Lexus Says “No” to Manual IS 200t
As a sport sedan, the Lexus IS has long been one of the very few cars that you could order from the Japanese marque with an honest manual transmission. With the announcement of the new, turbocharged IS 200t, Torque News reached out to Lexus to see if this new model would also offer a three-pedal option. The response was a swift and concise “No.”
As a staunch lover of the clutch pedal, this saddens me, but I want to know what you guys think. Does the new IS really need a manual option? Modern automatics are really good, and many of them are faster than a manual. The manual is becoming extinct, Ferrari and Lamborghini no longer sell them, and even Porsche cut the third pedal from its 911 GT3. Let us hear some thoughts on what you think should happen. Do you really want a clutch pedal in your new turbocharged IS or is Lexus making the right move by dropping it? My vote goes squarely into the “YAY Clutch Pedals!” camp, but I can understand the reason you might feel differently.
Chime in with your thoughts on the forum. >>
