Lexus IS250C News

The New York motor show in April will see the announcement of which vehicle has won the 2014 World COTY, and there looks to be a tough -- and very varied -- field of finalists.Last year's winner was the Volkswagen Golf, which also took awards in pretty well every country on the globe. But this year it could be anything from the little electric BMW i3 to the offroading Jeep Cherokee and even the Citroen C4 peoplemover, judging by the shortlist.A panel of 69 motoring experts from around the world -- including Carsguide's Paul Gover and National Motoring Editor Joshua Dowling -- will choose the winner from: Audi A3, BMW 4 Series, BMW i3, Cadillac CTS, Citroen C4 Picasso, Ford Fusion/Mondeo, Infiniti Q50, Jeep Cherokee, Lexus IS, Mazda3, Peugeot 308 and Skoda Octavia.The 10 finalists for the 2014 World Luxury Car are the Bentley Flying Spur, BMW X5, Cadillac ELR, Cadillac Escalade, Maserati Ghibli, Maserati Quattroporte, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Porsche Macan, Range Rover Sport and Rolls-Royce Wraith.Due to a tie, there are 11 finalists for the 2014 World Performance Car: Alfa Romeo 4C, Audi RS 6 Avant, BMW M6 Gran Coupe, Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, Ferrari 458 Speciale, Ford Fiesta ST, Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 Roadster, Mercedes-Benz A/CLA45 AMG, Porsche 911 GT3, Porsche 911 Turbo and Volkswagen Golf GTI.A separate panel of five 'green' experts will choose the 2014 World Green Car from Audi A3 Sportback e-tron (+ Audi e-gas), BMW i3, Honda Accord Hybrid, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and Volkswagen XL1.Similarly, a panel of five design experts will decide on the 2014 World Car Design of the Year, from among: BMW i3, Cadillac CTS, Citroen C4 Picasso, Mazda3, Lexus IS, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Volkswagen XL1.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

Lexus believes four-wheel steer could give it the edge over its competitors in the competitive sports sedan segment. The system has the rear wheels turn at the same time as the front ones -- but only a small amount -- to help the car through corners.The idea gained some traction with Japanese car makers in the 80s, notably with cars like the Honda Prelude and Mazda MX-6 coupe. At the time, it was touted as the next big thing but the system was clunky and could be expensive to repair if things went wrong.That was then this is now. Technology has moved on and BMW already offers the system with its 5 and 7 Series models and Lexus introduced four-wheel steer in the first of its cars last year with its GS line.It has also been trialling the system in the smaller IS range in Japan and the Australian arm of the company is keen to get a piece of that action. Lexus Australia boss Sean Hanley believes it could give the car a much-needed competitive edge.HOW IT WORKSLexus calls its system Dynamic Rear Steering (DRS), and has it turn the rear wheels of the car two per cent – a seemingly tiny amount but enough to make a difference to the cornering. At low speeds the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction to the front wheels to reduce the car's turning circle and the level of steering effort required.But at speeds of more than 80km/h, the rear wheels turn in the same direction as the front wheels. This makes the steering more responsiveness and gives it an intuitive feel at medium speeds, plus greater stability and vehicle posture for increased safety and comfort at higher speeds.The net result is the turning circle is reduced by almost half a metre at parking speeds and it also reduces the tendency of rear wheel drive vehicles like those produced by Lexus to step out or oversteer in a corner. We had the opportunity to put a car fitted with the rear wheel steer system through its paces on a recent trip to Japan. Unfortunately we had no car with standard steering to compare it with and Lexus has apparently not quantified the difference it makes to track times (although we thought that would have been an obvious thing to do). Having said that the car was plenty of fun to drive.WHEN MIGHT WE SEE IT HERE?Lexus wants to add the system to its F Sport models. "We think it gives us another progressive edge in the market place," Hanley says. "And the other thing is that it is significantly well developed now. So we're bringing to market a very credible technology, with great safety and performance that is aligned very very well to Lexus's innovative and fun to drive performance car strategy."At this stage the system is available only in Japan but it is under evaluation for other markets. If it is approved for overseas use it is likely to find its way into Aussie cars within the next year or so, probably when the car receives its mid-life facelift. Rear or four-wheel steer is part of the Lexus Dynamic handling System (LDHS) that features the world's first integration of Dynamic Rear Steering (DRS), Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS), Variable Gear Ratio Steering (VGRS) and Electric Power Steering (EPS}.

Take some high-tech projection mapping software, an empty warehouse, an F1 driver and the new Lexus IS Hybrid and it becomes the recipe for the world's first full-sized, real time video game. Created for the Italian branch of Lexus, to launch the Hybrid IS there, the project chose 10 of the brand's Facebook fans and paired them with F1 driver Jarno Trulli and a projection mapping iPad app to compete against each other.Each had to design a race circuit, then ride shotgun with Trulli while tracing their course on the iPad, which projected their circuit onto the warehouse floor. Called 'Trace Your Road', the competition set the task of hitting seven designated touch points while completing the circuit in the fastest time.  Watch the 'Trace Your Road' video game action.  This reporter is on Twitter: @Karla_Pincott  

And for the first time, a hybrid IS300h variant has arrived as well as upgrades to the IS 250 and IS 350 models. All three models all come with the option of F Sport enhancements.Now in its third decade, the Toyota luxury brand Lexus is aimed at the luxury European brands, in particular the big three German carmakers. As is the norm, the new Lexus IS models have grown in size with a longer, wider platform that provides more interior space especially in rear-seat legroom and boot capacity.There are styling changes both inside and out highlighted at the front by a new version of the Lexus' trademark spindle grille as well as a sweeping profile.These cars are immaculately finished inside and out in a tradition that has been with the Lexus marque since day one. The quality of materials and workmanship not only makes the car a delight to look at and sit in, but also suggests a high level of reliability.ENGINESUsing the ‘if it ain’t broke …’ philosophy the engines in the IS 250 and IS 350 are unchanged from the outgoing model. The IS 250’s 2.5-litre all-alloy V6 develops 153kW of power and 252Nm of torque, delivered through a six-speed sequential automatic transmission. The 3.5-litre engine in the IS 350 increases outputs to 233kW and 378Nm all-alloy 3.5-litre V6 powerplant matched to a new eight-speed transmission.With the arrival of the IS 300h Lexus is closing in on its target of offering hybrid technology right across its range. It combines a 2.5-litre four-cylinder Atkinson Cycle petrol engine with a 650-volt permanent-magnet synchronous electric motor to provide a combined power output of up to 164 kW.Listed fuel consumption for the IS 300h is 4.9 litres per 100 kilometres with CO2 emissions of 113 grams per kilometre. By way of comparison the two petrol-powered models use around twice as much fuel (IS 250 at 9.2 and the IS 350 9.7 L/100km) and about double the emissions (213 and 225 g/km respectively). However, official fuel consumption figures for hybrids are notoriously optimistic and can be very difficult to achieve in real life driving.TECHNOLOGYThe new hybrid powerplant is mated to an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission with six-step shift logic and paddle shift.All three IS models come with the option of the Lexus F Sport package including a more rigid chassis, distinct steering and chassis tune through an adaptive variable suspension system and a new drive mode select feature. External features include different front and rear bumpers, side skirts, grille, wheels and badging.FEATURESStandard features across the Lexus IS range include eight airbags, powered and ventilated front seats, reversing camera, satellite navigation, a new pedestrian protection pop-up bonnet, drive mode select, tyre pressure warning sensors, keyless entry, dual-zone climate control, Bluetooth phone and audio and digital radio. Sports Luxury models also get a number of additional safety features including two extra airbags, a Pre-Collision Safety System (PCS) with adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring and lane departure warning.For those with enough patience, from the fourth quarter of 2013 the all-new Lexus Enform telematics system will be available. Enform will provide a range of connected services such as Enform Concierge (a dial-up link a range of Lexus services); Destination Download (sends destination information to the satellite navigations system);  Fuel Finder (transmits the location of the nearest service stations with comparative fuel prices and availability of premium fuels); Local Search (an internet-based search for local businesses and services): and Weather (forecasts for a selected location).

Lexus lodged the Australian trademark application for the RC350 name this week, hinting that we're going to see a new model here in the near future. And that could be the coupe version of the IS expected to be built around the LF-CC concept revealed at Paris motor show.While Carsguide predicted a lot of the concept’s design will be toned down for production, Lexus said at the time that the styling of the rear-wheel drive LF-CC heralds the look of future compact exec models.That means Toyota's luxury platoon is readying for a new attack on the ground held by the mid-sized German prestige nameplates, and an IS coupe would be a well-loaded weapon for the fray.Lexus Australia sells the IS as a four-door sedan and two-door convertible, with prices from $55,800 and $94,300 respectively -- and with the V8-powered IS-F at $126,300.It's likely we'll see the same lineup on the next IS, but there is still plenty of room for a coupe to join the party.The LF-CC carried a hybrid powertrain, but given the Lexus naming conventions, the RC350 is likely to be powered by a 3.5-litre V6 as are the other '350' models in the Lexus stable.

It's hard to see what's happening under the camouflage, but Lexus is aiming for Audi-style quality and BMW-style driving dynamics with a car that's definitely going to be much more adventurous in design. 

But that's what I discovered three weeks ago when I wandered into a Lexus dealership in Auckland, New Zealand, to pick up a car for reviewing while I was in the Shaky Isles.Out the front of the showroom was a fellow in a white shirt, tie and trousers with a chamois wiping down a Lexus IS 350 (pictured above outside a Hawke's Bay vineyard).I asked him to show me the office of the general manager Peter Carleton. He said he was Mr Carleton. How often do you find at a luxury dealership, or any dealership for that matter, the boss putting the finishing touches to a car for delivery?That task is usually the role of the detailers, but in this case it was the chief making sure the car was in tip-top condition. He then went out of his way to show me around the Great North Rd premises of Lexus of Auckland City (pictured), one of six Lexus dealerships in NZ and the only stand-alone premises in NZ.Normally they are attached to Toyota premises. Mr Carleton said the NZ luxury market was small and extremely competitive yet their dealership was the best Lexus in the country and attention to detail and customer service were paramount.He is proud of their service and workshops and they have even installed a large window in the waiting lounge overlooking the main workshop so customers can see their car being worked on. The dealership has run out of room in the workshop and has expanded next door as well. Mr Carleton said the prestige franchises were under pressure from grey importers bringing in near-new marques from the UK for tens of thousands of dollars less than the equivalent new model in NZ.He said Lexus was not being impacted as much as the Germans but, once again, top service was the key to attracting and retaining customers. I love driving in NZ because the roads are better built, wider and with the right cambers than here. Venture off the main roads and highways into the countryside and the roads are generally top notch, free of traffic, speed cameras and police. Roads are many and varied so you can explore a car's limits safely.On the main highways there are plenty of overtaking lanes with long stretches, unlike the awful Bruce Highway between Cairns and Brisbane. New cars are expensive but used cars are generally cheaper than here, mainly because of the influx of grey imports from Japan and Europe. Petrol is costly. At one stage premium unleaded was $2.30 and a 65-litre tank cost $130 to fill. Ouch. 

Also, Paul Maric gets behind the wheel of the new convertible Lexus IS250C......and the results of a poll into car reliability turns up some major surprises.For all this and a lot more, listen to the podcast above...

Its top was dropped for the first time last week in gay Paris for the Mondial l’Automobile, and now Lexus has shipped its new IS convertible to sunny Sydney, with two race-inspired sedans hot on its heels.The surprise arrival of the IS 250C confirms the car for Australia, and converts the sedan range into a trio of three by 2009. The IS 250C is a two-door four-seat version with an aluminium three-piece folding hard-top roof with a drop time of 21 seconds.The convertible is powered by the IS’s 153kW/252Nm 2.5-litre V6, with a six-speed auto as standard.Lexus claim rigidity revisions and suspension modifications bring the drop-top up to par with the sedan in both handling and NVH.The body is differentiated by unique alloys, different front bumper, a high centre-mounted brake light (and of course, only two doors and no roof).Lexus also boasts a mechanical ‘roof brake’ on the closing stages of the conversion, bringing the ceiling back to the windscreen without an awkward thump or rattle.The rear overhang has increased by 50mm to accommodate the folding roof and additional weekend luggage (that includes a golf bag, though not much else).Toyota’s high-end arm also has not one, but two performance versions of its base IS250 on display at this year’s show.The Sports Concept is a works version of the base IS250 sedan, resplendent with big six- and four-piston calipers beneath grey 19-inch forged alloys, Bilstein sports suspension, rigidity braces, a new heavy-breathing air intake, cat-back sports exhaust for a 1.5 per cent increase in power, short-shift manual, and fat integrated spoilers.The engine itself extracts a further three per cent of power, and is hidden under a carbon-fibre engine cover. The factory options are under consideration for the Australian market as a way for an IS250 owner to afford some, if not all, of the IS-F’s extreme power and sporting prowess.Speaking of which: the IS-F sedan’s local facts and figures have also been revealed.Its massive 5.0-litre V8 engine and eight-speed Sport Direct Shift (SDS) transmission claims combined consumption of 11.4 litres/100km while managing 311kW at 6600rpm, and 505Nm of torque at 5200rpm through the rear wheels. The 0-100km/h sprint is all over in 4.8secs.The IS-F will be officially launched in November this year, with the IS 250C following on a year later. So it won’t be long until Lexus has a full-scale assault team to tackle the 3 Series BMW and C-Class Mercedes-Benz.

Its top was dropped for the first time last week in gay Paris for the Mondial l’Automobile, and now Lexus has shipped its new IS convertible to sunny Sydney.