movin_up

I still don't expect to see it until the 3rd generation IS. There's way too little official information out there for it to be coming out in '09.

TED_FR

What as been annonced in a french car magazine:

1/ Slight Face Lift for September 2008
2/ IS 250 Coupe introduced in October this year (2008) at Paris auto show.
3/ IS 250 Convertible introduced in January 2009 (Detroit)

4/ IThere won't be any diesel IS convertible or coupe since there won't be any further Lexus diesel model.

The IS220d will remain the only one and will not be renewed.

plusone

there no need to tackle a convertible for the IS... that why there is an SC for that.

Gojirra99

If true, that sucks, if they REALLY want to sell more Lexus in Europe . . .

TED_FR

The SC costs more than twice as much as a IS250, you just can't compare, and there is room for more than one convertible. Furthermore, the SC does not sell well any more, it is just too old.

Well the point is that Lexus had quite a number of reliability problems with this engine. And considering gas mileage and tax level, this engine cannot compete with modern engines (this engine was first introduced 10 years ago). It blows the 160g Co²/km treshold (it delivers 192g Co²) while the latest 211 PS Audi 2.0 TFSI is good for 154 g Co²/km and as such escape from paying the pollution tax.

MoLexus

Its most likely going to arrive or become more official on the third generation IS. Its half way through its cycle and were coming close to a facelift in other words if it were going to happen it would have happened by now. Plus they are giving there competitors enough sweat with just the sedan imagine if they did come out with the vert and coupe.....

hapaboy

^ funny, headlight mod and no grille mod... poor.

edualc

Found this a couple off months ago.
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/26/s...s-convertible/.

chrisyano

Is it me or is the driver very small? Or is this the granddaddy of all IS'?

TED_FR

Well that is the point, the IS does not sell very well at all over here when compared to Audi, BMW or Mercedes. And that is partially due to the lack of choice of engines (only 2) when Audi A4 have 10 different engines and BMW Serie 3 have 11 . But that's also due to the lack of models. The Lexus IS has only a sedan version (the sports cross has been discontinued) while the BMW and the A4 come in a number of flavors.

If I look at the used car number one web site in France and look for an IS250 I get 15 vehicles !! Looking for Serie 3 BMW (same time frame 2006/2008) I get more than 1000 vehicles (displayed results are limited to 1000). So according to me , Lexus have got to do something

Mr Bond

It's obvious that Lexus doesn't care at all. I live in Sweden and we have the same problem here. But there are only about 10 Lexus dealers here and i guess they sell enough anyway. Over 90 % of all new ( 2007/2008) Lexus here are hybrids, and they sell pretty well compared to other V8 cars or SUV:s.

An IS hybrid ( or any smaller and cheaper hybrid model ) would do much more for Lexus here than a new diesel.

MoLexus

Thats a problem they will fix generation after generation, its a learning process. I mean damn look at how well they are doing and they are the youngest luxury automaker vs BMW Audi and Mercedes. The 3er wasn't perfect off the first generation and neither was the A4 so for the 2IS to out sell the A4 here in the States and to put a dent in BMW's sells is quite amazing IMO.

Mr Bond

True, but they could at least bring the IS 350 to Europe if they really wanted to compete with BMW and Audi. IS-F is way to expensive and thirsty. I know many BMW drivers, both here in Sweden and Germany, who really likes IS 250 but want's a litte bit more performance.

But then again, Lexus do not listen

TED_FR

I could not agree more, I test drove the IS250 and kept my IS300. The IS-F is way too expensive (€72.250 = $ 113.000) and suffers from very high pollution taxes. The IS250 has 204 PS and pretty high pollution tax, while an A5 2.0 TFSi has 211 PS (and NO pollution tax)!! But if I could buy an IS350, no doubt, that would be my choice.

PhilipMSPT

iTrader: (5)

Driver is really small because it's a bad photoshop job...