flipside909

Un-informed salespeople will tell you anything unfortunately.

I'll be there after work. I'll let you guys know the results.

TCM080903

The brochures got delayed, so they will NOT have them at the event tonight. Glendale Lexus called me since I was going to do a writeup for is300.NET. They're expecting them sometime soon though, just not tonight. BUT...They do have the new GS in person!!!! As well as the concept car from Minority Report, I think? We just won't get our glimpse of the new IS tonight...

jruhi4

Call me cynical or pessimistic or whatever, but I'm not particularly surprised at this turn of events. With the ever-increasing likelihood that the IS250/350 will debut at the Geneva (Switzerland) Auto Show in March 2005 and not at the Detroit Show in January, such an advance peek would've been really cool but realistically wouldn't have made much sense.

flipside909

Very typical. Delays are expected especially when literature is concerned. Oh well.

Hey E, I'll call you when I get off work in about a few mins.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

well, you know we are all looking at you now, do it or die

LexFather

Trexus said he saw the IS. He said it in the GS sticky in car chat. I WANT PICS!!!!

biker

Intro in Geneva? I go every year. Wouldn't that be a nice coincidence - both the new IS and 3 series debut along side each other at the same show.

GFerg

Yeah I know Trexus. Whats up with that. Can we get any info?? I want to see something real soon.

flipside909

Okay, just got home from Glendale. The new 06 GS300 AWD, RX400h and the Minority Report Car was there as planned. Unfortunately due some issues, the IS350 info was not available for public display. BUT a select few of us saw real photos of photos of the next IS. Expect it to look similar to the next GS but in a smaller package obviously. The new IS wasn't fully released for public view because it would take away much of the spotlight away from the new GS unveiling. Definitely makes alot of sense. And it's confirmed both a IS250 and IS350 will be available. The IS250 will come in RWD & AWD with est power of about 220 or greater and the IS350 will defnitely have 300+ HP. Some of us got to see the cars whisked out of the showroom floor right after the event. The 3 cars (new GS, RX400h and the minority report cars) were quickly driven into the Toyota Performance Sports/TRD Truck and rushed quickly back to Torrance for safe keeping. The cars were on the showroom floor at 9:10pm (was supposed to leave earlier, but stalled so I could take pics of the interior and etc..push start works really well on the new GS btw) and the cars were gone by about 9:15pm. The car engine and exhaust notes sound pretty good...not as muted as the GS300. I will post pics and a short write up of tonight's event soon.

flipside909

Also forgot to mention, all those prototype GS's we're seeing currently are all hand built. Those cars are about $100K+ each. After they go into production, TMS will dismantle the cars at their HQ in Torrance for R&D.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

awesome info there, very interesting!!!! but man, is350 with more than 300hp? damn, just a normal v6 and over 300hp, i guess lexus is going to have a lot of work to do on the v8 engine to get close to 350 or even 400hp to keep it interesting otherwise they are just stepping on their own toes

but awesome man, so what do you think about teh new gs in person? and the interior, is it clean?

flipside909

I've seen the 06 GS in person at SF Autoshow back on Thanksgiving weekend. But I actually got to look into the car more this time around. Yes that interior is well done. Exterior pics don't do justice. You have to see it in person to appreciate it. Most everyone has pre-judged this car from pictures only. I've never had anything bad to say about this car...and seeing it up close and in person for a 2nd time, every little detail grows on you more and more.

As for the HP, the direction Lexus is not doing a HP race w/other car manufacturers. It's definitely not stepping on toes at all considering each vehicle has it's own niche that appeals to a certain target market but a very broad audience. If you've noticed, Lexus has been conservative w/their HP numbers but if you look at all the technological advances they've done, they're only making things better. Lexus is known for luxury & quality that will outlast it's competitors. Lexus can make any car that can have the most HP, but Lexus' philosophy in creating a fine luxury experience proves you don't need to have the most HP to have a successful selling vehicle or something that will last forever. If you haven't noticed, the HP numbers may not be on par with it's direct competition, but it definitely does well on recorded stats and tests in comparison to most.

biker

You have to realize that all of these concept , prototype, pre production cars are all just that. Lots of little things can change by the time a real car that will be for sale rolls off the assembly line.
Somehow I still can't see an IS350 with 300+ HP. Like the 05 G35 6MT (with 298) and new RL (at 300) once you get to those levels of HP you start losing torque. Plus that 300HP is way up in the rev band - where few folks drive. Ah, isn't car marketing great.
I can see the IS250 at 220HP tho - the new E90 325 will be rated at 218HP - hm.... guess who thought up the 220 number.
In both cases, it's the numbers that are usually not printed that count - real street numbers.

I can just imagine what folks will be saying on other boards - why would anyone buy even a V8 GS when the IS350 has 300+HP.

flipside909

Two different vehicles, two different genres, two different target markets. Simple.

morris

iTrader: (2)

I think a good example of the fact that many people dont really care about HP numbers is hte Mustang. There are a ton more V6's out there than V8's people just wnat to have a mustang. Heck didnt they make a 4 cyclinder Mustang at one point?

We in our non standard sense of thinkin would think why would anyone buy a 4 or 6 cylinder mustnag when we could have the big V8? Those cars are selling though