gavriil

215HP from 2.5 Diesel Liters. That's very impressive.

I hope we get that 315HP engine. If we do, Lexus can claim the be the HP leader in the class, outclassing the G35.

biker

You got the diesel and size/HP mixed up. The diesel version will be 2.2L and under 200HP but probably lots of torque (IS220d). The 215HP and 2.5L is for the IS250.

Hmm.. that diesel is the same size as the diesel Honda introed last year. I can see a direct comparison between the IS220d and Euro Accord i-CDTi diesel. Both will be very popular in Europe - too bad US gets short changed - maybe in 07 after clean diesel is available.

I can see the headline now - Battle of the 50mpg sporty sedans - and we're not talking wimpy hybrids.

gavriil

Oops sorry. You're right.

dom

315HP from 3.5L's If thats true their not messing around.

biker

Talk about playing to two totally different demographics GS/LS at the upper end for older/mature luxury seeking executives, while at the entry level you get 2F2F type crowd with HP numbers to brag about. Identity crisis? Nah... just the right cars for different kind of folks. It will sell better than the current IS but this ain't no E90 3 series beater (at least in sales - cause on paper it will probably take some wins).

tuan209

Looks pretty good to me. Maybe time to trade in the tsx.

MSZ

315hp? Not turbocharged right?

goldmemberer

If Lexus don't fuck up on the design and/or interior, it may well be my next car. I'd prefer it in coupe form though. What will compete with this? The TL really has to step up its game, but the IS350 is going to be 40k+ loaded like the TL, so... maybe the price-conscious buyer will keep the market swayed in the TL's favor. The G35 is pretty much there, but by the time this comes out, the G will be a 2.5 year old design.

gocubsgo55

wow, those are some impressive engines. look out, BMW.

biker

The G will be more like 4+ years old since it's based on the Skyline that old - the 03 G came out in like March of 02 as an MY03 car.

The IS350 will try to split the price gap between the BMW330 and TL/G35 - but like BMW it will be just its status car - the IS250 will be (like the 325) the sales and revenue leader.

The coupe will probably follow later in the model run - Lexus has already said it will mimick BMW in its staggered intro of its cars and drivetrains/features (sedan first, then coupe/wagon, then other variants). You can see it with the GS already - they've held back the GS350 for later in the model run (although available in other markets) - for now the US only gets the GS300.

gocubsgo55

what else is new ?

I love the 3 series, but not its price or long-term reliability. That's why I convinced my parents to get a TSX. If the IS350 comes out in coupe form in about a year, I'll be literally FORCING my dad to get one . I can't wait to see this thing.

I'd definately take this thing over a TSX, A4, G35, TL, CTS, and yes, even a 3 Series if its what it looks like it's gonna be. Weight is always important, though.

biker

However good the IS will be, its sales increase will probably not come at the expense of BMW. BMW has managed not to screw up the new E90 3 series and it will probably sell 10K/mo regardless of any other car out there.
I can see early G35 owners trading in for a IS but I'm not sure the IS will sell at the TL or G levels right away. Going from less than 1K/mo to 5-7K/mo just doesn't happen overnight. It will probably match the 2-3K/mo that the TSX sells.

phile

I don't think the new IS will shoot up in sales that rapidly, but it is entirely possible for it to at least come close. When the redesigned ES300 came out, sales took off almost immediately. Lexus was selling around 6K ES300 per month, whereas prior to that the old ES was doing somewhere around 2-3K per month.

gocubsgo55

gavrill or biker, would you guys happen to know when the coupé versions would come out, because I think my dad would take serious interest in an IS350C (better quality than the G35C and cheaper, more reliable than the 330ci).

titan

Better quality than the G35C? What makes you say that?

titan

That's the understatement of the day... They went from not playing in the HP wars to getting knee deep in it, lol. Interesting the shift to two engine chices. I'd love to see where they'll be priced at.

stangg172004

Dont like it, any one else?

kansaiwalker1

I am not sure I like it either. Especially the headlights. Looks kinda like a Cylon ship from the new BSG.

Sarlacc

And there is something wrong with that those ships look cool

biker

If Lexus follows the BMW model, one year after the sedan. I doubt it will be cheaper than the G35C. Also, by the time an IS350c comes out (I'm guessing late 06 as an 07 model) the G35 might be moving on to another platform.

biker

All of the Germans offer at least two drivetrains - so Lexus is just following the trend. I'd guess the IS250 will start just under 30K and have lots of options like the 3 series, while the more rare IS350 will come with few choices (basically loaded) and sell around 40K. Look at the E90 3 series prices (should come out next month) and subtract 2-3k and that's where Lexus will be with the IS.

titan

Yep. I don't have any problems with them following the trend. Not a bad strategy at all. It's just a new direction for them, never offering an enging choice in it's starter cars before. So it's a break from their norm. That's all I meant.

gavriil

No word on the coupe. The coupe is not even officially confirmed.

My guess is that the coupe will be out a year after the sedan. Ala-BMW. That is during some time in 2007. By that time the next gen. G35C will be out with the 4.1 liter V6 starting at 320PS and the IS wont look as impressive any more.

gavriil

Yeap.

heyitsme

I wouldn't expect the same engines in the Us and theres no way I would expect any engine with 215hp again here, Lexus doing that would undermine what they did with the current Is300 - like saying "yes we overcharged 5k for a car that we are now going to offer for the same price as a tsx, but now it has more features." ( background noize:current Is300 owner values plummeting )

Second, 315hp is only above average for what japanese brands are willing to offer as stadard performance for an entry level luxury sedan now, but I have a feeling this isn't a Lexus standard entry level engine, this would be a Lexus performance engine. Meanwhile Acura and more important, Infiniti will be more willing to push this with their non performance luxury sedans making Lexus look foolish, we shall see in 1 1/2 weeks.

Infamous425

^ look what acura did with the 2nd gen TL, when it came out it was priced a few thousand less than the 1st gen

gavriil

I would not be surprised if Lexus offered the 2.5L engine in the USA with this new gen. IS sedan. Only because the competition is using similar entry points. BMW and even Cadillac is doing it. Mercedes is also doing it.

Although 315HP from 3.5 liters does sound like a performance engine, I would not be surpirsed if Lexus offered the 2.5 liter, the 3.5L 315 HP engine as a performance engine, but also the 3.0 liter from the GS to go against the 330i. That way it matches the competition with the first and the third engine and then has somewhat of an advantage with the 3.5 liter engine. But I am 100% sure that we will see a 3.5 liter engine from BMW next year. I am guessing it will be making more than 300HP.

heyitsme

TypeS had 260hp right. 10 more hp than current car=270hp, not a 100 more hp(215 to 315hp).

titan

Looking forward to that next G. Do you Infiniti will also mimick this strategy?

biker

The only engine not offered from the start will the 2.2 diesel (but even that might make it's way to the US eventually).

It's a given that there'll be an IS250 and IS350 in the US. The only thing really left to debate is the pricing and the final look of the car.

The IS250 will be the sales volume/revenue leader and the IS350 will be for bragging rights.

03TL-S

So far, im not impressed by any of lexus' new designs. The gs is and the is looks like a mazda

Infamous425

im talkin about 1st -> 2nd gen. not 2nd -> 3rd gen. 1st gen only had 200hp max (other engine was 176hp). also 1st gen did not have navi option or sportshift, etc....


so this news about the 2nd gen IS is very probably it will be available in the US

gavriil

silhoutte Image here

goldmemberer

If you're referring to that, why didn't you just post it up? Also, it's hardly a silhouette... I'd call it a a rough sketch. The thing Mitsu released of the new Eclipse was a silhouette.

titan

Yeah... and rough is an understatment. That could be any car.

iNteGraz92

lexus designs are horrible these days. first the new ES and now GS. i hope the new IS will actually look good and have plenty of power to back it up. the current one has looked dated since it was introduced.

gavriil

Because it was a flash image. How do you extract flash images from flash?

That's a silhouette to me.

gavriil

Source: Car magazine through Autoweek forum

Minch00

^^Wow that really DOES look like a Mazda.........

gavriil

Source: www.is300.net