after they pile option packages on. Items that are standard on the TSX, like autodimming mirror, xenons, heated mirrors ('05), heated seats, and XM will all be options on the IS.
#504
ho hum
New Lexus IS and GS = Yawn.
I love the brand but Lexus styling is so uninspiring. What will set Lexus apart from the competition? BMW and MB is known for styling & driving dynamics. Lexus is known for quality (and bland styling, IMHO). From every angle of the new IS and GS, it doesn't give you a sense of inspiration.... I'm not disappointed but ...????
I love the brand but Lexus styling is so uninspiring. What will set Lexus apart from the competition? BMW and MB is known for styling & driving dynamics. Lexus is known for quality (and bland styling, IMHO). From every angle of the new IS and GS, it doesn't give you a sense of inspiration.... I'm not disappointed but ...????
#505
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Although the TSX, S40, A4, and Saab 9-3 (after the obnoxious discount) beat the IS250 in price, I think Lexus has made it in the US well enough for people to buy it like they buy a 325i, just because it IS a BMW (or in this case, a Lexus).
I can't wait to see how this car performs; the thing is, if the new GS could not get to the 5, I don't see how the new IS can get to the 3. BMW did it first, they did it right, and they have an advantage over everyone. Whoever does take them (IF they ever do get beaten) will have put a lot of research and/or money into it.
I can't wait to see how this car performs; the thing is, if the new GS could not get to the 5, I don't see how the new IS can get to the 3. BMW did it first, they did it right, and they have an advantage over everyone. Whoever does take them (IF they ever do get beaten) will have put a lot of research and/or money into it.
#506
Originally Posted by biker
It depends on who you ask. Ask Lexus fanboys and they will say no. Look at facts on paper and the answer is obvious.
#507
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Originally Posted by gilboman
on paper one is a FWD I4, other is RWD V6, not even in the same league
Biker, who is not surprised that gilbo chimed in on this one.
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Originally Posted by gocubsgo55
Whoever does take them (IF they ever do get beaten) will have put a lot of research and/or money into it.
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Originally Posted by titan
This Lexus will give the 3 a serious run for it's money. Look at the G35; it's given the 3 some serious competiton. The next version may topple it. Basically, BMW doesn't own this segment outright anymore, IMO.
I agree. It used to be a sweep and clear dominance. Currently it's close. Knowing the basics about the E90, it might lose its crown with the next G and possibly even this IS.
#510
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Originally Posted by gavriil
I agree. It used to be a sweep and clear dominance. Currently it's close. Knowing the basics about the E90, it might lose its crown with the next G and possibly even this IS.
Having driven the E90, I can tell you that BMW has managed to not screw it up.
#511
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Originally Posted by biker
The thing is that even if some car beats the 3er on paper or in some mag comparison, they'll still manage to sell 8-10K/mo. The extra sales the IS and others have had is not all coming out of BMW's hide. The TL and G35 together sell more than the 3er but those sales have not affected the 3er. Same segment, yes, but not same pie. I think the pie is getting bigger. This IS will just add to that.
Having driven the E90, I can tell you that BMW has managed to not screw it up.
Having driven the E90, I can tell you that BMW has managed to not screw it up.
And this IS while impressive on paper, I will reserve judgement until I get seat time in it. My only concern is that in traditional Lexus fashion, there will be a bit of disconnect between the driver and the car, but we'll see soon enough.
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Originally Posted by biker
The thing is that even if some car beats the 3er on paper or in some mag comparison, they'll still manage to sell 8-10K/mo. The extra sales the IS and others have had is not all coming out of BMW's hide. The TL and G35 together sell more than the 3er but those sales have not affected the 3er. Same segment, yes, but not same pie. I think the pie is getting bigger. This IS will just add to that.
Having driven the E90, I can tell you that BMW has managed to not screw it up.
Having driven the E90, I can tell you that BMW has managed to not screw it up.
The proof that the pie is getting bigger is the fact that we have seen more and more intense competition in the segment during the past 7 years. No doubt about it. The pie is getting bigger.
The reason the 3er has not lost share is also because it's a great offering. They are executing very well time after time. Plus the BMW name slapped on the car.
I believe you when you say the E90 is not a screw up. How many times has BMW screwed up a new gen. car during the past 15 years? Almost never.
#513
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Originally Posted by CGTSX2004
And this IS while impressive on paper, I will reserve judgement until I get seat time in it. My only concern is that in traditional Lexus fashion, there will be a bit of disconnect between the driver and the car, but we'll see soon enough.
BTW, that optional tray on the E90 3er also makes the trunk almost useless.
#515
wow the new IS looks pretty hot, too bad there is no 6MT model. i am guessing they might release a manual later on as the demand starts to increase on it like the previous gen IS. if i had to choose between E90 and IS350 based solely on paper right now i would opy for the lexus. bang for you buck a fully loaded IS350 is a better bargain than a loaded 330.
#516
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Originally Posted by caball88
wow the new IS looks pretty hot, too bad there is no 6MT model. i am guessing they might release a manual later on as the demand starts to increase on it like the previous gen IS. if i had to choose between E90 and IS350 based solely on paper right now i would opy for the lexus. bang for you buck a fully loaded IS350 is a better bargain than a loaded 330.
The issue will not be with the halo cars, i.e. 330 vs. IS350 (less than 20% of sales). That's only fodder for sites like this. The battle in the trenches will be in the volume models, 325 vs. IS250. You can't get a better copy on paper of the 325 than the new IS250.
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I passed by the Lexus Naperville (IL) dealer yesterday to get some parts for the RX and while checking out a GS300 AWD on the floor, I asked a rep (who sounded like he knew what he was talking about) about the IS. He did confirm that the US market will get two versions, a 250 and a 350. I asked about specs of the 3.5L engine, he said, "they have not reveiled that yet."
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Mountain Climber: Lexus Unveils the Next IS Sport Sedan - - By MAC MORRISON - - Source: Autoweek
If Lexus gave out awards to its own cars, the second-generation IS unveiled at Geneva would certainly garner the company’s Most Significant trophy, just as it scored the coveted AutoWeek hardware (AW, March 14) of the same name. Forget about a Formula One-inspired, six-figure supercar in the vein of the LF-A concept shown at Detroit (AW, Jan. 17). Build such a bank breaker and the Jay Lenos of the world will undoubtedly come, but the IS will serve as Lexus’ Sherpa. It needs to carry the company’s new look, new mechanicals and hoped-for buffed image up the mountain that forms the ultra-competitive entry-level luxury sport sedan segment.
BMW’s all-conquering 3 Series, itself reborn for a fourth time and about to hit the U.S. market, waits for the IS at the summit, as do others. While proclaiming your compact sport sedan as a BMW rival has more often proven hollow, relatively new players like Infiniti’s G35 show it can be done, and done well.
With the new IS, Lexus appears ready to fight the top contenders. Start with the exterior: Designed in southern France at Toyota Europe Design Development, the IS represents the continuation of the L-Finesse design philosophy and is the second production car after the GS to receive this treatment. Lexus says L-Finesse is deeply rooted in Japanese culture, with three fundamental elements including “incisive simplicity,” “intriguing elegance” and “seamless anticipation.” Er, whatever. Basically, the IS just looks cool. The car’s lines combine the best of the LF-C concept shown at the 2004 New York show (AW, April 19, 2004) with a touch of sinister avant-garde that likely has the SEMA set already whittling away at body kits.
Not that the IS needs much nipping or tucking. Viewed from the front, the car’s convex and concave surfaces recall BMW’s “flame surfacing” style, but Lexus has pulled it off so that the entire execution appears tighter and more purposeful than any modern BMW. Quibble over details if you must, but park the IS and the forthcoming 3 Series side by side, and reputation notwithstanding, the more visually dynamic Lexus pops as the BMW pings. The stance is wide and low, the beltline is high and sharp, and the rear end—with dual exhaust and a chunky bumper—looks good. The same goes for the “arrowhead” C-pillar configuration; it is intended to represent “Kirikaeshi,” a rapid yet fluid change of direction seen throughout the car’s design.
Expect the rear-drive IS to change direction on the road just as smoothly. Built from a new platform that Lexus says shares no parts with any of the company’s other offerings, the car is substantially larger than the one it replaces: 3.5 inches longer and 3.0 inches wider, with a 2.38-inch- longer wheelbase. The hood is aluminum, as is the new suspension: double wishbones up front and a multilink setup with toe control arms at the back. The electronically assisted steering system is new, as are the brakes, now activated via a variable-ratio pedal designed to offer a more progressive feel. As with the current IS 300, 17-inch wheels likely will be standard, with 18-inchers available.
Though Europeans may order the IS with a 2.2-liter diesel four-cylinder, a Lexus first, U.S.-spec cars will feature a 2.5- or 3.5-liter V6—the V-configuration replacing the IS 300’s inline layout—when they go on sale in the fall. The official U.S. debut will take place at this month’s New York auto show. The base IS 250’s 2.5-liter direct-injection V6 with VVT-i variable valve timing produces 201 hp at 6400 rpm and 184 lb-ft at 3800 rpm. This smaller engine making less power than the outgoing car’s 3.0-liter is a concession to the European market and its displacement taxation.
Good news for U.S. customers is the 3.5-liter V6 will produce upward of 300 hp and should easily propel the IS 350 from 0 to 60 mph in the low-five-second range, quicker than BMW’s new 330i by nearly a second and substantially faster than the IS 300’s 6.8-second time. The engines mate to six-speed manual and automatic transmissions, the automatic featuring steering wheel-mounted shift paddles. The IS 350 also gets a more performance-oriented version of VDIM, the integrated system that controls traction, stability, brakes and steering.
Inside, Lexus has thankfully resisted the temptation to concoct some sort of pseudo-iDrive control center. There is a navigation system that Lexus claims is the world’s most advanced, with the fastest route-calculation capability available. The system incorporates Bluetooth technology, while the standard stereo features a six-disc changer and will play MP3 and WMA files. The overall interior layout is clean and modern, with nary an outlandish designer’s indulgence; that’s good news for serious drivers.
The best news, however, is that with the launch of the new IS, the iconic sport sedan sector gets even stronger. Lexus has not announced prices, but look for the IS 250 to come in somewhere below the IS 300’s $29,980 sticker, with the IS 350 commanding a moderate increase. A pricier, convertible model is also rumored to be in the cards, and whispers suggest a V8-powered IS 430 may be, too. Whether or not either sees the light of day, the view from the mountaintop never looked so good.
BMW’s all-conquering 3 Series, itself reborn for a fourth time and about to hit the U.S. market, waits for the IS at the summit, as do others. While proclaiming your compact sport sedan as a BMW rival has more often proven hollow, relatively new players like Infiniti’s G35 show it can be done, and done well.
With the new IS, Lexus appears ready to fight the top contenders. Start with the exterior: Designed in southern France at Toyota Europe Design Development, the IS represents the continuation of the L-Finesse design philosophy and is the second production car after the GS to receive this treatment. Lexus says L-Finesse is deeply rooted in Japanese culture, with three fundamental elements including “incisive simplicity,” “intriguing elegance” and “seamless anticipation.” Er, whatever. Basically, the IS just looks cool. The car’s lines combine the best of the LF-C concept shown at the 2004 New York show (AW, April 19, 2004) with a touch of sinister avant-garde that likely has the SEMA set already whittling away at body kits.
Not that the IS needs much nipping or tucking. Viewed from the front, the car’s convex and concave surfaces recall BMW’s “flame surfacing” style, but Lexus has pulled it off so that the entire execution appears tighter and more purposeful than any modern BMW. Quibble over details if you must, but park the IS and the forthcoming 3 Series side by side, and reputation notwithstanding, the more visually dynamic Lexus pops as the BMW pings. The stance is wide and low, the beltline is high and sharp, and the rear end—with dual exhaust and a chunky bumper—looks good. The same goes for the “arrowhead” C-pillar configuration; it is intended to represent “Kirikaeshi,” a rapid yet fluid change of direction seen throughout the car’s design.
Expect the rear-drive IS to change direction on the road just as smoothly. Built from a new platform that Lexus says shares no parts with any of the company’s other offerings, the car is substantially larger than the one it replaces: 3.5 inches longer and 3.0 inches wider, with a 2.38-inch- longer wheelbase. The hood is aluminum, as is the new suspension: double wishbones up front and a multilink setup with toe control arms at the back. The electronically assisted steering system is new, as are the brakes, now activated via a variable-ratio pedal designed to offer a more progressive feel. As with the current IS 300, 17-inch wheels likely will be standard, with 18-inchers available.
Though Europeans may order the IS with a 2.2-liter diesel four-cylinder, a Lexus first, U.S.-spec cars will feature a 2.5- or 3.5-liter V6—the V-configuration replacing the IS 300’s inline layout—when they go on sale in the fall. The official U.S. debut will take place at this month’s New York auto show. The base IS 250’s 2.5-liter direct-injection V6 with VVT-i variable valve timing produces 201 hp at 6400 rpm and 184 lb-ft at 3800 rpm. This smaller engine making less power than the outgoing car’s 3.0-liter is a concession to the European market and its displacement taxation.
Good news for U.S. customers is the 3.5-liter V6 will produce upward of 300 hp and should easily propel the IS 350 from 0 to 60 mph in the low-five-second range, quicker than BMW’s new 330i by nearly a second and substantially faster than the IS 300’s 6.8-second time. The engines mate to six-speed manual and automatic transmissions, the automatic featuring steering wheel-mounted shift paddles. The IS 350 also gets a more performance-oriented version of VDIM, the integrated system that controls traction, stability, brakes and steering.
Inside, Lexus has thankfully resisted the temptation to concoct some sort of pseudo-iDrive control center. There is a navigation system that Lexus claims is the world’s most advanced, with the fastest route-calculation capability available. The system incorporates Bluetooth technology, while the standard stereo features a six-disc changer and will play MP3 and WMA files. The overall interior layout is clean and modern, with nary an outlandish designer’s indulgence; that’s good news for serious drivers.
The best news, however, is that with the launch of the new IS, the iconic sport sedan sector gets even stronger. Lexus has not announced prices, but look for the IS 250 to come in somewhere below the IS 300’s $29,980 sticker, with the IS 350 commanding a moderate increase. A pricier, convertible model is also rumored to be in the cards, and whispers suggest a V8-powered IS 430 may be, too. Whether or not either sees the light of day, the view from the mountaintop never looked so good.
#519
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I bet the 3.5L will make 315HP here. That should be good for 1/4 mile in the 13.8 area.
Now my next thought is, with Infiniti's constant persistence to be the leader in HP and acceleration in the class, what would that mean for the G coupe? I say, a bump to at least 330HP. I dont know how large the engine will be (possibly the rumored 4.1L V6?), but it has got to go up and I am guessing no more than a year later, after the unveiling of the IS350.
Now my next thought is, with Infiniti's constant persistence to be the leader in HP and acceleration in the class, what would that mean for the G coupe? I say, a bump to at least 330HP. I dont know how large the engine will be (possibly the rumored 4.1L V6?), but it has got to go up and I am guessing no more than a year later, after the unveiling of the IS350.