kinglexus99

I've seen several postings/pictures of the 2nd gen IS300 and I'm just curious to know why it is Lexus would make a 300 for the Middle East and not offer a 350? It seems kind of pointless to me to make a 300 when there are already 250/350 models and have been for several years... Are there regulations that cap certain specs on a car in the Middle East? Again I'm just curious because I find it intriguing and since I just bought my IS350 I am an info ***** on the cars at the moment.

GiantsFan

iTrader: (9)

I believe it has to do with the quality of gas....it's not as strictly controlled (or something along those lines), so they can't have DI there... Both the 2.5 and 3.5 engines use DI.

Micaiah

What's DI?

MiiK350

iTrader: (8)

Direct Injection/Injectors.

kickin8

iTrader: (1)

$$$ issues

Registration fees for some of the coutnries are based on the engine size.....

Micaiah

Oh okay. Thanks.

Kurtz

iTrader: (1)

if it was engine size they'd sell the 250 instead of the 300, but they don't.

The 2nd gen 300 exists because, as stated, the fuel in those countries would foul the direct injection engines in the 250/350.

(too much sulphur I think)

kartoos100

^ +1 on what Kurtz said. This is the explanation given generally over by dealers and the automotive magazines. But they have now started selling the IS 250 this year which really doesn't make any sense.

Kurtz

iTrader: (1)

Has there been any change in the quality of the fuel in the last couple years?

The 2nd gen IS300 was introduced in 06, likely based on then-current fuel quality... if they've improved it since I could see them bringing the DI models over since they'll generally offer better performance/mileage per liter of displacement.

Jay hall

hey all.. ok.. i don't know much details about why in the middle-east IS300 is sold bt i can add that now (im from UAE) we get here a IS250, IS300 and IS F. As far as i know the reason why we get an IS300 and IS250 would be because of the petrol quality (like kurtz said) also i know we have a different engine model. I know for a fact that a F-sport exhaust will not fit our 2nd gen IS300. More details regarding this matter i think maybe NDK83 or Rashoodz can help (they are the experts from Middle-east) :-)

kartoos100

The fuel quality has remained more or less the same. The only thing that has gone up about fuel is the price. There seems to be no logic to why they would release the IS 250 here other than to hike the price of the IS 300. The IS250 is being offered at previous years IS300 prices. No one here really cares about fuel consumption.

kinglexus99

Isn't the ISF DI? Odd but thanks for all the info guys that does make sense as far as the DI/fuel quality is concerned...good to know.