A Sexier Lexus (Next-Gen IS300)

[GTaudiophile]

Article @ Forbes

At the New York International Auto Show, which will open to the press next week, Toyota Motor's Lexus division will display the LF-C, a prototype for the next generation of Lexus' IS-series cars that the company hopes will give it an even more youthful, sporty image...

...Toyota is dramatically rethinking the IS 300 because its U.S. sales declined to 13,559 last year from 20,306 in 2002--a drop of 33%. Its German competitors humiliate the IS; last year, Mercedes sold 52,000 more copies of its C-class than Lexus sold of the IS. The BMW 3-series did 111,944 sales in the U.S. last year--98,000 more units than the IS...

...The prototype has a high-powered V-8 engine, which means that right off the bat the vehicle has more sporting chops than the six-cylinder IS 300's that Lexus currently sells. Acura, Lexus' counterpart at Honda Motor, doesn't have any eight-cylinder cars. A V-8 is an acknowledgment of America's love of cubic inches and is easier to explain than why Lexus is previewing the replacement for a sedan and wagon with a coupe.

 

[ElFenix]

crappy bmw wannabe that looks like a factory riced civic doesn't sell well, who'd have thunk it?

 

[boyRacer]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
crappy bmw wannabe that looks like a factory riced civic doesn't sell well, who'd have thunk it?

its too old... and ricers copied those tail lights not the other way around like some cars.

 

[DanTMWTMP]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
crappy bmw wannabe that looks like a factory riced civic doesn't sell well, who'd have thunk it?

yeah i've never really liked the IS because it looked riced out and cheap.

i absolutely dispise altezza lights

 

[fs5]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
crappy bmw wannabe that looks like a factory riced civic doesn't sell well, who'd have thunk it?

it doesn't sell well now, when it first came out it sold well.

 

[Passions]

IS300 was designed in 1995. Kinda makes you wonder why the 2004 model wasn't updated.

 

[boyRacer]

Originally posted by: Passions
IS300 was designed in 1995. Kinda makes you wonder why the 2004 model wasn't updated.

all the models are lagging... which explains their 2007 plan... but i still think thats too long.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Originally posted by: bR

Originally posted by: Passions
IS300 was designed in 1995. Kinda makes you wonder why the 2004 model wasn't updated.

all the models are lagging... which explains their 2007 plan... but i still think thats too long.

They don't seem to care as long as long as the RX330 is selling.

 

[theNEOone]

by under-30 do they mean 25? 24? i might be the only one w/ this opinion, but if you want to appeal to a younger crowd, the first thing you need to do is have a car that isn't priced at $35k


=|

 

[Kadarin]

Originally posted by: theNEOone
by under-30 do they mean 25? 24? i might be the only one w/ this opinion, but if you want to appeal to a younger crowd, the first thing you need to do is have a car that isn't priced at $35k


=|

Agreement++

 

[SuperTool]

They have to aim for the G35, and perhaps TL for interior, though I think improvements for G35 interior are on the way.
If they give it ugly taillights like they did with RX330, ricers are gonna copy it, and it'll look dated after the first year.
So I would keep it classy. They need at least 250 HP in the $30K model to even be in the fight. People may forgive BMW for being underpowered, but they will not tolerate it for Lexus, when all other Japanese offerings are bringing it. Overpriced V8 option is not going to cut it.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: bR

Originally posted by: ElFenix
crappy bmw wannabe that looks like a factory riced civic doesn't sell well, who'd have thunk it?

its too old... and ricers copied those tail lights not the other way around like some cars.

i know that. altezza lights from the altezza, still looks factory riced to me.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Well, whatever Lexus does, they'll be competing with the ~300hp Inline-6 version of something like this.

 

[SuperTool]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Well, whatever Lexus does, they'll be competing with the ~300hp Inline-6 version of something like this.

Is that M3 or base 3 series?

 

[GTaudiophile]

Originally posted by: SuperTool

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Well, whatever Lexus does, they'll be competing with the ~300hp Inline-6 version of something like this.

Is that M3 or base 3 series?

No gills = base.

The E90 M3 will have the 400hp V8 of the old M5.

 

[SuperTool]

That 3 looks nice, no eyebrows. I will believe the 300hp when I see it

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: DanTMWTMP

Originally posted by: ElFenix
crappy bmw wannabe that looks like a factory riced civic doesn't sell well, who'd have thunk it?

yeah i've never really liked the IS because it looked riced out and cheap.

i absolutely dispise altezza lights

I hate them too.. but the IS300 is a great little car.. I love the way this current model looks!!

 

[bolido2000]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile

Originally posted by: SuperTool

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Well, whatever Lexus does, they'll be competing with the ~300hp Inline-6 version of something like this.

Is that M3 or base 3 series?

No gills = base.

The E90 M3 will have the 400hp V8 of the old M5.

300HP??? Where did you get that number? I remember reading tha the next engine will be a 3.5L with around 270HP

About the IS: I would imagine that they could use the same engine that the Avalon is getting with 270HP. Make the car bigger too.

 

[777php]

did anyone see the ad for the new Volvo s40 when you clicked on that link? It looks sweet.

 

[BornStar]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Well, whatever Lexus does, they'll be competing with the ~300hp Inline-6 version of something like this.

Ugh, between the IS and that car, I know where my money would go. What idiot designed those headlights? Bangle is turning BMWs always classy looks into something extremely polar (you love it or you don't). I personally like the current IS although I agree that it needs much more power. I think most people would agree that it's about time for Toyota to upgrade their engines (I know, I know, they already have started).