Not on the list as of now - I kind of doubt it will be there at this point. It seems like most news about the debut of a model predates the show by quite some time. The best guess at this point is a debut right along side the new 3 series in Geneva.

It is rather strange that for such an important model that will supposedly be on sale in the fall to have so little concrete info about it.

 

Maybe Lexus doesn't consider the car that important. After all, it is no secret that the IS300 never sold in huge numbers...and the SportCross hardly sold at all. Still...if they are going to make long-awaited major changes, they shouldn't keep them swept under the rug.

I get more annoyed and disgusted with hush-hush corporate reps than I do just about anything else in the auto industry.....short of Chris Bangle.

 

The new IS will not be at detroit for several reasons. 1) It's still in it's early stages for development. 2) Lexus doesn't want to steal the limelight away from the new 06 GS.

Yes I was one of the select few who saw the actual IS photos. The photos were from the big Lexus Employee only release party event in Washington D.C. a few months ago.

 

It's not strange. It's typical Toyota strategy. Keep everyone on their toes until the official info is released.

 

OK, thanks, Flip. I thought that by now the car was further along in its development cycle.

I know you are a insurance adjuster. Didn't know you were a Lexus employee, unless you work two jobs or in insurance through Lexus similiar to the insurance that GM provides. Doesn't surprise me, though...you seem to have considerable knowledge of both factory and aftermarket parts.

 

Yes, that's it. I was there at Glendale and that is the new IS. Good find!

 

flipside said it was slightly different how much difference are we saying? the front resembles the LF-C a lot.

 

The new GS came out more than 15 months before availability. (jan 04 - April 05?). Were they more worried about it and released info early or are they more confident in the new IS so 6 months is plenty of warning?

 

The roundess is exaggerated in the photos. But since it is a drawing it looks close but not quite.

 

Well since the GS had an over extended 8 year production span, it was necessary to generate the interest early to unveil the new 06.

 

Man flipside909 what are you? I have a friend who is a Graduate Management Assoc (GMA) working at Toyota and everytime I ask her stuff about the IS3 she like, "uhh... i don't know sorry!" Keep the info coming!

 

I'm the bearer of good news for CL.

The GMA is a competative program. A friend of mine applied, his background is UPenn Wharton Business school and currently a MBA candidate at USC. Needless to say he made final round but wasn't selected.

 

Thanks flipside909 and Trexus for the awesome 1st-hand info. 300+hp certainly is something to get excited about, and we can certainly expect the GS350 to carry the same power.

The hand-drawn pic that you two confirmed also makes the exterior look very promising. Nothing dramatic, but awesome nonetheless.

Now I only wish they can realize the LF-C concept in the IS convertible.

 

You're welcome XeroKool. I wish I had pics. but all I can do is describe the IS with my words. Hopefully the gold IS 250/350 I saw makes it official debut and we will all be amazed. In my opinion it does look good at least better than the first generation IS. It's a little bit bigger and you pretty much know the engine specs. We'll just have to wait and see.

 

What about body configurations?

Will there be a coupe and a convertible?


Thanks.