OFFICIAL: New for 2007 IS Updates
08-15-06, 10:41 AM
#31
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Because a manual gearbox that handles 200hp is not the same as one for 300hp. Lexus obviously doesn't have a manual tranny that can handle 300+ hp and doesn't care to dip into TRD to try and develop one. Case study: Acura CL/TL 5sp auto - don't you have a friend or relative that had to have their tranny replaced by Honda/Acura ??? The reason, Acura foolishly thought they could take the same tranny from an Accord (apprx 160hp) and attach it to a 240+hp V6 motor. Look at what that Silliness cost the company in terms of goodwill and owner loyalty . . .
08-15-06, 10:47 AM
#32
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Also, there is no change to the existing switch, it's still a two wire switch, but the gauge cluster has a new LED in it for VSC off, so I seriously doubt there will be a simple retrofit. There are also some subtle differences in the wiring harness for VDIM between '06 and '07, so they made it less than dead simple to back-rev the '06.
08-15-06, 10:48 AM
#33
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Guys, you're missing a big part of the equation. Please keep in mind that there's more to the world than just what exists in North America. While Americans may only buy ~10% of their cars with manuals, Europeans are up around the 60% mark last I recall.
Manufacturers who have a big presence in Europe (i.e. BMW, etc) sell both manual and auto equipped cars because they know they'll make money on both. It then costs them less to bring manuals to the States.
Toyota on the other hand doesn't have much of a European presence with the new IS. If they're not going to put a manual in it for the Europeans, where they know they'd recoup a good bit of the manufacturing cost, you can guarantee we're not going to get it (at least not anytime soon).
Manufacturers who have a big presence in Europe (i.e. BMW, etc) sell both manual and auto equipped cars because they know they'll make money on both. It then costs them less to bring manuals to the States.
Toyota on the other hand doesn't have much of a European presence with the new IS. If they're not going to put a manual in it for the Europeans, where they know they'd recoup a good bit of the manufacturing cost, you can guarantee we're not going to get it (at least not anytime soon).
08-15-06, 10:53 AM
#34
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Because a manual gearbox that handles 200hp is not the same as one for 300hp. Lexus obviously doesn't have a manual tranny that can handle 300+ hp and doesn't care to dip into TRD to try and develop one. Case study: Acura CL/TL 5sp auto - don't you have a friend or relative that had to have their tranny replaced by Honda/Acura ??? The reason, Acura foolishly thought they could take the same tranny from an Accord (apprx 160hp) and attach it to a 240+hp V6 motor. Look at what that Silliness cost the company in terms of goodwill and owner loyalty . . .
08-15-06, 10:54 AM
#35
Lexus Champion
BMW (and other German automakers) can absorb these costs because they know they can sell manual trannies due to their performance reputation.
Lexus may not want to absorb these costs because they sell cars for their comfort and ease of use, not because of their performance reputation.
Lexus may not want to absorb these costs because they sell cars for their comfort and ease of use, not because of their performance reputation.
If Lexus does plan to develop a well-developed manual, it will be for something that will be solely performance >> luxury oriented, such as the LF-A, or perhaps a true SC Sports Coupe (not a cruiser such as the one currently being offered). It is still possible to create a manual IS, but expect such a vehicle to be made significantly different from the current IS in terms of materials and technology used.
08-15-06, 10:58 AM
#36
there are all kinds of tax breaks in euro for certain engines, mainly diesel, youll see diesel vehicles cost significantly less than a gasoline version. POSSIBLY this can apply to transmissions, and if thats true thats why a large % of euro is manual. Not because americans are more lazy (although it could be, who knows)
08-15-06, 11:01 AM
#37
Lexus Champion
there are all kinds of tax breaks in euro for certain engines, mainly diesel, youll see diesel vehicles cost significantly less than a gasoline version. POSSIBLY this can apply to transmissions, and if thats true thats why a large % of euro is manual. Not because americans are more lazy (although it could be, who knows)
08-15-06, 11:02 AM
#38
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there are all kinds of tax breaks in euro for certain engines, mainly diesel, youll see diesel vehicles cost significantly less than a gasoline version. POSSIBLY this can apply to transmissions, and if thats true thats why a large % of euro is manual. Not because americans are more lazy (although it could be, who knows)
08-15-06, 11:03 AM
#39
Lexus Champion
Toyota on the other hand doesn't have much of a European presence with the new IS. If they're not going to put a manual in it for the Europeans, where they know they'd recoup a good bit of the manufacturing cost, you can guarantee we're not going to get it (at least not anytime soon).
08-15-06, 11:25 AM
#41
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08-15-06, 02:21 PM
#45
BMW (and other German automakers) can absorb these costs because they know they can sell manual trannies due to their performance reputation.
Lexus may not want to absorb these costs because they sell cars for their comfort and ease of use, not because of their performance reputation.
M.B. may not want to absorb these costs for the luxury >> performance attitude. Also, they have other issues to deal with, such as reliability and technology problems, which may supercede the need to spend $$ on developing manual transmissions for their higher end vehicles.
If Lexus does plan to develop a well-developed manual, it will be for something that will be solely performance >> luxury oriented, such as the LF-A, or perhaps a true SC Sports Coupe (not a cruiser such as the one currently being offered). It is still possible to create a manual IS, but expect such a vehicle to be made significantly different from the current IS in terms of materials and technology used.
Lexus may not want to absorb these costs because they sell cars for their comfort and ease of use, not because of their performance reputation.
M.B. may not want to absorb these costs for the luxury >> performance attitude. Also, they have other issues to deal with, such as reliability and technology problems, which may supercede the need to spend $$ on developing manual transmissions for their higher end vehicles.
If Lexus does plan to develop a well-developed manual, it will be for something that will be solely performance >> luxury oriented, such as the LF-A, or perhaps a true SC Sports Coupe (not a cruiser such as the one currently being offered). It is still possible to create a manual IS, but expect such a vehicle to be made significantly different from the current IS in terms of materials and technology used.
On the other side, Lexus/Toyota in its two biggest markets - USA and Japan, dont have buyers for manuals.
I think current take on the market for manuals is something like 6%... which is even less for luxury vehicles.
So basically, they would have to build new transmission for IS350, which would then be sold in around 1,000 examples per year... it aint going to happen.