View Poll Results: Should Lexus start offering 4 cylinder engines in their lineup?
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Should Lexus start offering 4 cylinders?
Lexus Champion
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,474
Likes: 2
From: Tennessee
Turbos do create more wear and tear... more heat in the engine bay and oil system, more pressure to the combustion chamber (kinda like having a high CR even though that's not really it), more moving parts to break (turbo rebuilds are common across sports car likes anywhere from 80 to 200k miles... depends on the car and the turbo), and generally speaking just more power to the drivetrain which is always going to cause more wear unless the drivetrain was upgraded along with it.
There's a reason why turbocharged vehicles typically require synthetic oil, have shorter oil change intervals, and benefit from turbo timers. Heat is very much an issue.
There's a reason why turbocharged vehicles typically require synthetic oil, have shorter oil change intervals, and benefit from turbo timers. Heat is very much an issue.
Turbos do create more wear and tear... more heat in the engine bay and oil system, more pressure to the combustion chamber (kinda like having a high CR even though that's not really it), more moving parts to break (turbo rebuilds are common across sports car likes anywhere from 80 to 200k miles... depends on the car and the turbo), and generally speaking just more power to the drivetrain which is always going to cause more wear unless the drivetrain was upgraded along with it.
There's a reason why turbocharged vehicles typically require synthetic oil, have shorter oil change intervals, and benefit from turbo timers. Heat is very much an issue.
There's a reason why turbocharged vehicles typically require synthetic oil, have shorter oil change intervals, and benefit from turbo timers. Heat is very much an issue.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 11,204
Likes: 11
From: The Woodlands, TX
I stated, who knows "Maybe" things will change here. 
The Benz concept is a concept, more a styling exercise than anything (future Benzs will take its cues).
Lexus has invested in HYBRIDS, not I-4 cars. Lexus wants to make a distinction between Toyota and Lexus. I am not sure why anyone would argue looking at Lexus results, especially compared to the other 2 Japanese brands that offered 4 cylinder cars. Acura/Infiniti's image STILL HURTS from offering them.
You state what about buyers that don't care about power? Well there is a 204 hp IS 250 V-6 for them. If they want 4 cylinders, you can buy a Camry or Corolla.
Lexus will not sink, they have proven over and over they know what the market wants, which many times IS NOT what the enthusiast wants. Amazing that Acura offers smaller engines and they have sunk/sinking. Think about that.
I have studied this market and trends and car makers over and over. Everyone THINK about this.
Audi/Benz/BMW all sell about 1 mill vehicles a year. Included are tons of subcompacts and I-4 cars, mostly sold overseas.
1-series, A2, A3, A class, B-class, etc
Lexus is 4th in sales with nearly 500k.
They have 500k sales with ONE 4 cylinder, a very small selling IS 220d.
Think about that.
They are the best selling brand in America for what 8 years WITH NO 4 CYLINDER.
Think about that.
Lexus sold 330,000 Luxury vehicles in America and they ALL were V-6 or bigger. That is UNHEARD of.
Think about that.
Lexus management has purposely avoided the 4 cylinder gas market and the cute-ute market. Will that change b/c of gas prices? WHo knows it is possible.
I don't bet on it. They put too much trouble NOT offering 4 cylinders, to offer them now.
UNLESS maybe a smaller car than the IS debuts.
We are also talking about America. In Europe, you need small engines and diesels.
We Americans are pretty damn stubborn
We are a country built on big roads, big cars and big engines!!!
The Benz concept is a concept, more a styling exercise than anything (future Benzs will take its cues). Lexus has invested in HYBRIDS, not I-4 cars. Lexus wants to make a distinction between Toyota and Lexus. I am not sure why anyone would argue looking at Lexus results, especially compared to the other 2 Japanese brands that offered 4 cylinder cars. Acura/Infiniti's image STILL HURTS from offering them.
You state what about buyers that don't care about power? Well there is a 204 hp IS 250 V-6 for them. If they want 4 cylinders, you can buy a Camry or Corolla.
Lexus will not sink, they have proven over and over they know what the market wants, which many times IS NOT what the enthusiast wants. Amazing that Acura offers smaller engines and they have sunk/sinking. Think about that.
I have studied this market and trends and car makers over and over. Everyone THINK about this.
Audi/Benz/BMW all sell about 1 mill vehicles a year. Included are tons of subcompacts and I-4 cars, mostly sold overseas.
1-series, A2, A3, A class, B-class, etc
Lexus is 4th in sales with nearly 500k.
They have 500k sales with ONE 4 cylinder, a very small selling IS 220d.
Think about that.
They are the best selling brand in America for what 8 years WITH NO 4 CYLINDER.
Think about that.
Lexus sold 330,000 Luxury vehicles in America and they ALL were V-6 or bigger. That is UNHEARD of.
Think about that.
Lexus management has purposely avoided the 4 cylinder gas market and the cute-ute market. Will that change b/c of gas prices? WHo knows it is possible.
I don't bet on it. They put too much trouble NOT offering 4 cylinders, to offer them now.
UNLESS maybe a smaller car than the IS debuts.
We are also talking about America. In Europe, you need small engines and diesels.
We Americans are pretty damn stubborn
We are a country built on big roads, big cars and big engines!!!
oh but that's ok we'll stand pat with the v6's and v8's.....NOT
Same people that thought Lexus would ever produce a Hybrid..."Hybrids have no place in luxury cars!" LOLOLOLOLOL
Last edited by bagwell; May 9, 2008 at 05:00 PM.
I still say my dream engine in an IS sized car is a longitudinal mounted inline turbo 4, or perhaps a longitudinal mounted inline hybrid 4. I'd give up a few ponies for better weight distribution myself. I'd love to own a Lexus with an 8K RPM redline.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,509
Likes: 6
From: NT
Might as well just use a 2.5L 4 cylinder hybrid and call it the day then I still say my dream engine in an IS sized car is a longitudinal mounted inline turbo 4, or perhaps a longitudinal mounted inline hybrid 4. I'd give up a few ponies for better weight distribution myself. I'd love to own a Lexus with an 8K RPM redline.
I still say my dream engine in an IS sized car is a longitudinal mounted inline turbo 4, or perhaps a longitudinal mounted inline hybrid 4. I'd give up a few ponies for better weight distribution myself. I'd love to own a Lexus with an 8K RPM redline.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,489
Likes: 4
From: Lou-Evil KY
agree, a larger 4 cyl will vibrate even with balance shafts. 1.8 to 2.2 is perfect. high redline, say 8k, variable geometry turbo for low and top end power, variable cam lift and timing, rear wheel drive with LSD, 6 speed manual, and of course all the usual Lexus amenities. sounds like a perfect car to me...
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,509
Likes: 6
From: NT
agree, a larger 4 cyl will vibrate even with balance shafts. 1.8 to 2.2 is perfect. high redline, say 8k, variable geometry turbo for low and top end power, variable cam lift and timing, rear wheel drive with LSD, 6 speed manual, and of course all the usual Lexus amenities. sounds like a perfect car to me...
5500-6500rpm
Something along the lines of a 1.8L Dual VVTi, Direct Injection, VG Turbo that puts down ~250hp/tq, or the same engine in NA trim pushing ~190hp/tq
Pole Position
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 366
Likes: 0
From: europe
Agreed. Sure people in Europe drive 6 and 8 cylinder engines. But their luxury cars also come in 4 cylinders too. So while it may be important for Toyota and Lexus to be different, with high gas prices at some point people will just hit up Toyota to save the fuel $$$$$.
The most sold BMW here is probably 320i (4 cyl 177 hp), and for Audi A4 1.8T (163 hp ). The most popular BMW 5 series right now is the new 4 cyl 520d with about 170 hp. Nearly no petrol BMW 5, MB E or Audi A6 are sold today.
We are paying tax for how much CO2 a car produces. Thats why so many people are buying diesels. They produce a lot less CO2 than a petrol engine. To drive a normal V8 car through the city of London cost today about 15 dollars every time you pass a "cityborder". Some people wants to raise this to 35 dollars (for V6 and V8 cars ) in the end of this year. German major citys will probably have systems like this too. Sweden and Norway already has it, but it is cheaper.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,489
Likes: 4
From: Lou-Evil KY
yeah a turbo does wonders for torque output on small displacement engines. my talon 2.0 makes more torque than Hp in stock configuration. 190hp, 210 tq. modded, it's 250 hp and 280 tq with just a few dollars spent.