Lexus is test drive since 2005 sedan

Sense organ

From the former bias in relation to Japanese cars, they do not have enough soul and sensuality did not have a trace. It is impossible to refuse the new Lexus is 250 in feelings.

By operating the same techniques as when creating GS, the designers managed to bring them almost to perfection. And now no one will turn to say that Lexus cars lack expressiveness: is not only the most attractive object in the line of new brand models (including LS 460), it looks largely more advantageous even more European competitors. Photos do not convey even half the charm of this small Japanese knight. The philosophy of L Finesse, which everything is already known about, really works. Here, in fact, you can’t do with vision alone, you need to come up, touch, run your hand along the smooth, but confident bends of the body. We need to feel.

In the appearance of IS 250 there is already a speaker thanks to short overhang (front -wheel drive cars can only be dreamed) and a high ascending waist line. If you want, you don’t want to, but an analogy with the BMW three-year-old arise, and to say which of them is more beautiful, it is difficult by the way, the form of the rear door of the IS of the IS of the IS is slightly different about the Bavarian influence, where it raised some questions, became recognizable and came out from suspicion .

With his special feeling, which is enclosed in Smart Key, Lexus recognized my desire to penetrate the salon and unlocked the driver's door. After that, it remains only to get in the chair and press the Start Engine button. Two thin rays of the shooters cut the darkness of the optimal panel of the devices and, synchronously walking along the scales, returned to their places. There is no eye but for some reason that arrow that on the right, on the tachometer, did not lay on 0, but froze just below 1 the engine works, the logic tells. My senses refuse to believe, but quickly surrendered after the arrow comes to life in response to the control touch of the gas pedal. The engine works, but the sound of the motor timidly penetrates the salon only when the revolutions take off to 4000. In addition to the sound, nothing. Yes, not without reason in all press releases, the impressive of the volume of work on sound insulation is so diligently emphasized.

Inside is quiet and somewhat crowded. In the driver’s place, I even like it, surrounded by a high central tunnel, unusually turned inside the door panel and in the arms of a dense chair, a pleasant feeling of unity with the car, however, on the passenger chair of joy, the roof stand, ceiling and the front panel are already less too close. From the rear passengers, it will also be easy to hear complaints about the lack of a place in the knees, a narrow doorway. By the way, there is nothing to do at all to do at all at all, he will sit on the central tunnel and rest his head against the ceiling.

The selection of materials, the adjustment of the details here, for example, how they make a wooden finish for the central tunnel. The general workpiece of the tree array is first properly processed and divided into 3 parts, which are then sent to 3 different contractors. And they already make the panel itself, the cover of an ashtray and the lid of the clothing box. This is the only way to achieve the uniformity of the texture and color of the tree. But this, by the way, is the wood finish only for the Premium configuration, on our IS 250, a nice metallized plastic was used in the performance of Sport. But only in the sports version are delightful 18 inch wheels and armchairs, covered in the ECSAI material, synthetic suede, which tenaciously and carefully holds the body.

After starting the engine, the main exit on the dashboard is replaced by an equally spectacular working type of device, it seems, the most catchy part of the interior. Made in sight, perfectly arranged and impeccably informative. A vivid (in every sense) example to follow. Due to the ban on navigation systems, Russia has lost a large color touch monitor on the central console of IS. This is unfair to it because not only the map of the terrain is displayed, but also the control of the climate, the stereo system is strange, there is a similar screen on the Russian GS. On IS, you will have to be content with two monochrome LCD displays. The view is not the same at all, and the graphics on them are small. It seems that the convenience of the mentioned management was slightly affected.

We are worried about the little things. Well, why, for example, 2 music control units are broken by an electronic clock insert, an emergency button and an ever -burning indicator of an active passenger pillow? Or is this simple button for blocking switching next to the checkpoint selector? .. Nonsense seems to be a feeling of perfection to which Lexus is so close. The perfection of technologies is like any Lexus, IS is stuffed with all kinds of advanced developments. Take at least the EPS steering electric power amplifier changes the effort, prompting the driver to the right direction of rotation in a critical situation. Or a passenger airbag for the first time in the world, it is made in a two -chamber scheme that reduces the shock load on the head and face. In total, the pillows became 8 to the usual set added knee for the driver and passenger. A sense of safety in standard equipment.

The dynamic appearance, the interior adjacent to the driver, rear-wheel drive, 208-horsepower V6 all attributes of the Drivers Car. Yes, IS also gives a special feeling of rapture by movement! Incredibly quiet, comfortable, but at the same time collected and obedient, he gives the driver unspeakable pleasure.

The 2.5-liter engine with direct injection is enough in any road situation in any road situations. And how the machine is configured! After a few minutes, he recognizes the driving manner and begins to switch his 6 steps with doubles. Sometimes it even seems that its adaptive mechanism is endowed with the gift of foresight. Here we need to thank the ECT system (Electronically Controllyd Transmission), whose modes change was hidden near the right driver's knee. You can choose a winter Snow, but better than power Power. Then the transmission will actively switch down with small braking. Well, how effective is it to act with comfortable gatens, which look defiant on the back of an excellent three -spoke steering wheel? The difficulty is that, in fact, a transmission is set, above which the machine will not be able to rise. As a result, two digits indicate the current gear and threshold on the instrument panel can burn at once. In general, it turned out confused.

Near the left knee there is also an interesting key, with its help some interesting functions for example, an indicator of the achievement of certain revolutions, can be programmed by installing the arrow at the desired mark. A similar signal is available on the speedometer, which is perhaps more useful. The orange ring flashed inside the scale will remind you that the speed is selected to maximize neither the noise nor the behavior of the car will not inform about this. The steering wheel is poured with the necessary effort, the car holds the course impeccably simply sticks to the trajectory.

The brakes confidently extinguish the speed, in emergency cases, Brake Assist comes to the aid, which allows you to immediately develop the maximum brake force. At a smaller speed, when you can famously lay a turn, you should be careful as it should be classics, is 250 is very sensitive to excessive thrust. At the right moment, the unknown assistant VSC, of \u200b\u200bcourse, will stop all the attempts of the rear axle to overtake the front, but, right, there will be few pleasure from its intervention. It is much more pleasant to move at that pace (very fast, I must say), when all the wheels retain reliable clutch, when Lexus definitely reacts to the turns of the steering wheel, when he conquers, giving birth to a sense of confidence and peace. It is a pity that our roads do not answer such a mood. After the congress from the highway, it became clear that the suspension was not inclined to pamper the riders of various kinds of bumps, they would feel clearly. But the suspension does not allow illegal sounds and frank breakdowns even on the most savage potholes.

Some stiffness can be attributed to the SPORT configuration account, in which IS is also equipped with a sports suspension (15 mm below usual). In total, the Russian market presents 4 options from simple Comfort for $ 41,600 to the top Premium for $ 49,700. On average, this is several thousand less than the cost of the main European opponents of the IS BMW of the 3rd series, Audi A4, Mercedes-Benz C-class. Perhaps the only weak place Lexus lack of engine choice.

But between IS 250 and competitors, the difference is not only and not so much in price. There is something else that cannot be explained, and there is no point in trying. This must be felt.

Lexus IS 250 prices and configurations

The first of the 4 xs provided for Russia Comfort includes the Central Castle Smart Key, the stabilization system, ABS with EBD (system distribution system), Brake Assist, anti -circus system (TRC), Cruise Control, Alarms, Fighting Heads, Leather steering wheel, leather steering wheel, leather steering wheel Separate climate control, 8 airbags, 16 inch wheels, interior decoration with aluminum inserts, stereo system and CD Chainer on 6 discs, heating the front seats. The cost of a car with such a set of $ 41,600.

When a leather salon with ventilated seats and 17 inch wheels is added to this set of executive for $ 46,200. The version of Sport, which was on the test, will cost $ 47,700 and will have an additional rain sensor, parking sensors, bi-ksenon adaptive headlights, headlight washers, headlights, lamps in the head Luke in the luggage compartment, an electric drive of seats and a rudder with memory, thresholds, sports pedals, sports suspension, 18 inches wheels. The most expensive Premium set $ 49,700 boasts of a wooden interior trim, and leather chairs, but it stands on 17 inch wheels.

Model/Modification: Lexus is 250
Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Co
Model year: 2006

BODY
Type: sedan
Design/Material: Carrying/Steel
Number of doors/places: 4/5

ENGINE
Type: gasoline with direct injection
Working volume (see cubic meter): 2499
Quantity/location of the cylinders: 6, V-shaped
Compression degree: 12.0: 1
Power (L.S.): 208 (6400 rpm)
Moment (NM): 252 (4800 rpm)

TRANSMISSION
Drive: rear
Gearbox: automatic 6 -step

Dimensions/volumes/weight
Wheel base (mm): 2730
Length/width/height (mm): 4575/1800/1425
The track front/back (mm): 1535/1535
Road clearance (mm): 120
Dry mass (kg): 1560
Fuel tank volume (l): 65

SUSPENSION
Front: independent, on two transverse levers, with a stabilizer
Rear: independent, multi -link, with a stabilizer

STEERING
Type: gear-rake, with an electrical power
Diameter of the turn (m): 10.2

Brakes
Front: disk, ventilated
Rear: disk

Dynamic characteristics
Maximum speed (km/h): 225
Acceleration to 100 km/h (sec): 8.1

Economy
Fuel consumption (l/100 km): according to the combined cycle: 9.1

Text: Sergey Knowemsky
 

Source: Motor magazine [February 2006]