Test Drive Lexus IS C since 2009 Sedan

Lexus IS250 Version X Specs

Specifications Lexus IS350
Body sizes (length / width / height) 4575 mm / 1795 mm / 1430 mm.
Wheel base 2730 mm
Machine weight 1580 kg
FR drive (rear-wheel drive)
2.5-liter engine, 6-cylinder with V-shaped cylinder arrangement, gas distribution mechanism Two top-arrangement shafts, developing power 215 hp at 6400 rpm, the largest torque is 26.5 kg / m at 3800 rpm / min.
Transmission 6-speed automatic transmission
Price of the car 4.500.000 yen (about $ 45.000)
The market has the most massive model LEXUS IS
So, from the moment when LEXUS brand cars began to enter the inner Japanese market, one month passed. And what? The number of applications four times exceeded the initial plan and amounted to 4,600 cars. Among them, about 4,000 orders fall on the Lexus GS model. What is there Lexus GS! Even familiar to all of us ordinary SOARER, where they simply changed the emblem and began to call the Lexus SC model, even he did not go without the attention of buyers! Let me remind you that it was assumed to sell 100 such machines per month, and the desire to acquires expressed as many as 600 people! Of course, the question is not how much cars left for the first month of sale. It is important how to save this tempo and not lose your potential client. Because it is clear to everyone: the beginning of sale is for the most part of the excitement. But he ends very quickly, and gray weekdays are coming.
Therefore, it is not at all surprising that it was decided to put a car for sale by the LEXUS LEXUS IS car for sale for sale. At first, it is planned to sell about 1,800 such cars monthly. That is, a big bet is made on this model than the more prestigious Lexus GS machine (the plan for its implementation of 1100 units per month) and this is despite the fact that its sales price can not be called low. See: The car of the highest category L, with a 3.5-liter motor, which develops power in 318 hp It will cost 5.250.000 yen (about $ 52,000). Machine with a 2.5 liter engine (215 hp) in the basic configuration for it 3.900.000 yen (about $ 38,500) are asked for it. Yes, all machines are standardly equipped with a multifunction onboard navigator and the ETC system. But still, at a price, this Japanese machine is comparable with imported PREMIUM class models, such as BMW 3 Series, or Mercedes C Class, or Audi A4, - in a word, with small-calm (according to the machines of the PREMIUM machine) cars made in Germany.
The fact that Toyota turned out to be at the very top of the automotive hierarchical staircase of Japan, is due, of course, the fact that it produces reliable cars, which, at the same time, are quite economical. And it goes in line with those trends that are now prevailing not only with us, but also around the world. Therefore, there is a Toyota company not in recent roles. But on the other hand, if you turn to dynamic characteristics, first of all, the constructive features of the suspension, the undoubted leadership in this area reliably hold the German manufacturers of prestigious cars. Yes, among Japanese cars, from those run on the roads of Japan, there are very well-equipped samples who argue. But still, according to such criteria, as a style or subjective feeling of the thoroughness, they are still not reaching the best world samples. This, by the way, is sometimes recognized by the engineers themselves and the engineers themselves. And if, for example, on any presentation suddenly comes a conversation about Western cars, it turns out to be Japanese developers who are crushed in the sense that they say if it was allowed to increase the cost part, then we would unfold, etc. .
But the LEXUS brand cars appear on the market. They cost quite expensive. The level of sale price suggests that the cost part of the project resulted in a round sum that, however, no one especially limited. So what did it happen? Some time ago, I have already published a report on the presentation of the Lexus GS model and, it seems, noted that it is still lacking. And now the presentation of the next model of the LEXUS brand. Well, try to evaluate this car in a similar way, that is, on the subject of all whether it is enough in it. Below my material on this topic.
We did not have intention to imitate the West!
As I noted earlier, the first model of the LEXUS brand model appeared in our market, namely, the GS model is essentially a continuation of the model range of Toyota Aristo. At least, it looks like this. In contrast to this in the appearance of the LEXUS IS car practically nothing left of her progenitor, that is, the Toyota Altezza models. Abroad, by the way, the LEXUS IS model is considered to be a continuation of the IS line, which, just, was named in Japanese catalogs as Toyota Altezza. But all representatives toyota, with whom I managed to talk, in one voice, declare that the Toyota Altezza car does not have any relationship to the current model of Lexus IS for its character. I also inclined to count so. At the very least, I very carefully examined the body of Lexus IS, I saw a 4-door sports sedan with the elements of the coupe, this is so, but no signs for which you could reliably establish the relationship of this car with the Toyota Altezza car did not find it. And taking into account how carefully the design of the machine is made, how high-quality materials are used in it, I can say for sure: this is a representative of the LEXUS prestigious Marks family!
But you can look at this problem and on the other hand, and try to compare it with those machines of the Western sample, which makes it a competition. With this approach, the amazing restraint is immediately striking, which characterizes the Lexus IS model. So, the BMW brand models have a pronounced front cut of the avant-garde configuration. Audi cars with a typical lattice shape are also made in a typical designer manner for Western elite cars, the main purpose of which immediately combat its buyer. But we will not be limited to German cars. Here, for example, the Italian car Alfa Romeo, which is decorated with a stray array stretched from the front. Or, another example, the French Peugeot, on which such a big air intake is installed that it is more like a huge jaw of the Caribbean shark. The reason for all these tricks is easy to understand if I keep in mind that each manufacturer in every way trying to make it easily recognize and distinguished from other similar models.
But back to our LEXUS IS machine. Designers tried to make a car as simple as possible and open. So simple that, if someone from buyers when examining the car and can squeeze out something like wow! It will only be a reaction to the restraint of the design that borders asceticism. If you listen to those who were responsible for developing the appearance of the machine, you can learn a lot of new things. Well, for example, one of them stated clearly and unequivocally: we needed to solve the issue of design, so that we are not suspected of imitation of the West!. But in fact it is just an excuse, no more. The case, I think, is not in danger to be accused of worshiping in front of the West, but if you want, in the peculiarities of the Japanese idea of \u200b\u200bbeautiful. That is, each country has its aesthetic principles. In Japan, for example, aesthetics is largely built on contemplation of the idle-sophisticated. What's next? And the fact that at the moment the LEXUS car brand for the Japanese consumer is nothing more than an empty sound: there is no tradition, no long history. In such conditions, if you make an aggressive car, a bright face, it will cause no approval or interest, but directly opposite feelings. And so that this does not happen, it was decided not to be hot. Agree, such a point of view looks quite reasonable. In short, in contrast to the generally accepted opinion that the prestigious car should immediately hit the imagination, there is nothing particularly outstanding. But, maybe, just this feature that is not only characteristic of the described LEXUS IS model series, but also to other LEXUS brand cars, just increase their prestige among the Japanese. After all, not every person who decided or may decide to buy a Premium class car, it will require the machine to be acquired by the machine to be with a touch of some viciousness in the front part design.
If we talk about the degree of fitting diverse on the configuration of the panels forming the body, it is unlikely that someone will find any flaw here. As in the case of the Lexus GS car, before you give the body into painting, the entire body is undergoing thorough grinding to remove even the slightest joints between the different components of the plumage. After all, if you do not do this dirty work, even the most advanced ways of painting will not give this perfect result.
LEXUS style is most noticeable inside the cabin
The appearance on the market of the LEXUS IS model range occurred simultaneously with the GS model, but with some, quite a minor delay. In fact, if we take the duration of the development of these two machines, this difference will be equal to the whole year. I emphasize: Lexus IS was completed later than the Lexus GS model for 12 months. Such an annual delay made it possible to solve two tasks: to apply new materials and techniques in the interior design, which you will not see in the GS salon, and, on the other hand, remove everything that could, anyway, to remind the user about his relationship with the machines Toyota brands. In particular, the dashboard in front of the driver's seat turned out to be converted completely! And this is a very pleasant news, taking into account the fact that in the GS salon, the dashboard remained the same as the Toyota car brand. Application of inscriptions to the instrumentation pointers is also performed on special lecture. So, if you look in general, the annual phora, which was provided to developers of the LEXUS IS model, was used with a fairly tangible benefit. In fact, the leaders of the LEXUS project will always be a task how to achieve this quality of execution so that on the one hand, emphasize the special style of Lexus, and on the other hand, to potential buyers, that this is not Toyota, and that these machines should be assessed (in direct and figuratively) at a special rate. To solve this problem, the design of the dashboard, as well as the inscriptions applied to it, as it seems strange, has an important meaning. After all, these elements are constantly looming before the drivers' eyes, right? So it turns out that insignificant, it would seem, the item suddenly turns out to be in the first place in importance! If you do not recall, it is unlikely to pay attention to this, but this is not a Toyota, the eyes are not cheating.
Soft pillows are located around the front panel, then the average console and ventilation windows through which air-conditioned air flows into the salon. The panel and windows are flush with the front panel lid. But this designer reception we are already familiar to the GS salon. The average console is clearly divided into two halves: lower and upper. Both parts are interconnected. If, when developing this node, there was no calculation to the high degree of fitting and surface treatment, then its appearance would be crumpled. But, just as it was in the GS salon, all surfaces were conjugate without the slightest junction. Such demands from Lexus designers require that new, more advanced technologies are used in production. In response to this, the technologists in Toyota are self-confidently declare !, and they probably know what they say. That's just the flaws still do not, no, and appear. I say this completely seriously, however, my judgments concern only those machines on which I performed trial trips. But the point is corrected, and when it will be reduced to zero the possibility of such flams, then I, as they say, take off the hat!
In a word, in terms of fitting different parts, everything is almost the right way, which cannot be said about the decorative panel, which highlights the control panel by the navigation system and the music center. Look at yourself, it is done under silver, but you can hardly call this site with a sample of completeness. It seems that it is not metal at all, but a simple plastic painted with aluminum paint. Yes, and the form of this panel is some kind of too simple. At least she does not fit with all the other components of the interior of the cabin, which, I repeat, is the interior of the prestigious brand of the PREMIUM car. So, if I asked me that in the Lexus IS car there is the most unattractive, I would not think, I pointed to this panel.
For even more convenience
. The cloned steering column of the telescopic type, equipped with an electric drive, is supplemented by the Easy Entry function (light in / output). Moreover, it is interesting that the GS model does not provide for such a function. If everything is described in order, then everything is so. The driver opens the door to sit down in a chair or get out of the cabin, and at that moment the steering wheel, bending his neck, begins to move up, freeing the place in front of the driver's seat. Everything, after that, landing or disembarking becomes simpler. Of course, this kind of improvement is nothing but good words, does not deserve! Although it should be noted that the geometry of inclination of the steering wheel is such that being calculated for a more convenient landing or disembarkation, it creates a well-known inconvenience when the driver decides to use it to adjust the working position of the steering wheel. The point is that the tilted steering column allows you to move the steering wheel in the vertical plane. But in this cabin (this is, by the way, it concerns not only the LEXUS IS salon, but in general, all the shops of the Toyota brand), the wheel moves not in the upward direction. It seems to be raised in the cervical vertebra, which dramatically narrows the adjustment range. For example, if you set the steering wheel to the extreme top position, it will not get up not just above, it will turn out to be called, rubbed, almost like in a minivan. Thus, a dilemma arises: or convenience when landing and disembarking, or the ability to more accurately adjust the position of the steering wheel for the subsequent ride. The choice is really not easy. But personally, I think like this: no matter how it was, whatever additional fixture was attached, the most important thing is that all this makes it any kind of main driver's posture. And then you can provide any, a wide variety of opportunities, does not prevent!
Rear seats, I must say, turned out to be quite spacious. Such spacious that, in general, four adults, the growth of which will not exceed 175 cm, will be able to accommodate in the cabin with maximum comfort. Although it is necessary to note another. Try to sit on the rear seat and freely lower the legs on the floor. You will immediately find that, either left foot (if it had to sit down for the driver), or right foot (if your seat behind the front passenger) will surely be thrilled in the rail, which should slide the front arm. By the way, I drew attention to the BMW 3 Series car salon. To take off the leg from the rail and put it more comfortable, you have to shift the torso closer to the door. And this, it seems, helps to avoid one inconvenience, as the other immediately arises. The fact is that then the back will be resting on the outer wall of the niche under the rear wheel. She, of course, puts on the lower back, which, you see, not very nice. And what is the reason for this phenomenon? Yes, in comparison with the Toyota Crown or, let's say, Toyota Mark X, here the wheelbase is reduced by as much as 120 mm. Here you and the result! Yes, of course, I agreed with the representative of the engineering department, when he tried me that, they say, the Lexus IS model is not the car where the comfort of passengers placed in the rear seats is of paramount importance. And yet, really it is impossible to make the rails, on which the front row of the front of the seats slide, went closer to the tunnel under the cardan shaft, which stretches along the entire salon? After all, this is, just, would allow you to remove this question! Yes, naturally, it will require some alterations of the entire cabin, and it will turn into additional costs. So what? After all, this is not just a comfortable car, it is a salon of the premium class! Or do I not understand something? Or is it all a trifle on which you should not pay attention to? But, to be honest, I, just, would like in the LEXUS IS brand cars draw attention to such trifles. And if you choose the surest way to solve this problem, I would personally offer the following. Let it be sacrificed by the distance between the knees of the passenger sitting in the back chair and the back of the front seat. Due to this, the rear seat shifts a few centimeters ahead. Then slightly changes the configuration of the rear seat as a whole, and so please: you can safely shift the torso closer to the door and do not feel unpleasant pressure in the lower back, because niches under the rear wheels are out of the back.
 

A source: Carview.co.jp.