Tailpipe

The LExus IS350 is selling in much larger numbers than anyone in JApan thought it would. So is the IS250 by the way. This may cause Lexus to reconsider the decision not to bring the 350 to Europe. It may also make them think about fitting a 6-speed manual to it as well. Expect to see new IS variants at Genva in March, plus new LS460 and new engines for RX350 and GS350/GS460/GS450h. Production variant of LF-A supercar will be seen later in the year. There'll be something new at every major show this year.

Sorry, mate, but is there a possibility that you have come across as a rather diffucult and demanding customer to deal with? Based on your post, I wouldn't touch you with a barge-pole if i was a dealer - you seem like you're more trouble than you're worth. Do you expect dealers to be mind readers? if you want a test drive in an IS220d, ask for one! Have you any idea of the numbers of miscellaneous calls dealers get from time-wasters or semi-serious punters? Add to the fact that Lexus' latest line-up of cars means that they've got more people going into their dealerships than ever before and you can probably understand why it is difficult to be as proactive as they usually are. Ultimately, you will spend more time in any car you buy than in the dealership of any brand you choose. So choose the brand wisely. Lexus isn't top for quality for nothing. by the same token BMW doesn't languish well below it because its cars are better. in my expereince, it is BMWs crown that has slipped - which is hardly surprising given how many more cars BMW sells than Lexus. More than that, relationship building is a two-way process - sometimes you have to make people feel you're worth the effort.

The 2007 Lexus LS460 is an absolutely stunning car. For a start, the styling and general proportions are much more appealing and balanced than those of the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class. It doesn't try to be flash or avant garde. The look is elegant and reserved. Underneath its skin, the facts speak for themselves: a brand new 4.6 litre V8 with direct injection developing 380 bhp. Acceleration time of 0-60 in 5.5 seconds. Top speed limited to 155 mph. Engine mated to the world's first 8-speed automatic gearbox. Fuel consumption of 25.0 mpg. VDIM fitted as standard. Instead of an options list as long as War and Peace, every conceivable electronic gadget appears to come as standard, with the exception of a voice-activated DVD SatNav system, a 19-speaker Mark Levinson stereo with a 7.1 surround sound system, and an 8-Gigabyte media server. Talk about Vorsprung durch technik; not even the Audi A8 is this advanced. The quality and integrity of the cabin environment is once again, peerless. The materials used together with interior build quality once again raise the bar, giving even Rolls-Royce something to think about. The layout of the controls follows the intuitive simplicity of the IS. Forget BMW's clumsy i-drive controller (copied badly by Mercedes-Benz), the LS is all about clever touch-screens and one-button functionality. The tough choice you'll need to make with this car is: do I sit in the back or the front? Those of you fortunate to have a chauffeur, may decide to fire him. But if you do prefer to sit in the back, a long wheelbase version is also available. If you want, you can specify it with four seats rather than the amply comfortable standard rear bench. The four-seat version is not unlike the interior of a Maybach, but is a little less gharish. There is a centre table that folds away between the two seats. A roof mounted TV screen swings down for your viewing pleasure and there is a massage option for the rear right seat. The best news about this car isn't merely that it blitzes the best Germany can offer, but that it will be available in the UK at a price that makes every other car in the class look like a rip-off. Early indications are that it will sell at between £55,000-£60,000. An equvalent spec Benz, BMW or Audi would be at least £75K, making the LS460 incredible value. This is an astonishing car by any objective standard. And if the new IS caused German engineers to quietly withdraw to the local bierkeller to drown their sorrows and sing morale-boosting songs about the good old days, then the new LS will probably cause them to contemplate Hari Kiri. It's that good. The 2007 LS shows such a solid understanding of what customers in this vehicle segment want, that you instantly realise that the product shelf-lives of its nearest competitors will be dramatically shortened by its arrival. This is the kind of car that you'll drive until oil supplies truly run out, safe in the knowledge that it will never fall apart. So once people get into this car, it is unlikely that Mercedes-Benz, BMW or Audi will persuade them to get out of it any time soon. In terms of besting Germany's top marques, it's a slam dunk for the Lexus. The real question it poses is to the buyers of Bentleys and Maybachs. Do you buy a Lexus LS460 instead and have enough money left over to buy a fractional share of a private jet, a Chris-Craft boat or a membership of Exclusive Resorts?

Has anyone purchased this colour combination? If so how satisfied are you with it? I'd be eternally grateful if you couild post a picture of both interior and exterior versions of it. Thanks.

Getting back on topic... There will definitely be an IS500 supersaloon model. A mule has already been spotted on the Nordshliefe Ring. And it will be sold in the UK unlike the IS350. The IS500 will have a developed version of the current Lexus 4.3 V8 engine bored out to to either 4.6 or 5.0 litres. No one is sure which one yet. I hope it will also have Lexus' excellent AWD system so that the power is fully usable. Whatever expect this car to give the M3 and S4s of this world a good run for their money.

Bravo CurtisP! You will be delighted by your purchase. But you and i are not alone in our clear recognition of the new IS's advantages. This forum and others like it are full of extremely well informed and independent-thinking buyers, many of whom are somewhat "hard-bitten" through bad experiences with car brands that should know better. I realise that anyone buying a car for themselves and spending over £30,000 tends to be extremely smart. Rather like Audi became the thinking man's Mercedes/ BMW 20 years ago, Lexus is now poised to do the same. I'm not sure I want the whole world to end up driving a Lexus. It will lose its uniqueness. As far as I'm concerned, I am the only person who needs to know that it is genuinely superior to BMWs et al.

Note the range (easiest to see in the bottom picture) - 20-250km/h, 13-156mph ← This is hilarious! Praise the Lord for the Internet! Next time I'm late, I'll make sure I pass the M4 GATSOs in my Bentley Continental GT at 198 mph.

Don't forget the advice about the tyres either. On our terrible roads, tyre choice can make all the difference in the world. I concur with Colin, the Goodyears are great. There is one other thing to remember too. The SC430 has a V8 not a puny six cylinder engine. That's a serious amount of power under your foot. Be safe.

This thread has made my day. I simply love the idea of driving an SUV in Central London and not having to pay the Congestion Charge. Well done Lexus.

As someone who follows the motor industry extremely closely, i feel bound to say that Autocar has seriously compromised its reputation for objective journalism with its review of the new IS model. it is no secret that BMW is Autocar's largest single advertiser and theefore takes no leap of the imagination to summise that the magazine simply cannot afford to say anything that would alienate its German client. Top Gear had no hesitation in awarding the IS250 the category crown and even Car has come round to the new IS. Autocar is pathetic. Moreover, the BMW 320d is one of BMW's best-selling models. This is the one car they don't want messed up. So Autocar fetlt obliged to pan the Lexus. Is the IS220 as off-the-pace as it suggests? No way. The lack of an auto is to be regreted, but the engine is absolutely fine. Actually, it's more than that. It's a gem and will last a lot longer than any BMW motor. Toyota has invested so much more in this engine than BMW did in theirs. They really wanted it to be the best. If 220d sounds strange at idle, it is because it is an all alloy unit. Of course, the IS will never sell in the same sort of volumes as the 3-Series; it was never intended to and BMW knows this - but the fact that BMW has tried so hard to pee on Lexus' firework shows just how scared of Lexus the Germans are. They should be scared. The Japanese are hot. If there's one Lexus model that all German manufactuers need to be scared of is not the IS, but the new LS which we'll see launched in a few weeks time at the Detroit Show.

Dito! :D ← Everyone seems to agree that the IS is the key model to drive growth for Lexus in Europe. But one body style and two engines are probably not enough to achieve Lexus' goals. So I hope they will introduce additional engines. A 1.8 petrol engine and a 1.8 diesel engine would be appreciated at the lower end of the spectrum. But maybe there is room for the IS350 (with both a manual and auto transmission) plus a range topping super-saloon with a V-8. I'd also like to see the AWD model made available over here. Even a range of six engines and two transmission types isn't enough. Alternative body styles will also be needed. While the coupe/ cabriloet seems to be on the agenda, I think Lexus also needs to offer an estate. At the moment, the only Lexus load-lugger is the RX300/ 400h. Therefore, a Sportcross model with significantly more space than the old version had would be popular.

The dealer I spoke to told me that the suspension settings for all versions of the new IS are identical. In other words, apart from 18" wheels and and no wood in the dashboard console and surround, the IS 250 Sport is identical to the IS 250 SE-L. Is this right? Does the Sport have more horsepower or a revised engine mapping for a faster throttle response? I'm thinking of simply adding 18" wheels to my IS 250 SE-L order. Does anyone have 18" wheels on their new IS and if so, how does the ride compare to the standard 17" wheels? Thanks in anticipation of a response.

Since posting this, Lexus USA has announced that an additional new IS concept will be shown at Detroit. This is expected to be the coupe/ cabriolet version of the IS.

As a marketing person and Lexus fan, I have been doing a bit of research about forthcoming Lexus models. These predictions are based on genuine conversations with people at Lexus HQ in Brussels, motoring journalists in the UK and other industry sources: 1. IS saloon We won't get the IS350 in Europe, but we will get a super-saloon IS460/ IS500 with the new 4.6 litre V8. Good for at least 400 bhp, it will certainly give the M3 and RS4 something to think about. If the IS continues to sell as well as it is - with orders well ahead of previous model's launch trajectory - who knows, maybe we WILL get IS 350 as well. 2. IS coupe Yes. This is definitely coming and should be available by Q3 2007. They have tested a hard top and a hard/top convertible (like Mercedes-Benz SL). No one knows whether both will make production. (I don't know, but DESPITE RUMOURS TO THE CONTRARY, I strongly suspect that we will see a WAGON VERSION of the new IS. Unlike previous fastback estate IS, new one will be a proper estate car. Nevertheless, it will be extremely handsome. I just hope that it will have more rear passenger space.) 3. GS saloon For 2007 model year, the engine from the IS350 will go into the GS350 model and give it a welcome power boost. It also gets latest SatNav from IS. There is even talk of an entry level model with the 2.5 litre engine. The GS450h has already been presented. New 4.6 litre engine will be added to this model subsequently. 4. LS saloon New LS series arrives in time for next Christmas. Was previewed at Tokyo in the LS-Sh concept. Real thing will arrive at the Detroit show in January and in Europe at Geneva show. Brand new 4.6 litre engine will give standard version more than enough zip. This will be an IS on steroids and feature every electronic gizmo you can imagine - including a feature that detects how alert the driver is by watching her/ him with a camera. 5. LF-A Supercar This has definitely been slated for production. Will replace SC430. Surprsingly, it will have a V-10 not a V-8. I say surprisingly, because it was orginally designed to showcase Toyota's Formula One technology and F1 is moving to a V-8 engine configuration. Whatever, this car will be stunning in every department and should certainly pee on Porsche's firework! Will be presented in production form in 2006 and is expected to debut in 2007. 6. Brand new Hatchback Lexus is working on a top secret hatchback to slot in below the IS. Designed to compete with the Audi A3 and BMW 1-Series, it is expected to be front wheel drive to maximise packaging effciencies. Like the IS, it will have class leading luxury interior. Will be presented in 2007 and is expected to debut in 2008. 7. RX replacement Work has already begun on the RX replacement model. Very similar in style and execution to the current model, the new one will be less of a soft-roader with serious off-road capabilities, thanks to some very clever and light Japanese engineering technology. Expected to offer a slightly larger cargo area behind the rear seats, it will be able to seat seven. Overall size should not be much bigger than current RX, middle row of seats slides to afford greater legroom to rear passengers. Will be presented in 2008 and is expected to debut 2009. _________________ New engines An all aluminium 3.0+ litre V-6 diesel has been discussed but it isn't known whether it will make production. Mated to a hybrid drive, such a car could offer even greater economy than current hybrid models. Let's hope it does. The engine line-up for Europe should look like this: 2.2 litre L4 diesel: IS 2.5 litre V6 petrol: IS, GS 2.5 litre V6 petrol/ electric electric: IS 3.2 litre V6 diesel: IS, GS* 3.5 litre V6 petrol: GS, RX, LS 3.5 litre V6 petrol/ electric hybrid: GS, RX 4.6 litre V8 petrol: IS, GS, LS, 4.6 litre V8 petrol. electric hybrid: LS 5.6 litre V10: LF-A and possibly hyper-saloon version of LS * = wild guess (It isn't known what engines will go in new hatchback, but they are likely to be existing Toyota units) In summary, I can't say that this list is 100% accurate, but directionally it is right on the mark. Anyone who can confirm or refute any of these details, your comments are welcome. What I can say for sure about Lexus' strategy is that while it won't derail Mercedes or BMW, at least in the short-term, it is designed to put a HUGE dent in Audi: > New hatchback will leverage Toyota's burgeoning small car credentials to offer quality and value to make the Audi A3 look expensive and pathetic. > Next A4 is front wheel drive so new IS already outscores it dynamically > LF-A supercar will be in a performance league above Audi R8 yet in a price category below it. Audi is stupidly scared of cannibalising Lamborghini sales. > New LS will be in a league above the S-Class let alone the A8. > New Audi Q7 is way too big, high and wide. New RX will kill it if the present one doesn't.

When UK car magazines began to review the new Lexus IS, I was disappointed by their lack of objectiveness. in particular, having driven the car myself, criticisms of the ride and steering seemed completely unfounded. Also the diesel engine really is excellent. I haven't expereinced it in the IS yet, but in other Toyotas it really shines - and unlike BMWs, it gets better with use, rather than losing its refinement with age. Anyway, now that most of the UK rags are doing their end of year reviews, we're seeing the IS get much better write-ups. In particular, Top Gear rated it above the 3-Series and Car was much more lavish in its praise than it had been before. Mole said something on this forum about motoring journalists not wishing to bite the hand that feeds them with advertising. At least they said the right thing in the end. The proof is in the eating (or rather the buying) and Lexus sales in the USA show that it is doing very well indeed. According to My.IS Lexus has achieved its best ever month with the IS since the model began life in 1999. Well done Lexus.

Anyone gone for the cruise/pre-crash option? ← Tango, I was thinking about this and asked my dealer for more details. He said if you do lots of long journeys on long straight motorways - with the attendant risk of falling asleep - then the cruise/ pre-crash system was probably A Good Thing. Otherwise not to worry. It is the only option i haven't ordered. I've heard good things about VDIM and if this was offered as an option to manage all the other electronic driver aids, then i might have gone for it. In the USA, it's offered with the IS350.

Dear Mole, I guess the price of the new IS is a step up from the previous one. But Lexus is targeting a very different customer than before. Some previous IS owners will make the jump to the new model easily. For others absolute price maybe a barrier and this is unfortunate. As I said in my review, the category has moved on. And when you compare the new IS to an equvilently specced BMW, the Lexus is thousands of pounds cheaper. Even the outrageously pro-BMW hacks at Autocar admiited this. I suspect that the new IS will hold its value very well,especially the IS220D. For that reason, it could make a very good lease option car. Price apart, there is very little to fault on this car. I think it is going to sell very, very well. I've noticed that a lot of pilots and IT people like the Lexus IS. I wonder what sort of crowd will like the new one?

Just tested UK version of 2006 IS250 SE-L Automatic As a former BMW 3-Series owner let me give you my perspectives of the new IS250. Exterior and interior quality overwhelms you the moment you set eyes upon it. As good as the car looks in photographs, no picture really does it justice. Its sculpted surfaces look absolutely stunning in the metal. It's definitely a design that catches the eye of other road users. Compared to the ugly 3-Series which looks dull, dowdy and un-integrated in comparison, this is definitely round one to the Lexus. The driving position is excellent with good views all round. The central and door arm rests enable you to sit very naturally and comfortably in the car. The steering wheel is adjustable for reach and rake and moves in and out to aid entry and exit from the vehicle. The leather seats envelop you and seem almost infinitely adjustable. The fit and finish is the best I've ever seen in a production car. Man, this thing makes even an S-Class look dowdy. The highlight of the interior, apart from the sheer quality of materials used, is the SatNav screen. In fact, I urge anyone who is planning to buy an IS to have this option fitted. The latest generation of SatNav system is the clearest and most intuitively easy to use one I've experienced, (i.e. versus comparitive systems in new A6, new Merc CLS and BMW 3-Series with i-drive.) The screen quality when playing DVDs is impressive. The surround sound system is equally stunning. The overall impression of the cabin is a serene cocoon that totally spoils the occupants. The sheer amount of electronic goodies offered is way beyond anything I've seen in any German car. In motion, you are well insulated from exterior noise. This is a mini limo in every sense. The elimination of noise, vibration and harshness is unprcedented in a car within this class. The view forward and around the car is good and I wasn't aware of any blind spots. Now let's get serious: driving impressions. This is not a hard edged driving instrument with tyre-shredding acceleration. But then it's not meant to be. It is about effortless progression. While the Lexus IS may not have 300+ bhp, it's no slouch. I didn't realise how fast I was going until the sales rep next to me coughed loudly. So be careful, this car is deceptively quick. At no time did it ever feel under-powered. It corners neatly and I found the steering wheel to be communicative and direct without ever needing to fight it or adjust it mid-turn. The ride is firm but well damped. To me it provides a perfect balance between comunicative preciseness and comfort. The suspension has the kind of maturity you usually only find in much more sophisticated Benzes. I have no doubt that this will be a great car for long distance trans-European cruising. It feels as if it will simply demolish the miles. The automatic gearbox is so good that I honestly wonder why anyone would ever want a manual one. Unlike our American cousins, who can't seem to get the hang of paddle-shifters mounted onto the steering wheel, I found them easy to use. You really can rev this thing hard and it will hold a gear. It didn't change up, even when I went right up to the rev limit. The changes down were unbelievably smooth; so much so that the car seemed to be matching the revs perfectly on downshifts. Very clever. On the road, the car feels very planted and secure. As a rear-wheel driver, it imparts an excellent feeling of being connected with the car's chassis. It is agile and responsive, yet has excellent composure. It will take a lot to unsettle this car, even when cornering in the wet like today. The level of grip was completely reassuring. This is an easy car to drive and does not make any unreasonable demands of the driver. That said, you can have fun with it and push hard when you want to - safe in the knowledge that it is fully loaded with enough electronic safety features to correct even the most reckless of maneuvrers. I couldn't really 'push the envelope' on my brief test drive, but sensed it had much in reserve. The engine is smooth and refined. It revs willingly and I had no problem pulling away from traffic lights in 3rd. If the 250 is this good, the 350 must be a monster. (Shame we're not getting it, but that's another story.) You can engage as much or as little in the driving experience as you wish. Either way, this car seems to flatter your abilities and obey your inputs with alacrity. In summary then, I have to say that this car is superb beast. It really pushes the game on in the category, and I have no hesitation in saying that I would prefer this car over a BMW 3-Series any day. This car does a great job in convicing you that there is much more to driving pleasure than than lurid tail slides and straight-line acceleration. On a practical note, you immediately sense that this will be an extremely easy machine to live with on a day-to-day basis. Of course, it isn't perfect and it does have two glaring faults. One is rear cabin legroom, which is an inch too short. The other is the boot, which about the only area where a BMW outpoints it. The new IS is simply a scaled down GS. So if space is a priority to you, go for the GS. Personally, I prefer the styling of the IS and am prepared to put up with its space deficiencies for the sake of having a car that is smaller and thus easier to drive around town. I don't think anyone who buys this car will be disappointed. I think the boys in Munich will thinking hard in between drowning their sorrows and getting bollocked by the Quandt Family. The IS comprehensively out-classes the new 3-Series. Let's hope at least one motoring journalist has the courage to admit it. Can't wait to get mine.

There is a very interesting review of the new IS250 in this week's Autocar versus the new shape BMW 325i. it seems that no hack wants to put his neck on the line by saying that the IS is better than the 3-Series, so predictably the 3-Series is given the nod over the the IS250. However, the sole criteria for making this choice is handling, although rear-passenger space and boot size are not as good as the 3-Series. For me, build quality, reliability, interior comfort, styling and the degree to which the car cocoons you from other road users are equally important. When you take these other factors into account, the Lexus IS slaughters the 3-Series. Even Autocar ackowledges that the Lexus has superior styling, build quality, NVH damping, electronic trickery and cabin environment versus the 3-Series. What they also say is that the IS exudes a quality that puts it in another class to the BMW, but for a price that is significantly less. What a pity they didn't give these other dimensions of ownership more importance in their evaluation of the IS. Whatever, both cars are extremely acccomplished performers and appear to raise the bar in this category. (Risky3301, Lexus is right on the mark in terms of value-for-money in the category. If you think the IS's prices are too high, then maybe you're looking at the wrong class of car. ) I am a former BMW-owner, switching to Lexus for the first time. I get to drive the IS250 this Thursday. Expect a truly objective account of the car to follow. If it isn't better than the 3-Series, I won't buy it. Having read Autocar's review, I'm pretty sure it's going to be a 'slam dunk' for Lexus.

Is it me or are Lexus' brochures crap? They seem totally soulless, bland and lacking in descriptions of key technical benefits. They are not emotive in any way. In fact, it's lucky the product is so good, because I doubt anyone would buy a LExus based on the current catalogues of disaster.

This is so much better than the new S-Class. Congratulations LExus, it really looks sophisticated, mature and understated. It;s so much more orginal than either of its two primary German competitors. (I never thought I'd say that about a Japanese car !) I doubt the wheels will make it to production - everyone everywhere is saying too bling. I also think the front end needs to be toned down just a little. But overall, 11/10. Great effort.

I believe that this is the concept version of the new LS due to be shown at Tokyo show. Not bad at all IMHO. The lower front bumper looks a bit weird, but overall it looks clean and elegant - with definite shades of IS and GS. I particularly like the light treatment at the front. Whatever, it is orginal with a sophisticated and futuristic style. Which is more than can be said for the new S-Class. With each new model, Lexus seems to be pushing the bar higher. I hope they succeed in knocking the Germans off their perch, if only for the same reason that it became boring when M. Schumacher won every F1 race!

It seems we all agree that the IS250 S-EL should come with 18" wheels as standard. If anyone from Lexus UK or Lexus Europe is reading this, it would be great if you could respond to this request.

"Tailpipe can you let me know how much your dealer charged you to upgrade to 18" rims. The dealer I have placed my deposit with is saying that it can't be done..."Saracen, My dealer (Lexus Park Lane) hasn't told me how much 18" alloys will cost yest, but assures me that they will be available. Given the various discussions I've had with him about the spec, it seems like Lexus is still deciding which options should be offered with what package and so on. I've told him to tell Lexus that larger alloys should be standrard on the S-EL. The 16 and 17 inch wheels don't look great on new IS IMHO. By the way, has anyone seen a full brochure yet or a price list?