Lexus has blown the lid off the IS.
Unleash your desire for adventure.
With the unveiling of the new IS 250C and IS 350C, Lexus has made its IS luxury sport sedan even sportier. The eye-catching retractable hardtop convertible made its debut at last fall's Paris Motor Show, and is now available in the US[1].
NEAR-INSTANT TRANSFORMATION
The two-door IS 250C and IS 350C transform from coupe to convertible with the push of a button; the three-panel roof opens in just 21 seconds. The roof structure is constructed of lightweight aluminum that helps achieve smooth, quiet retraction.
SEAMLESSLY STYLISH
Lexus engineers designed the body panels to blend seamlessly with the new three-panel aluminum folding roof. Only the hood, headlamps, door handles, and mirrors are shared with the exterior of the IS sedans. The top completely retracts, leaving no elements in view to detract from the car's muscular and streamlined look.
PROVEN POWER
Powered by the same power train as the IS sedans, the IS 250C features a 2.5-liter, 204-hp[2] V6 mated to a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission; the IS 350C features a 3.5-liter, 306-hp[2]. V6 with a six-speed automatic.
NO STORAGE SACRIFICE
The three-panel folding aluminum roof also helps provide compact retraction and convenient luggage space, an important consideration when designing a convertible. The rear overhang was increased by two inches to improve luggage space, providing storage for two golf bags in the coupe configuration and one with the top down.
SPECIALIZED INTERIOR COMFORTS
Inside, instrument gauges were revised to help increase visibility during top-down driving, and the climate-control system has a speed-sensitive control feature that automatically increases air flow when the top is down, while also automatically adjusting to vehicle speed. The sound system has an equalizer-tuning feature that provides consistent audio whether the top is up or down, and it also automatically adapts to the natural loss of bass when the top is down.
EASY ACCESS
The front doors are 11.8 inches longer than those of IS four-door sedans, and a new one-touch automatic mechanism provides easier ingress and egress from the back seats through quick-acting, front-seat fold-and-slide activation. Rear-seat comfort is enhanced by shifting seat position inboard, providing improved headroom with the top up. The front seat backs are configured to also provide better rear-seat legroom.
SMOOTH AND QUIET
Revisions to the body structure and suspension provide torsional stiffness and ride comfort with the top down, and low Lexus-like noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels on par with the IS sedan when in coupe configuration. An acoustic glass windshield, along with optimized seals on the roof, door and window panels, contributes to lower wind-noise levels.
AERODYNAMIC
The IS 250C's and IS 350C's new exterior design provides dynamic, unique styling in both convertible and coupe configurations. A sleek aerodynamic design and a collection of underbody covers help achieve a low drag coefficient of 0.29 Cd, creating minimal wind turbulence on the cabin.
LEGAL DISCLAIMER
[1]Prototype vehicle shown with optional equipment. Production model may vary.
[2]Ratings achieved using the required premium unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 91 or higher. If premium fuel is not used, performance will decrease.
Learn more about the IS Convertible.
Reprinted Courtesy of Lexus Magazine.