Lexus Is 500

[charged]

Saw this on another forum, looks the goods engine wise,

Lexus IS500, why look any further?

It's sometimes a lot of fun to see people swim across oceans or climb the highest mountains to snap a (low quality) "spy shot" of a vehicle that hasn't been released yet, while in Japan, the only thing we need to do is get out of the house and go to a press shop and buy a magazine that has "press pictures" of these cars.

Let's take the long-awaited Lexus IS500 as an example, the M and AMG killer from Japan. Press shots of this vehicle have been available since April 2006 in magazines like Car Top (in their April issue that has been on sale since March). Here's a scan of the page.

For those of you that are not aware what Toyota has cooked up for us, here are the main specs of this IS500: a V8 (2UR-FSE) engine that develops 420bhp (at 5800rpm) and 550Nm of torque (at 3800rpm), 5.0L displacement, overall dimensions of 4665x1820x1435mm with a 2730mm wheelbase and a total weight of 1685kg.

That IS going to hurt!


Hopefully pics work now *go over to computer and headbutts it*

[Souljah]

NICE....have read of it before...but your pics dont work

[Clique]

Its nice but i am sure that it will be no M3/RS4 rival especailly when it is driven aggresively...I think it will be more of a civilsied car than a racer a la M3.RS4..

[NuclearCrap]

Its nice but i am sure that it will be no M3/RS4 rival especailly when it is driven aggresively...I think it will be more of a civilsied car than a racer a la M3.RS4..

How can you be so sure? German engineering isn't always the best.

[Clique]

How can you be so sure? German engineering isn't always the best.
No i never said it was the best all i was trying to get at was that it is really difficult for a manufacter to enter that segment of the market because the RS4/M3 are so strong and when ever a manufacturer has entered, like Merc C55AMG they havent had success...Maybe the Lexus is really good but i am sure that the RS4/M3 will be better, its just an opinion....

[NSXType-R]

Its nice but i am sure that it will be no M3/RS4 rival especailly when it is driven aggresively...I think it will be more of a civilsied car than a racer a la M3.RS4..

I think you have a point there. Lexus as of lately has really stepped up its game Luxury wise but I think they've noticed that their cars have been neutered somewhat as a result of their electronic nannies. Their engineering is perfect to a T but if they could only engineer a kill switch for the nannies then their cars would definately be closer to perfection and one step closer to attacking the Germans directly. I think an IS500 is the first step. Wish Acura figured this out ages ago...

[scottie300z]

but if they could only engineer a kill switch for the nannies then their cars would definately be closer to perfection and one step closer to attacking the Germans directly.

I wish i could recall where i read it so i could post a link so i guess this is just speculation, but there is a rumour that the new LS 460 will be the first Lexus with a stability control system that can be turned off. So that does bode well, i think its too early to tell if it will be better or worse than its german counterparts.

[NSXType-R]

Well the LS 460 will have the luxuries rivaling or surpassing most German cars. Lets hope it can do the same for the performance.

Motortrend road tested the LS 430 and the GS 430 and they hammered it in the corners. The stability control ruined their fun. The IS is a bit better but the option of not getting a manual in the IS 350 is disappointing.

[Vindesh17]

Looks intersting, can't wait to see the official NA version's pics. I'm sure those rims aren't going to be on it.

[blackhonda]

It's perhaps not a fair comparison with the M3, as the Lexus will seat four adults comfortably. I've had the good fortune to drive both a early E36 M3 SMG and also the current model Lexus IS250 Sport. Both are great cars, and I enjoyed the experience, but I think Lexus will pitch the car more at the Five Series Beemer than the M3...now if only I could afford either of them:(

[The_Canuck]

I want the TL (or RL) redone to RWD with 450BHP. NOW! :D

[Vindesh17]

The TL, it looks better. :D

[kingofthering]

mmm with the electronic crap turned off, it would be a pretty bad-ass drift machine with some minor mods. Hopefully this baby will be on the used car market when i finally get a license

[IWantAnAudiRS6]

They need to sort those wing mirrors!

But what a car... 420bhp in a compact executive... there's no way this can be classed as an M5 rival. It's the same size as the 414bhp RS4, and the forthcoming 400bhp+ M3.

I want to see the superpowerslugfest in a magazine, soon :D

[mmm_aapls]

I wonder if this is the same engine they want to use for the supra?

[Gtek-i]

Personally, I think it's just stupid. The IS350 has already got more than enough ponies, why add more? It uses more fuel, and is maybe heavier. Japanese automakers should stick with I-4 and V6 engines, it's what they do best. The 5.0L engine is guaranteed to have some type of problem. Lexus should make an IS coupe, that would be a little bit more reasonable IMO. It's not that it's not cool, but I don't get why someone would get an IS500 when the IS350 is already so fun AND cheaper AND more fuel efficient.

[2ndclasscitizen]

but I don't get why someone would get an IS500 when the IS350 is already so fun AND cheaper AND more fuel efficient.
You know that for a fact? Every review I've read said it was a good drive but was really lacking in grunt.

[clutch-monkey]

G-tek that's like saying why buy a V8 mustang if there's a V6 mustang..

[Gtek-i]

But still, I'd rather get an RS4. Lexus is trying to win over the European market, but it is not gonna work. Japanese is still Japanese and European is still European. And as I said before, a coupe would be a lot more reasonable.

[2ndclasscitizen]

But still, I'd rather get an RS4. Lexus is trying to win over the European market, but it is not gonna work. Japanese is still Japanese and European is still European. And as I said before, a coupe would be a lot more reasonable.Why would you rather an RS4? And why is a European car better than a Japanese car?

[acemotorsport]

europian cars are sometimes made in non europian countrys like the 3 series bmw e46

[2ndclasscitizen]

The Golf is made in South Africa, the Jetta in Mexico, ML-Class and Z4 in the States and there's a few more as well

[acemotorsport]

the 3 series is made in south africa aswell

[Gtek-i]

That's not my point...all I'm saying is that a coupe would be a lot more reasonable due to the fact that there would be competition for the M3. But I think 420 horsepower is a bit too much. 380-400 horsepower would be better.

[2ndclasscitizen]

That's not my point...all I'm saying is that a coupe would be a lot more reasonable due to the fact that there would be competition for the M3.The RS4 is a sedan. And a wagon. And a cab. It's definately competition for the M3. And you clearly don't know a lot about M3s, cause there has been sedan M3s before, and there's a good chance of there being a new E90 M3 sedan.


But I think 420 horsepower is a bit too much. 380-400 horsepower would be better.Why? Then it'd have less than the RS4 and most likely less than the M3.

[Gtek-i]

Which my point is:D It has too much horsepower:D

Maybe I just dislike Toyota, maybe I'm hungry, or maybe cuz it's 3 am and I'm all coocoo:p

[clutch-monkey]

maybe it's because you're a retard?

[Gtek-i]

no...maybe cause you're a monkey?...

[clutch-monkey]

me being a monkey affects your silly statements that a coupe is somehow much better than a four door, and that a japanese saloon is somehow worse than a more expensive european sedan?

[charged]

In regards to horsepower, you can never have enough:D . Toyota/Lexus suprise suprise have been making V8 since the late 60's based on the Chrysler Hemi from the USA the 2v 3l V8throughto the 5v engine.They later produced the UFE series 4 l V8 that powered the Lexus. So v8 arent exactly new to this Japanese company.

[acemotorsport]

maybe it's because you're a retard?
how is it that you call him a retard i get a warning but you dont

[clutch-monkey]

i'm naturally better than you?
or i got a warning in a PM?

[acemotorsport]

well you were saying what we were all thinking

[NSXType-R]

Which my point is:D It has too much horsepower:D

Is there ever such a thing as bad extra horsepower?

Check Motortrend. Theres an article about it in the news section.