Lexus will unveil a facelift version of the IS compact this autumn at the Paris Motor Show.
The facelift include some minor visual tweaks centering on the front end – hence the disguise around this prototype’s snout.
Lexus will also revise the range structure, with a simpler model ladder and we hear the current range of engines (a 2.5- and 5.0-litre petrol, plus 2.2-litre turbodiesel) will be only lightly revised.
Lexus expects to sell around 8000 units a year.
Specialised in tuning Japanese cars, Wald International added also the new Lexus IS-F to its portofolio. Offering an unique body kit the tuner wanted to add more sportivity to the car and looking at it he sure did!
The vehicle has now a re-designed front bumper giving the car an angry look, new side sills, stylish rear spoiler in order to improve the downforce as well as a new rear bumper with integrated air diffuser. Too bad the engine remained untouched, developing ”only” 423 hp. No words about the price yet!
Not only the IS-F can be hot; Lexus unveiled a sportier version of the IS 250 on the UK market. No, is not about a performance package, just a full body kit and the "SR" letters in the title.
The body kit features deep skirts to the front, rear and sides of the car, a rear spoiler and 17-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels. Owners who want to make a sportier statement can order the optional five-spoke 18-inch Tsuki rims. Inside the only additions to the IS 250 SR concern the aluminum scuff plates and pedals along with the standard heated front seats.
The IS 250 SR is offered in three exterior colours -Velvet Black and Cadoxton Slate and Argento Ice metallic finishes. All are matched to Worcester Black interior fabric trim.
Under the hood there is the standard 204Hp 2.5-liter V6 engine.
The IS 250 SR will go on sale in the UK from 19 May price £24,990 (manual) and £25,800 (automatic).
The guys from BridgeToGantry caught a very mysterious Lexus IS testing at Nurburgring. It looks like a performance version of the IS-F sedan, a new model that will compete with BMW M3.
The high performance version of the IS-F will be powered by a 5.0 liter V8 engine that produces 429 horsepower and 376 lb-ft of torque. Lexus will use carbon fiber to reduce the weight, so the performances of the car will be increased.
But, could this be the one?
Lexus already announced the intention to create a coupe version for their sports sedan IS. The IS Coupe version was supposed to have enough power to compete with the BMW M3. Until now this were just rumors, as Lexus registered at the United States Patent and Trademark Office the IS250C, IS300C and IS350C trademarks.
This can mean only one thing: Lexus will definitely take in consideration the launch of a coupe version of the bestseller IS. The “C” letter definitely announces the fact that a coupe version of the IS sedan will be built and looks like the manufacturer took in consideration all the safety methods in order to have the name for the future car.
Lexus Performance Driving Academy announced today the dates and locations for 2008. These are: May 9 – 11 on Autobahn Circuit, May 30 - June 1 on Auto Club Speedway, June 27 - 29, 2008 on Summit Point Motorsports Park and July 11 – 13 on Atlanta Motor Speedway.
For those who want to drive the IS250, IS350, GS460, GS450h and the IS F, Lexus offers basic sessions on Saturday and Sunday. The Japanese manufacturer offers these lessons for free but if you want to upgrade to the "Ultimate" session that puts you at the wheel of the IS F for half a day and which costs $295.
For those who don’t know the Lexus IS F is powered by an engine capable of developing 416 hp while the sprint from 0-100 km/h is made in under 5 seconds. The IS F represents the response from Lexus to the Bmw M3 Sedan and Mercedes C63 AMG.
Hennessey is not happy with only creating on of the fastest car in the world (Venom 1000), they also want to start customizing models like Lexus IS-F and Nissan GT-R. Lets face it after all, they are a big challenge for any tuner.
The Lexus IS-F tuning kit will be unveiled next week. The kit will include Air Induction Kits, Stainless Headers & Exhaust Systems, Ported Cylinder Heads, Supercharger Systems & More.
Also high on his list of tuning prospects are such current and near-future performance vehicles as the Cadillac CTS-V, the Chevrolet Camaro, the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 and the Nissan GT-R. The ZR1, with its supercharged LS9 6.2-liter V8, holds significant promise, Hennessey believes, with the potential to deliver 700-plus horsepower.
A Convertible version for the Lexus IS will be available by the end 2009. It will be available with the same range of engines as the Lexus IS sedan, with output between 177 hp to 423 hp for the IS-F and will compete with BMW 3-Series Convertible.
The IS-F will be powered by a 5.0-liter V8, a detuned version of the 5.0L V8 currently in development for the LF-A supercar production version. As first information show, for the IS cabriolet the V8 engine will produce 423 bhp @ 5800 rpm and 405 lbs/ft of torque @ 3800 rpm from 5.0 liters of displacement.
More about the Lexus IS Convertible.
At the Tokyo Auto Salon, Lexus revealed the racing version of the IS-F sedan. And even if Lexus said "It is only a research prototype", the IS-F Racing Concept will be used at the DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters) racing.
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Lexus today announced the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the all-new 2008 IS F high-performance sport sedan. The IS F is the first production model to wear the new “F” badge and is the fastest Lexus production car ever built. The 2008 IS F launches onto the market carrying a base MSRP of $56,000.
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