Taillight design? Yes? No? Opinions?
#31
Originally Posted by CK6Speed
Is it confirmed the IS doesn't have LEDs, or just that Lexus doesn't mention it has them? Just wondering because the RX330 has LED tail lights in both the regular 330 and 400H but the website doesn't say anything about it for the 330 and only for the 400H. It is posible that the IS still has LED tail lights even if it is not mentioned by Lexus.
the 330 doesnt have LEDs....Ive read reviews of the 400h and they write that one way to tell a 400h from a 330 is by the LEDs on the 400h. The IS doesn't have LEDs.
#32
Originally Posted by Lenscap
The taillights are definitely LED. They're not the individual bulbs like you see on an Infiniti G35, but they are LED. They light up real quick, which makes it obvious they're LED. If you need more proof, check out this portion of the press release from last year's Geneva launch:
"Astern, splayed rear wheel arches taper into a short, pugnacious rear overhang topped with powerful LED lamp clusters. The unique and unexpected sporting design graphic of the rear lamp cluster reflects an intriguing elegance central to the L-Finesse philosophy, and once more sets a precedent for the styling of future Lexus models."
"Astern, splayed rear wheel arches taper into a short, pugnacious rear overhang topped with powerful LED lamp clusters. The unique and unexpected sporting design graphic of the rear lamp cluster reflects an intriguing elegance central to the L-Finesse philosophy, and once more sets a precedent for the styling of future Lexus models."
"LED rear lamp and stop lamp"
This is listed under standard equipment.
After some hard searching, I found this:
EXTERIOR FEATURES
Overall Exterior Styling/Body Design
• Standard 17" 10-spoke aluminum wheels
• Optional 18” split five-spoke aluminum wheels
• Color coordinated front airdam with low grille
• Foglamps
• Projector bulb headlamps
• Optional High-Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps with Adaptive Front lighting System (AFS)
• LED brake, tail and license plate lamps
• Color-keyed outside rearview mirrors
• Puddle lamps (mounted on underside of outer mirrors)
• Dual polished stainless steel exhaust pipes
• Top shade/tinted glass on front windshield
• Ultraviolet and infrared ray reducing glass on all windows
• Optional body kit and rear spoiler
Now, why don't they list them on the website under the specs?
#33
Super Moderator
Originally Posted by Lem144
After some hard searching, I found this:
EXTERIOR FEATURES
Overall Exterior Styling/Body Design
• LED brake, tail and license plate lamps
EXTERIOR FEATURES
Overall Exterior Styling/Body Design
• LED brake, tail and license plate lamps
I'll have to get someone to step on the brake while I stand behind the car. Pressing the lock button on the key fob flashes the turn signals, and it seems pretty clear by their slow ramp up/decay that they are conventional bulbs.
Wonder why they wouldn't use LEDs in the turn signals?
#35
Originally Posted by Bichon
After all that hard searching, you couldn't post the link?
I'll have to get someone to step on the brake while I stand behind the car. Pressing the lock button on the key fob flashes the turn signals, and it seems pretty clear by their slow ramp up/decay that they are conventional bulbs.
Wonder why they wouldn't use LEDs in the turn signals?
I'll have to get someone to step on the brake while I stand behind the car. Pressing the lock button on the key fob flashes the turn signals, and it seems pretty clear by their slow ramp up/decay that they are conventional bulbs.
Wonder why they wouldn't use LEDs in the turn signals?
http://pressroom.lexus.com/Releases?p=2&criteria=%2BIS
#36
Super Moderator
Originally Posted by Lem144
Sure. Go here - it's the second link on this page:
http://pressroom.lexus.com/Releases?p=2&criteria=%2BIS
http://pressroom.lexus.com/Releases?p=2&criteria=%2BIS
Great sleuthing! They should call you Dr. Google!
#38
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (1)
Originally Posted by Lem144
the 330 doesnt have LEDs....Ive read reviews of the 400h and they write that one way to tell a 400h from a 330 is by the LEDs on the 400h. The IS doesn't have LEDs.
I as well as others proved it in the RX330 forum. I took off my tail lights and took picures. If you don't want to look for the post and trust me, I'll just say I can clearly see the clear LEDs mounted to the circuit board, I can see a separate plug powering this circuit board with the LEDs on it, and the back of the tail lights have a stamping that say "LED". There are also a bunch of reviews that mantioned the RX330 LED tail lights as well.
#39
Originally Posted by CK6Speed
Sure they do. The RX330 uses a combination LED and 5W standard bulb in the center.
I as well as others proved it in the RX330 forum. I took off my tail lights and took picures. If you don't want to look for the post and trust me, I'll just say I can clearly see the clear LEDs mounted to the circuit board, I can see a separate plug powering this circuit board with the LEDs on it, and the back of the tail lights have a stamping that say "LED". There are also a bunch of reviews that mantioned the RX330 LED tail lights as well.
I as well as others proved it in the RX330 forum. I took off my tail lights and took picures. If you don't want to look for the post and trust me, I'll just say I can clearly see the clear LEDs mounted to the circuit board, I can see a separate plug powering this circuit board with the LEDs on it, and the back of the tail lights have a stamping that say "LED". There are also a bunch of reviews that mantioned the RX330 LED tail lights as well.
From automobilemag:
"
Reviews: SUVs
Review: 2006 Lexus RX 330/400h
Get Discount Invoice Pricing Find a Local Car Dealer
High-tech crossover engineered to pamper
By IntelliChoice
Introduction
Lexus changed sport/ute form and function forever when it launched the original RX 300 in March 1999, merging car-derived mechanicals with SUV ride height and versatility. Factor in luxury features and aggressive pricing, and the pioneering RX was a game changer that created the so-called "crossover" vehicle.
Introduced as a 2004 model, the second-generation RX has furthered the notion of affordable luxury crossovers, growing incrementally in size and raising the bar on refinement and content. The first Lexus built in North America (with some units also imported from Japan), the current RX launched again as a one-flavor for all vehicle, now with a 3.3L V-6 powerplant, choice of 2WD or AWD, and healthy roster of standard equipment. The options list enable buyers to select from among the most premium SUV features on the market, giving the RX more technical cachet.
For the 2006 model year, the RX became the first vehicle line to offer a luxury hybrid variant. And Lexus used this technology to create not simply a fuel-efficient iteration, but to treat the RX 400h hybrid as the step-up model with more content and performance, just as Honda had done with the Accord Hybrid.
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Exterior
"The 186.2-inch RX is wrapped in smooth, cladding-free bodywork. Its decidedly Japanese shape conveys luxury in the delicate attention to detail, with the fine-lined grille, jewel-like headlamps, and tasteful body lines, with the rear evoking both the 2005 IS SportCross and the GX 470. The RX 400h is distinguished from the 330 by a revised grille, front fascia, foglamps, LED taillamps, and 18-inch aluminum wheels, in place of the 17-inch fitment. The coefficient of drag is 0.35 on both models. "
Again, from the Lexus Press Release:
RX330:
Overall Exterior Styling/Body Design
• Sleek, clean overall look with no cladding
• Pronounced wheel wells give rugged stance
• Large headlamp housings raked back into hood
• Standard integrated black rear spoiler
• Black privacy glass
• Rear taillight housings merged with back window glass
• Water-repellant front door glass
• LED brake lights
• 225/65R17 SR rated M+S tires (Optional 235/55R18 VR rated M+S tires)
RX400h:
Overall Exterior Styling/Body Design
• Sleek, clean overall look with no cladding
• Pronounced wheel wells give rugged stance
• Large headlamp housings raked back into hood
• Adaptive Front lighting System (AFS) that improves road visibility in turns
• HID headlamps with auto-leveling
• LED brake and tail lights
• Rear tail light housings merged with back window glass
• Standard integrated black rear spoiler
• Black privacy glass
• Water-repellant front door glass
• 235/55R18 VR-rated M+S tires with graphite polished aluminum alloy wheels
Looks like we're both right. Brake lights are LED, tail lamps are regular.
#40
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (1)
Just trust me. I took the time when this discussion came up a few years ago in the RX330 forum to take apart my tail lights to prove it has LEDs. It does. The combination LED tail lights use 5 clear LEDs with a single 5W wedge bulb in the center surrounded by a red cylinder. This can clearly be seen from the outside. Only, you can't see the LEDs, but you see 5 multi surface diffusors surrounding the 5W wedge bulb. Behind those diffusors which some thought were reflectors sit the LED bulbs. The only way you can see the LED bulbs is to take the tail light off the car, and peek into the access holes behing the tail light where you can make out some (Not all) of the LEDs that are mounted on the circuit board. On the tail light housing, this area is stamped a LED. The simple test is to just watch how quickl;y the tail lights/brakes lights light up and turn off. The turn signals are regular bumbs though. The RX400H uses an entirely redesigned LED set up which is clearly visable from the outside, but eitherway, both still use LEDs.
#42
Originally Posted by Lem144
The IS doesn't have LEDs.
#43
I called Lexus parts and they are NOT LEDs! WTF. Did Lexus decide to just not put them in, after they spec'd the car? Maybe the supplier fell through? I don't understand why a 35k lexus doesnt have LEDs but at 13K Civic does!
UGH!
UGH!
Originally Posted by Lenscap
Yes it does. The specs posted above from the Lexus/Toyota pressroom prove the IS has LEDs. Further, if you check back to the weekly Q&A Car & Driver.com (I think that was the site) had with the IS engineer you'll see someone asked if the IS has LED taillights and the answer from Lexus was yes.
Last edited by Lem144; 02-15-06 at 08:01 AM.
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