The 2014 Lexus IS is expected to make its official debut at the 2013 NAIAS in Detroit
10-03-12, 01:48 PM
#316
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M's head of engineering, Albert Biermann, admitted this week that there were no plans to fit three pedals in the next-generation M6 and M5 because the order rate was too low to justify the added work.
"Last year, maybe 15-20 percent of our M5s in the U.S. were manuals and maybe this year it will be 15 percent. It's declining," Biermann warned.
"The trouble is that nobody wants it in Europe or anywhere else, so this will be the last time we do it, even for the hard-core U.S. buyers."
The M5's six-speed manual transmission has been heavily reworked from its 5 Series origins and sells alongside the seven-speed double-clutch unit as a no-cost option in the U.S. The gearbox will also be a no-cost option on the upcoming M6 Coupe and Convertible. BMW does not offer it for sale on any other continent.
"We just can't justify it anymore. It's a no-cost option, but it's been very difficult to do.
"Theoretically the stick is cheaper, but it's very low volumes and we have to strengthen everything in the gearbox and find space for the shifter and another pedal, so it doesn't work out cheaper."
10-03-12, 01:50 PM
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I think the take rate of the manual IS has been extremely low only because Lexus isn't offering it in the IS350. People who pick manual over automatic are mostly those wanting to be driving spiritedly, and yet with the IS they are limited to the weak 2.5L. Lexus should realize who the target audience of the manual is these days and make the manual option available in the more powerful variants accordingly.
For most of the 2000-2010 decade, < 5% of new car purchases were manuals. 95%+ were automatics.
10-03-12, 02:14 PM
#319
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Personally I'm excited to hear that the new GS350 has a true paddle shifting "manu"-matic mode (in sport mode; in regular driving mode the paddles act as gear limiters as they do on our current IS350s).
If the new IS350 gets true paddle shifting, that'll be a huge relief.
If the new IS350 gets true paddle shifting, that'll be a huge relief.
10-03-12, 05:03 PM
#320
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Well, BMW stopped offering a manual transmission for the new M5 because the demand for manual transmissions was far too low to justify the cost -
"We just can't justify it anymore. It's a no-cost option, but it's been very difficult to do.
"Theoretically the stick is cheaper, but it's very low volumes and we have to strengthen everything in the gearbox and find space for the shifter and another pedal, so it doesn't work out cheaper."
"We just can't justify it anymore. It's a no-cost option, but it's been very difficult to do.
"Theoretically the stick is cheaper, but it's very low volumes and we have to strengthen everything in the gearbox and find space for the shifter and another pedal, so it doesn't work out cheaper."
10-04-12, 05:53 AM
#322
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Last edited by Carmaker1; 10-04-12 at 05:58 AM.
10-04-12, 07:58 AM
#323
Camouflaged Next-Generation Lexus IS Spotted in Europe
The next-generation Lexus IS has been spotted again, this time in a eye-deceiving swirl-pattern body wrap — here are some photos from Autowereld:
Unlike the previous camouflage, some design details of the new IS can be seen, and what’s visible looks very similar to the LF-CC concept:
It’s always difficult to judge camouflaged vehicles — the next-generation IS appears ever-so-slightly bigger, with a similar profile to the current model. What little detail can be seen is very encouraging, but there’s still too much hidden by swirls to get an accurate read.
http://lexusenthusiast.com/#ktAg5HHtymOcmWd8.99
Unlike the previous camouflage, some design details of the new IS can be seen, and what’s visible looks very similar to the LF-CC concept:
It’s always difficult to judge camouflaged vehicles — the next-generation IS appears ever-so-slightly bigger, with a similar profile to the current model. What little detail can be seen is very encouraging, but there’s still too much hidden by swirls to get an accurate read.
http://lexusenthusiast.com/#ktAg5HHtymOcmWd8.99
10-04-12, 08:02 AM
#324
New Lexus IS knocking at the gate
Less than a week after the unveiling of its conceptual predecessor drove this heavily packed our Lexus IS lens over. He may look tame but what we expect in all a very sporty camouflage lined model to find.
Centrally on the Lexus stand at the Paris Motor Show was the LF-CC spectacular-looking concept that a precursor to the next generation of the IS. Here we are after all expectantly waiting now we have more than seven years with the current IS should do. With a revelation in 2013 on the agenda was waiting spyshots of an IS-prototype. This week we laid him in Belgium for the first time on camera plate. Boring? Fear not, this prototype may be quite conservative eyes, a closer look shows that many lines of the concept find its way into the production model. To start the grille. It may seem like a small specimen to be but if you look closely seen through the psychedelic plastic weldegelijk the large trapezoid shape in the nose processed. Also the deep grooves in the hood will be in a weakened form seen in the final version. At the back, the smaller number of question marks. The pointed light units also appear here largely that of the LF-CC and we welcome only yours!
Coupe
We have evidently with the four-IS to make but the general expectation is that there is also a coupe and maybe even a drive variant will appear. Or Lexus also harks back to the till-now-far unsuccessful convertible is still questionable. During 2013, the new Lexus IS be revealed.
Centrally on the Lexus stand at the Paris Motor Show was the LF-CC spectacular-looking concept that a precursor to the next generation of the IS. Here we are after all expectantly waiting now we have more than seven years with the current IS should do. With a revelation in 2013 on the agenda was waiting spyshots of an IS-prototype. This week we laid him in Belgium for the first time on camera plate. Boring? Fear not, this prototype may be quite conservative eyes, a closer look shows that many lines of the concept find its way into the production model. To start the grille. It may seem like a small specimen to be but if you look closely seen through the psychedelic plastic weldegelijk the large trapezoid shape in the nose processed. Also the deep grooves in the hood will be in a weakened form seen in the final version. At the back, the smaller number of question marks. The pointed light units also appear here largely that of the LF-CC and we welcome only yours!
Coupe
We have evidently with the four-IS to make but the general expectation is that there is also a coupe and maybe even a drive variant will appear. Or Lexus also harks back to the till-now-far unsuccessful convertible is still questionable. During 2013, the new Lexus IS be revealed.
10-04-12, 10:25 AM
#329
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Thanks for the new pics. Can't see much but I sincerely hope those econo-wheels aren't gonna make it to production.
The design of the wheels on the ActiveHybrid 3 is simply brilliant on the other hand, cleverly aggressive and aerodynamic at the same time through the use of contrasting colors. I hope Lexus can do something like that for their hybrids too.
The design of the wheels on the ActiveHybrid 3 is simply brilliant on the other hand, cleverly aggressive and aerodynamic at the same time through the use of contrasting colors. I hope Lexus can do something like that for their hybrids too.
10-04-12, 10:42 AM
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Thanks for the new pics. Can't see much but I sincerely hope those econo-wheels aren't gonna make it to production.
The design of the wheels on the ActiveHybrid 3 is simply brilliant on the other hand, cleverly aggressive and aerodynamic at the same time through the use of contrasting colors. I hope Lexus can do something like that for their hybrids too.
The design of the wheels on the ActiveHybrid 3 is simply brilliant on the other hand, cleverly aggressive and aerodynamic at the same time through the use of contrasting colors. I hope Lexus can do something like that for their hybrids too.