Official Lexus IS site now up!


Lexus.com
Boasting a 305 HP V6, the IS350 will be the superior of the two new models planned to be released. With 'paddle' style shifting.
The IS250 supports a smaller engine but all time 4-wheel drive.
I've read local articles supporting the statement of a release of a; softtop(coupe and sedan), hardtop(coupe), and a wagon.
I personally would get the non-convertable-coupe.
I've just read that the IS350 will reach 60 in about 5.7-5.8 seconds.

Pricing
2006 IS250 (base model)
$ 27,585 - Manual - RWD
$ 28,955 - Automatic - E-Shift - RWD
$ 30,905 - Automatic - E-Shift - AWD
2006 IS350 (fully loaded)
$ 42,475 - Automatic - E-shift - RWD



Any opinions?





Image Credits to Fast-Autos.net

Why does the IS250 have the 6-speed manual option and the IS350 only has an automatic? Shouldn't it be the other way around?

And why the shifting paddles on an automatic?

The interior looks nice.

I'm almost certain they'll update that by spring.

Love the looks of that car, really slick. The interior is lined very well also

Mercedes does that too, which is why I'd never drive a Benz.

They have a manuel option for there lower model cars, like the C230, but on the C32 AMG, the only option is automatic. I don't understand the reasoning by it.

EDIT: Oh, and about the car, I dont think it looks too good, but i'm old-school. Even at 19 years old.

Good to see that they've returned more to Lexus' roots. I hated the design, outside and especially inside, of the previous IS. This one looks much more of a synergy of sport and posh. In the previous IS, a luxury company tried too hard to go hardcore sport, and the result was a goofy looking nose, cheap looking rear, and just plain WIERD and uncomfortable interior. This one looks great. But WTF is with those mirrors?? They're HUGE for a car of this size!!

paddles on an auto is just like that retarded J-shifter thing. Its so people who dont know how to drive standard can feel cool without the risk of wrecking their gearbox

automatic transmission is cost-effective (meaning cheap) compared to manual transmission. The downside is that automatic converter is very difficult and pricy to fix once it is broken. For high-end cars, unless you are very sophiticated in terms of changing gears, I don't think manual is such a great choice.

Manual is normally for low end cars becuase it is seay to fix. Poor people need an easier way to get by.

By the way, if you live in Ann Arbor, Michigan, you will know how crappy it is to have a manual car. I don't care how you guys suggest otherwise, but in a city where you move and stop..and move and stop, that's tedious for changing gears.

I just love automatic transmission. Very easy to use, no more hassles.

Personal preferences, so keep that to yourself. There is nothing wrong with automatic transmission. The only benefits with manual is such that you can speed up much faster, and you can do coasting (switch to neutral) whenever necessary. It also save more gas. However, the burden of changing gears isn't what I called fun and exciting.

When I first saw these at the ajc autoshow in atlanta I didn't like them, but this new design is really growing on me. That car looks sexy

For an everyday car, I can agree that automatic is convenient, but for a sports-car, manuel is the only way to go. You not only lose 20% of your power just by going with automatic, but you lose 90% of the fun of driving.

Although I am not the best at driving manuel, and it takes me some time to get used to the clutch of each car, when switching different manuel car (when i'd valet), manuel is great, fun, and just... you can control the power of the car!

OMFG!!!! That's nice.
I still don't understand the meaning of the paddle thing, but I'm cool with it

looks pretty nice...

wow, i gotta say, toyota is really on a roll nowadays. revamping all of their lines (scion, lexus) and making every model sexier.

I agree with this and the previous statement that the 05 IS and below models were nothing lexus-ey at all.

Scions are super-hawt also.

great to see they actually did something decent with the interior of the IS350. I just hated the inside of the IS300, my cousin had one, it didnt even have a decent arm rest.

overall, it looks pretty good. the headlights are a little honda accord-ish (which isn't bad), and the rear end looks a little funky, maybe out of proportion, but it looks nice.

actually, the more i look at the IS350, the more it resembles the new BMW 5 series' to me...

Is there a price estimate for this yet?

My thoughts exactly.
I think that's why I'm liking it so much.


^@ the price estimate, i am unsure and i'll check into it.

Yes, I've got price estimates. They will be edited into the first post.

Very 5 series like, I do like it.

As for the auto thing, well I think the AMG gearboxes are tuned to be sporty all the time, where as the lower models have a more saloon styled one. I believe Lexus are doing the same, if you've ever watched a SLK 55AMG go, you'll see why it's auto. The only thing I don't like about autos is you can't downshift into corners using both engine and brakes to slow, where as auto is all brakes.

car is teh sex

well, it did say "opinions" in the header, and that being my opinion, I presented it, but whatever....

that's what i said to my friend the other day. actually, if you look at the new avalon, it has a similar feeling to it too.

U just took the words out of my fingers, the doors part looks a lot like the new 5series..

Looks nice, wouldn't mind a coupe.

THing with automatic transmissions is that you have to view the segment the car is in. Mercedes doesn't make sports cars. They make luxury cars. That's why they hardly ever offer a manual tranny. It's not how the car was designed to be driven. Mercedes are for cruising autobahns, not mixing it up in twisties with Bimmers =)

Also, with the high torque of these new merc engines, the clutch would be a worry.

I'd take it if I have money to spend. It really looks stunning to me

Now if only they had some kinda SMG transmission in this car.
Please Toyota, take it out of the MR2 and put it in this. MAKE THOSE PADDLES WORTH IT!

Of course, we won't get our prayers answered. With all the money they put in F1, you'd think they'd move a lot more of their technologies to the Lexus brand...

Lexus RX400 Hybrid...?

Thats a hybrid. Thats some of Toyota's "technology"

I meant their technology they can adapt from their racing heritage/experience. When you buy a Lexus, you expect to be on a higher level don't you?

It would rock if you'd be able to buy the IS with a F1 style SMG gear box, some shifts in just milliseconds. Be able to stop, repeatedly without brake fade with ceramic discs. Have a decent looking set of superlight weight forged BBS's. Know what I mean?

Personally I don't care for hybrid synergy drive or whatever they want to market it. I like my conventional and highly inefficent internal combustion engines to work alone thank you very much

The rims on my dads IS200 (UK NAME) look great.
I think they're 17" Low Profile tires too. Not sure if you have the same in America though. I have seen a few English IS200's with different rims.

We don't have the IS200 here.

I wanna Drift that thing

Traction control can't be disabled on the new IS.

Is it just me or does the interior of the Lexus have that same feeling of commonness and impersonality that airport lounges and economy class seats have?

I think it's the outside weather.
The seats appear to be a little bland but I'm sure with better lighting and actual visualization of the interior it will be much nicer.

It looks like that specific IS was very under-spec.
I don't think lots of people will buy bonestock IS's.

Bump - Official IS site added to original post.

http://www.theNewIS.com

ahh! that is sweet car.

The arse end of things looks like that Hyundai they've been advertising recently

I'm actually waiting on my 350 now.

As in... you ordered one?!

Just wondering if the only differance between the is250 and is350 is the engine? Is that 350 engine really worth 12k more?!

i like the redesign of the GS series a lot better than the IS

Does anyone know the dates of when lexus dealerships will start getting in IS350 and IS 250s?? How about the date that the car is "released"? What does that even mean when they say released lol...

From what I understand pricing information will be out tomorrow and actual cars will be on lots on the 17th.

OK, first of all, the pricing information is wrong. Dealers won't have pricing until October 14th, which is the official release date. We should have some cars land this coming week.

Second, the IS250/350 was primarily made for the US market. Over 90% of the cars sold are automatics. Lexus has to sell what people want to buy. Everyone clamors for stick IS, yet when one is on the lot it sits there forever. As for the paddleshifter, why would you have paddle shifters on a stick shift? Paddle shifters are supposed to be for automatics. It's an easy way to hold a gear or chose your own gear when you don't feel like having the car choose for you. BTW, I grew up outside of the US and didn't even know an automatic transmission existed until I was 14. I prefer to drive sticks but I am definitely in a minority here.

Third, I drove the IS250AWD, the IS350 and the new BMW330i around a track last week and, except for the bald front tires I had on the 250, I left very impressed. I currently drive a 2002 BMW 325Ci and like the car. I really didn't like the Bangle direction of the new BMWs, but I realise that's a personal issue. However, I hated the interior of the new BMW. It had the iDrive, which I hated on the 5 series (never tried it on the 7). It's truly horrendous. The BMW drove great, as it should. Good thing they haven't screwed that up.

What surprised me was the poise of the IS350. In the BMW when the DSC kicked in it felt that it slowed the car to keep it under control. I mean, it did it's job, but it was noticeable in the speed decrease. When I felt the tail starting to go on the IS350, I heard the beep-beep-beep of the VDIM and it felt like someone just granbbed the rear end and placed it right back on the line. It was truly incredible. I felt no speed loss. It just kept tracking around the turn better. The interior of the IS is actually very nice. Even though it was a preproduction car and some of the plastics were not up to Lexus spec, the navigation system, the seats, and the instrument cluster were phenomenal.

I know there are people out there that buy brands. BMW is a good brand, but it's definitely worth it to take a look at the IS when it comes out.

If any of you are in Southeast Florida, PM me for an invitation to an IS event on the 27th.

Wow Thank you Ironman so much for the information. Im 16 years old and definately looking for lots of info on the IS350 and im trying to convince my dad to get me the IS350 over the BMW 325i or 330i depending on how much he wants to spend and having some difficulties just because of his thoughts of the domination of BMW over this class of cars... Anyways thanks again and if you can answer this for me, how much do you think the insurance rates will go up for the IS350? What are the current going rates of the IS300?? Oh also... I live in Houston Texas which means highest car insurance rates in just about any city in the country... except maybe LA... Thanks if you can answer either of those! Your awesome!


P.S. All my friends think I have a weird obsession with the IS350 and it better live up to its rep. or all my friends will hate me!

The new IS shouldn't insure much different than the current IS. However, as to what those rates may be, it can vary wildly so I can't even give you an idea of where it may be.