situman

It's....quite slow.

MSTEnginer

Can't be much slower than the current 250 engine. Also will have a lot more usable torque.

Vladi

It's right on par with 420i which has 180hp but much slower then 428i which as equal HP/Torque

Whats more impressive regarding this news is that Europe is finally getting a basic RC. They did RC-F first and then RC second which in my opinion is a great strategy.

KahnBB6

iTrader: (5)

Factory VVT turbo engine, factory LSD option and the same strong transmission as used in the 400+hp IS-F. The rest of the drivetrain seems to be able to take much more than this base engine puts out. It may have only "adequate" horsepower from the showroom but for those interested it looks to be easy to cure once the tuning community gets hold of this engine and it's ECU and begins to play with it.

cino

iTrader: (1)

I don't think it's about compensating the weight, it's more about improvement from generation to generation. Gearing and torque may have a big role in 0-whatever performance as well.

JDR76

I agree. It isn't about the weight.

bagwell

maybe for the next gen CT?



+1, 10 years of the same 306hp in the IS350 is strange for a luxury brand...supposedly using the best tech available (IMO)

Ice350

iTrader: (1)

Been thinking about this subject. Don't want any turbo's in a Lexus. Natural power is best. Screw gas mileage. Just tune them for more power and we're good.

juvi22003

iTrader: (2)

This is my old reason to buy another IS only thing missing here is i would prefer manual....

ydooby

Lexus needs to get with the times and start applying extensive use of aluminum to its lineup or get left in the dust in performance, handling and efficiency. This 2-second performance deficiency is getting embarrassing.

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

The aggressive gearing of the 6AT in the 2IS 350 also adds a slight edge in 0-60 vs the RC.

The important thing is the RC is here, meaning it can be improved in the future.

Probably not until we see application of TNGA specifically in RWD format will there be any weight savings for the IS, RC and GS. LS and LC look to be the first to receive it, likely followed by the GS.

KahnBB6

iTrader: (5)

^^ That's a great point, Hoovey. All the work they are putting into the LC and LS chassis probably took longer than usual for them. The RC team probably wanted this technology first but needed to release their coupe on a much faster schedule than the LC. Also, currently the LS and LC's price points can probably better absorb the cost of this weight-reducing platform.

Current CAFE requirements (and the upcoming 2025 requirements) don't make that easy to do in volume trim levels but also, Lexus/Toyota offered six-cylinder turbos in some of their models from the very beginning, just not the variations sold in the USA under the Lexus brand. Arguably, until 2005 we were short changed rather than given the very best they had to offer.

This is, however, the first time any Lexus models have been given a four cylinder turbo.

It won't stop with turbos, however. Eventually pretty much all cars will need mild-hybrid or KERS style electric motor hybrid systems to meet CAFE.

maniiortiz

I am not a very big fan of turbo charged engines, I do prefer N/A engines any day but I would truly crap my pants to see a CT hot hatch. They should've had that planned from the get-go. I don't think they should call it a CT200 F though.. That's too much, CT F would be suffice . They need to throw some DCT's in their vehicles as well. That would up the fun-factor quite a bit.

gengar

I wouldn't take that 0-60 time too seriously - wasn't the NX200t (which weighs 4k lbs) tested at 7.0s?