LexFather

http://pressroom.toyota.com/photo_li...ml?id=20050318

Lexus Unveils All-New IS Sport Sedan and Hybrid Version of its GS Performance Sedan at the New York International Auto Show



03/18/2005 Torrance, CA

Lexus will stage the world premiere of the all-new IS 350 high-performance luxury sport sedan in a press conference at the 2005 New York International Auto Show. The all-new IS series will offer four separate models for the U.S. market.

Lexus will also unveil the all-new GS 450h high-performance hybrid luxury sedan, the first rear-wheel drive hybrid ever offered. The Super Ultra Low Emissions-rated GS 450h will provide an unparalleled combination of high performance, luxury-refinement and unexpected fuel efficiency.

The reveal will be held on Wednesday, March 23, at 12:00 p.m. ET in the Galleria Room, Level Four at the Javits Convention Center. In addition, the Lexus press conference will be webcast live via streaming video on www.lexus.com beginning at 12:00 p.m. ET. The Lexus press conference video will also be archived for viewing on demand after March 23.

jrock65

Good, we only have to wait a few days. Four models for the IS...

IS250 RWD
IS250 AWD
IS250 Manual
IS350 RWD

... as Liz said? I guess no manual for the IS350.

Brett_McS

Is it usual to distinguish a manual and automatic version of the same car as "different models"? In Oz we would say this is a transmission option on the same model.

LexFather

Welcome to CLublexus. looking at the lexus USA site, they say they have 3 IS models current, E-shirt, manual and sportcross.

But 2 more REAL versions will come next year, coupe/convert. As well as Hybrid

Gojirra99

Yes it's unusual, a transmission choice is usually an option.

biker

It's such a big deal to have an MT in a Lexus that it is a different model.

BrickHead

Will the IS hybrid be based on the 250 or the 350?

TheRupp

I'm kinda guessing that they'll either use a new engine, or use the 3.5 to compete (on a hybrid level) with the Accord hybrid?

biker

The only hybrid that would make sense is something above the IS350. Adding a hybrid to the IS250 would lead to competition with the IS350 itself. For true tree huggers a 40MPG IS220d might be appealing but I don't see Lexus bringing that model to the US for quite some time.

spwolf

Nice Article from Autoweek:
http://www.autoweek.com/article.cms?articleId=101980

I guess they had to do little research after posting some bad info previously :-).... Nice 0-60 is expected, 1sec less than 330i, not bad, eh? Of course, BMW will be faster, magically :P

Hameed

I can't wait to see this!

akhi2003

IS350 will be faster than 330i by 1 sec not the other way round.

Xanadu350

for 300hp yet another confirmation..

I think this paragraph says it all, no silly I-drive, Lexus Nav gets high marks & clean layout for serious drivers.

"Inside, Lexus has thankfully resisted the temptation to concoct some sort of pseudo-iDrive control center. There is a navigation system that Lexus claims is the world’s most advanced, with the fastest route-calculation capability available. The system incorporates Bluetooth technology, while the standard stereo features a six-disc changer and will play MP3 and WMA files. The overall interior layout is clean and modern, with nary an outlandish designer’s indulgence; that’s good news for serious drivers"

actham

For me, the most important sentence is this one: "The engines mate to six-speed manual and automatic transmissions, the automatic featuring steering wheel-mounted shift paddles." The key word is engines, plural, meaning both the 2.5 and the 3.5 get manuals. Oh if I could only believe Autoweek...

Gojirra99

I won't put too much faith or hope into that "s" There have been typos/misprints/misquotes much worse than that . . .