Lexus IS News

New noses and tails are obvious on everything at the Lexus stand at the Frankfurt Motor Show as the Japanese luxury brand works to combat a new-model onslaught from its rivals at Audi, BMW and Benz.Sadly, the only major mechanical difference is a go-faster differential change to Lexus' M3 rival, the IS-F. "It's minor facelifts. Just something to keep the cars fresh in showrooms. It's mainly grilles and lamps," admits the boss of Lexus Australia, John Roca. "We have changes to the IS, GS, LS and RX. They will flow progressively through the system. "The first one here is the IS, but we will probably hold the GS, LS and LX over until next year so they become 2010 models.And Roca says the massive LX gets some visual fine-tuning. "The good news about the LX is we finally get 20-inch wheels," he says. "And there are some aero changes to the front and rear bars so it looks significantly different."The changes to the IS-F are relatively minor, but anyone who drives hard will appreciate the addition of a Torsen limited-slip differential. Lexus says it slashes lap times at its Fuji Speedway course in Japan, where the IS-F is tested, by two seconds thanks to better cornering grip and traction for its V8 engine.Otherwise, the cabin gets improved satnav and a USB input for the sound system, foldable headrests, a new steering wheel and better switchgear.In Australia, the arrival of the updated IS-F — less than a year into its local life — also sees Lexus trying to spread the car's impact with a new ‘Sport’ model. "IS-F has been of critical importance in shifting Lexus' brand perception," says Roca.The result is a tweaked IS250 with an F-Sport package. "The new car replaces the previous sports version of the IS range," he says. "It's for the customer that's looking at the IS-F, but cannot afford to make that sort of commitment. "It gets upgraded seats, a small spoiler, and tweaked sports suspension. It will become more of a true sports model. "It will sit in between the Prestige and the Sports Luxury, which remains the top of the range." 

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...

The man credited with leading development of the breakthrough Lexus IS-F - which was built to challenge the benchmark BMW M3 - is also pushing hard to get the Lexus LF-A into production.Toyoda is even doing testing on the 300km/h supercar himself.But the 52-year-old grandson of Toyota's founder, who will become the CEO and president of the world's largest car company later this year, is not just grinding around a proving ground.Toyoda is racing an LF-A.The entry list for this year's classic Nurburgring 24-Hour race includes a driver called 'Morizo' in one of the two LF-As to be fielded by the Japanese GAZOO Racing team on May 23-24.But Morizo is actually Toyoda.That means the Nurburgring entry is a very big deal, right down to the bodyguards who will accompany Morizo-Toyoda through the event.Toyoda has used the fake name twice before to race on the full Nurburgring north course, although last year his stealth fighter-black LF-A was one of the first cars to strike trouble in the 24-hour race.This time around the LF-A entry is bigger and official, and there will also be an IS-F in the GAZOO team.Toyoda is one of four drivers in his car and will share with Andre Lotterer, a one-time Jaguar F1 test driver who also leads Toyota's effort in the Japanese SuperGT championship.Morizo's official profile gives a Japlish twist on what Toyoda is doing, and why:"He is a well-known driver at GAZOO Racing. He grips the steering with the great wish to increase car fan and inform fun of run. He participate in Nurburgring continue Year 2007 and Year 2008." 

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.

The future for Lexus could be sprinkled with high-performance models as its F label becomes as important as an M badge at BMW. The chief engineer of the brand's breakthrough IS-F, Yukihiko Yaguchi, is already checking everything from the GS sedan to the RX soft-roaders for their potential for an F upgrade. He wants more and to do more, even if there is no firm plan. “It hasn't been decided yet but, yes, I would like to do that,” Yaguchi says at the Australian press preview drive of the IS-F at Fuji Speedway in Japan. “It is just an idea . . . but the IS F was just an idea, also.” Yaguchi made the $150,000 IS-F a personal campaign, battling management reluctance and limited support to produce a 5.0-litre V8 competitor for long-standing luxury performance vehicles from BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi. “I wanted to develop a new breed of animal for Lexus,” Yaguchi says. “In general our company produces rather rational cars and it was certainly a very difficult project . . . I cannot say what the future holds.” Lexus Australia boss John Roca hopes Yaguchi's IS-F will not be a one-shot wonder. “There is nothing on the drawing board at this stage, but you certainly wouldn't rule out similar performance derivatives of GS and LS in the future,” Roca says. “This (car) will also give our existing customers a boost. As much as we have had potential customers wanting to buy a Lexus had this type of vehicle been available, we also have existing customers who have clearly shown they are ready to move into a car of this type.”  

The hardtop coupe is set for sales next year. “That will be in Australia by late next year and it is going to be a very important model for us with what we see as almost totally incremental sales,” Roca says.He confirms the as-yet-unnamed and unseen hardtop convertible will not be a replacement for the ageing V8 SC430 boulevard cruiser.“We have been told that the SC will remain as it is until 2011 and there are no plans beyond that as to what will replace it. By 2011 it will be a 10-year-old model . . . and that's too long in the tooth,” he says.According to Roca, the convertible IS will be based squarely off the IS 250 platform with the same 153kW 2.5-litre V6 engine.A facelift version of the IS 250 with new front and rear sheetmetal, reworked lights and external jewellery, as well as a substantially refreshed interior, will head the coming Lexus range changes.The new IS 250 arrives in twin with the IS-F in November, followed by an all-new RX350 in February.“Three months after that will come the RX450h (hybrid) and later in the fourth quarter of the year will come the IS Coupe Convertible,” Roca says.“The IS Coupe is going to be pretty much all incremental sales, and we are expecting the RX volume to increase with the new model because when we launched the original there was no car park of RX owners. We now have a huge car park, and that is a great advantage.”With the new models and an increase in dealerships that will almost double the present 22 outlets to 38 by 2015, Roca is confident of steady sales growth.“Sales of 8200 by the end of this year is where we want to be, then next year around 9000,” he says. “By the end of 2010 we will have put 10,000 sales a year behind us.“It will be through a combination of customer growth and model expansion. It's a bit of both.“What we can't really accurately measure is the effect of the growth of the dealer network with a lot of those new outlets being regional.” 

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Overshadowed by the volume-selling IS sedan and larger, lavishly equipped LS sibling, Lexus is now focusing on the GS.A revised GS range has just been unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show and arrives here in time for the Melbourne Motor Show.The big changes are under the skin, though the car does get a mild cosmetic makeover.The big news is the flagship GS gets the same 4.6-litre V8 as the range-topping LS sedan. The GS460 develops 255kW at 6400 revs and 460Nm at 4100 revs. That's 47kW and 43Nm more than the 4.3-litre GS430, which it replaces.The GS300 and GS450h carry over.Lexus Australia chief executive John Roca says the power gains bring the range-topper in line with the performance of the GS450h.However, compared with the LS460, power and torque are down in the GS460 because it misses out on the LS's direct-injection system.The V8 does share its eight-speed automatic transmission with the LS, which is lighter and more compact in the GS than the six-speed automatic it replaces.Despite the reduced power, the 4.6-litre in the GS is no slouch, hitting 100km/h in 5.8 seconds and reaching a top speed of 240km/h.Roca says apart from improved engines, the sedan gets some small visual tweaks.On the outside there is a chrome grille surround, new integrated indicators in the door mirrors and new alloys.Both bumpers have been restyled.The GS 450h gains several styling cues from other Lexus hybrids, relating to badging and hybrid blue highlights.Inside, audio and telephone controls on the steering wheel have been revised and the boot and fuel filler releases have been moved outside the drop-down switch module.All models now have an input jack for portable music players.For added security, the doors have an automatic locking function triggered when the vehicle is on the move.Roca says GS sales stalled last year, in part because the car was in run out mode.“We will refocus on improving the GS's share this year,” he says.GS sales were down 21 per cent last year, compared with 2006, while overall Lexus sales were up 14.5 per cent.The IS250 remains the best seller in the range, accounting for about half of sales.GS pricing is expected to be decided next month.Roca hopes to hold prices at current levels. That means the entry GS300 Sports should stay close to $95,000 and the new 4.6-litre V8 GS460 about $138,000. 

The Lexus range in Australia could be expanded with a range of go-faster F products similar to the ones used to create the IS-F V8, which will hit showrooms in the back end of 2008.Lexus of America has moved deeply into dress-up and go-faster parts for the IS and GS sedans, including special alloy wheels, upgraded and ceramic brakes, sports exhausts, suspension parts, clutch and shift upgrades.The parts have been designed and developed by TRD in the US and are on the wish list for Australia.“We're definitely looking at the F-Sport range,” Lexus Australia boss John Roca says. “I think it will go well to boost the image of the IS in Australia. It's something we will probably source from the US.”The F-Sport parts are similar to AMG and M sport pieces produced by BMW and Mercedes-Benz, and come in signature blue, similar to the colour used on the original IS-F show car in Detroit last year (shown above) and also for the badges on the production model of the IS-F.