Xanadu350

So with all the recent pics so far of the IS, what do you think could be different with the US model 06 IS if any?

For instance:

Steering Wheel-Could the US model have a different wheel design?
Leather Options-Could there be different choices for leather? more 2 tones colors? etc..
Will we see a beefier looking IS350 RWD (exterior & sportier interior) for top of the line model?
Could we see options exclusive to the IS 350 RWD?

What are your opinions. Do you think what we have seen so far with pics is it? Won't be long till we all know, can't wait.

NeverSatisfied

We may not even be getting the 250 model; it's probably only for Europe, where all these pics came from. They still do have the 200, so this would be the step up.

I just hope for different & more rim choices!

The 250 seems to be pretty loaded, so I doubt that we'll have much more to choose from.

TheRupp

I don't know about that. If Lexus wants to keep there options open, they'll give us the 250. If I remember correctly, the 200 is a diesel engine and is intended for Europe only.

biker

The current IS200 is gas only. The future IS220d will be diesel.

It seems to me that like the GS, they will follow the BMW model with the IS. Debut the car with bare minimum for dirvetrain and then upgrade it fairly soon afterwards.
So GS300 will go to GS350 for 07 and IS250 will go to IS300 when needed. Little cost for Lexus since all the drivetrains already exit in some form elsewhere. And great material for the marketeers.

Gojirra99

I agree, the new 3.0 V6 from the GS300 will go into a new IS300, it's just a matter of time I think.

spwolf

I kind of doubt that replacement... if people didnt care about paying a bit more for bigger engine, then BMW 325i would not be 70% of 3 series sales in USA ;-). People in Europe will like 2.5l anyway due to lower consumption and with raising gas prices, that might happen in US as well...

GS is different story since neither 3.5l engine nor new V8 were ready at launch... Even if 3.5l with some 300hp was ready, it would not make sense to put it next to 300hp V8 :-).

Gojirra99

The new BMW 325 will in fact have a 3.0 litre engine for the U.S., just less hp/torque than the 330.
I don't think they want the new 3.0 V6 just for the GS300, which will be replaced by the GS350 next year . . .

biker

Of course it was ready at the launch, GS350 will be on sale in Japan in a couple of months. Lexus just chose to stick with GS300 for marketing reasons - so it will have a noteworthy upgrade next year (and not dilute 430 sales). That 3.5L V6 will be drivetrain whor*d all over the place: IS350, Avalon, RX350, GS350 and probably many others. It will become the VQ of Toyota albeit with much better milage.

Rockville

The IS250 will be the entry level Lexus. There will be many variations. AWD and Manual shift versions will come out at the launch in October from what we are told. The IS350 will up the performance ante vs. BMW 330i. I like the European side markers and I wish we could get them or those nifty turn signals in the mirrors like they have in Japan. Since Lexus just started selling separately in Japan they will be the first to drive the GS350 it seems by Biker's post. The differences in the IS350/GS350 engine performance will be pretty large compared to the ES350/RX350/Avalon. We all know that Infiniti/Nissan doesn't believe in Hybrids so they just license the design from Toyota when they have to pass the California Emissions test....

1Violinist

Do we have any "confirmed" info about the IS350 with manual tranny? I'm just hoping!

NeverSatisfied

I believe not; only on the 250 model, supposedly. But, we can cross our fingers real tight!!!!

flipside909

Not at this time. All the info circulating currently is preliminary and speculative.

spwolf

heh, you would like that new diesel... In general, I always hated diesels - no matter how refined they are, they are loud in the morning. But after driving our Avensis D4D a bit more, it is hard not to like - it is pretty refined, and on long trips you get such good mpg that it gives you some good feeling... I think people will like their IS220d, like it a lot.

biker

That's what's so sad about the discouragement of diesels in the US - most folks would probably love it cause it has the torque that US consumers crave. The IS220d will probably have almost as much tq as the IS350.

biker

I was just looking through the Geneva Auto show guide and it lists the IS250 with 220HP. All of the other numbers for others cars are right so I wonder where this number came from.
BTW, the prices listed for the GS300, GS430 and LS430 are $61,000, 79,000 and 96,000. Gotta love those US bargain prices. As reference a RAV4 with a 2l I4 150HP and 5AT (I wonder why the US version doesn't have this) is $29,000. The SC430 is a little over $100K, 8K less than an NSX.