raptor22

not a true coupe (fixed top), doesn't count haha

BNR34

iTrader: (1)

Ok, then Lexus hasn't had a coupe for 12 years since the 1SC ended in 2000. But then the LFA came out last year.

IB Editor's statement is still incorrect.

KahnBB6

iTrader: (5)

That is right on the money. The LF-A isn't really an obtainable car more than it is a show case car to be sold to select customers and generate interest. Every other luxury brand has hardtop coupes available to buy except Lexus (and Acura... but who cares about Acura these days?).

BNR34

iTrader: (1)

I don't understand why some of you are so hung up on the hardtop coupe thing. I understand why Lexus made the SC430 and IS coupe as a hardtop convertible only, it is cheaper to just make one version instead of 2, so it satisfied both audiences. For all you who are not into convertible, you just don't open it. With the top closed, there are no differences in anyway compare to a fixed hardtop.

The only negative I can think of is being a convertible is about 200~400 lbs heavier. But very few luxury coupe buyers care about weight anyway, they are all cruisers. Who cares about 300 lbs on a 4000 lbs car that are soft and slow?

Lexuslvr91

It's a luxury car it's not meant to be cheap.

Trexus

Lexus please bring in a coupe (fixed hardtop coupe). This would compete with the Infiniti G coupe, Cadillac CTS coupe, BMW 3 series coupe, Mercedes C coupe, etc...Lexus could do alot with the IS line...

IS 250/350 Sedan
IS 250/350 Convertible
IS 250/350 Coupe (fixed hardtop)
IS 250/350 Sportcross (wagon)
IS 450h (Hybrid)

IS F Sedan
IS F Coupe

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

Their saying the powertrain will actually be the Camry Hybrid so 2.5L 4 200hp. Same as the ES300h. So except the the name to be IS300h.

I was saddened too when I heard it won't be a performance-oriented hybrid like the GSh

Trexus

That would be weak. Since the IS uses a shortened version of the GS platform and is rear wheel drive one would think the GS 450h drivetrain would go into a hybrid IS. The ES 300h is based on a front wheel drive platform.

Allen K

iTrader: (4)

GS doesn't have an F version though. Don't "need' a high performance hybrid when you have a high performance version already

Ice350

iTrader: (1)

What coupe?
You're not talking about that vert IS with the weird rear end?

Ice350

iTrader: (1)

I would be fine with a hard top vert if Lexus made one that actually looked good. They don't seem able to do that. Both tries have weird rear ends.

Look at the G37 vert. Sexy and actually better looking than the hard top imo.
Benz makes 2 hard top verts that look nice.
If Lexus can't make attractive verts stick with the hard top. The SC300/400 remains the only really attractive 2-door Lexus has produced.

cino

iTrader: (1)

LFA

And yes, IS C is kinda ugly as*. I don't know how could they screw up the beautiful design by giving it a beautiful feature.

LexFather

I haven't heard anything about a coupe below the IS.

KahnBB6

iTrader: (5)

Don't open the top? That makes no sense. Why should I buy a car that pretends to be an actual coupe but clearly isn't? The weight of the top indeed raises the center of gravity and doesn't make the car any less porkier. If they chose not to make the suspension utterly soft and the engine utterly powerless then they might actually have a nice performance COUPE.

Buyers know what they want at certain price points they are willing to deal with. If you don't cater to those buyers they will go elsewhere and this has happened since the SC400 VVT-i went out of production twelve years ago.

What made the SC300/400/Soarer a great car was that it was designed to compete with the best performance coupe Mercedes had on offer in 1991. It was also co-developed with an ultra-high performance GT sportscar that itself needed performance credentials to take on the best performance car Nissan had on offer at the time (the R32 GT-R). Talk about killing two birds with one stone thrown at the R&D department. Lexus had a lot to work with in the SC: a powerhouse of a refined, overbuilt, over-engineered and powerful car with a timelessly designed exterior. They did what they wanted with it from there, such as ditching an excellent 280 horsepower engine for American buyers.

Lexus has never felt comfortable catering to people who like luxury and performance, let alone buyers who want a performance coupe in the $40k-$60k range. Apparently now they are changing their minds but because of the brand's international success we may actually not see an SCXXX for less than $100k.

And that wouldn't do much to keep me from looking in the direction of a BMW 135i Coupe or 335i Coupe, neither of which are $100k luxury automobiles.