Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupes, Sports/GTs
Lexus building IS performance coupe
The new IS sedans from Lexus are proving to be a big hit with the critics so far, and we've now learned that the
company is readying a performance coupe version that will most likely be called the IS 500. According to
JapaneseCarFans, the car will be
powered by a 4.3L V8 producing 300 hp. The site has shots of a mule track testing and notes the car's right-hand drive
layout. With the Lexus brand recently being introduced in the Japanese home market, it's clear that new models like the
IS500 are being developed for markets both at home and abroad. Principle competition for the IS500 would likely be the
big boys – BMW's M3 and the Mercedes CLK 55 AMG.
[Photo Credits: Copyright Lehmann Photo-Syndication]
As many readers pointed out in the comments, dropping the company's current 4.3L V8 in a coupe destined to do battle with the likes of BMW's M3 makes no sense. Apparently the original article we linked to was riddled with typos. The test mule has a 4.6L V8 that's destined to replace the current 4.3L, and that engine will most likely end up in the LS flagship sedan first. The naming convention of this coupe clearly indicates a 5.0L V8 will probably be used, and it would need 350-400 hp minimum to compete in the segment.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jason 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
Wow! Nice looking car!
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Steve 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
This makes no sense, it has a 4.3L V8, but called the IS500? It produces 300 hp which is less than the current 3.5L V6?
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dave 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
Wait, 300hp? Doesn't the IS350 already produce more than that (306, I think)? Must be a typo ...
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Doogs 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
To call it the IS500 would be to completely break with the Lexus naming conventions...but it sounds a lot cooler than IS430.
Either way, that tri-port exhaust is hideous.
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Peter W. 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
Maybe it only has 300 hp and has 500 ft-lbs of torque?
considering the 4.3 litre in the SC 430 only makes 288hp... which is still more than the 4.7 litre makes in the Tundra... I guess this is an improvement?
I'm guessing their tuning it for a really smooth powerband instead of an impressive peak number.
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Dude 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
Just put the 350 motor in it and it will be a hit. Lexus needs a coupe and a sedan (and a convertible too) to compete with the BMW 3-series in terms of volume. Every time I see the sedan on the road I think it looks small, but the dimensions are just about the same as the 3er. The Pagani Zonda-looking exhaust is a little over the top, though.
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Ed 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
This got me thinking... what if Infiniti dropped their V8 into the G35 coupe, did some weight trimming and suspension tweaking? That'd be one nice piece of M3 fighting machinery...
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Josiah 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
Don't forget the Audi S4 as competition. 340 hp, 302 ft-lbs.of torque, 3825 lbs.
The Lexus IS 350 produces 306 hp and 277 ft-lbs. of torque weighing in at 3527 lbs.
And they should have debuted that exhaust on their next "super car", not this, but hey I still like it.
http://autocar.co.uk/news_article.asp?na_id=213118
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Dude 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
From the article: "Japanese market model, the Toyota Crown Royal"
And its main competitor, the Nissan Single Malt.
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Sid Ghosh 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
Hahah, Dude. Good one.
I'd love to have a Lexus IS Coupe. The sedan has enough power already. For the coupe, throw out the electronic nannies and better color options.
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Rishi Khaitan 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
I'm guessing the power output of the V8 would be atleast 350hp maybe even closer to 400hp. Otherwise there would be little reason to fit that over the new 3.5l V6. Also, if Lexus wants an M3 fighter (which is all but confirmed to have a ~400hp V8), they're gonna need atleast 350hp. They're also going to need to create a competition -mode VDM, offer either a manual tranny option or sequential, and bring back the LSD from the prior-gen IS.
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mr 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
Nice Scion Tc!
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Aegad 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
Actually this article has errors, the IS500 is suppose to have a 5l V-8 based off of the 4.6L V-8 that is going to replace the 4.3L V-8. There will be no 4.3 L V-8 in Lexus' future line-up.
Supposedly the test-mule based off the Toyota Crown is fitted with the 4.3L V8, but obviously the IS500 won't have a 4.3L engine.
According to Japanese Press, which the pictures of the test-mule come from (BestCat, XaCar), the car should produce 400+hp
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all_that 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
Thanks, Aegad, I was about to point that out. The 4.3 should be gone by the time this hits the market. Anticipate the 4.6 in the LS460 first, so that the flagship gets it first, then it's a toss-up on whether IS or GS gets it next. If this really is a 5.0L and doesn't end up IS460, I'd assume GS460 comes out first.
Enthusiasts should cross their fingers and hope Lexus gets this one right by offering a manual transmission. Competitors should hope they continue to mess up in that regard...
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Joel A 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
"350-400 hp minimum"
Where the heck does one drive these things?!? I think radar-detectors should be made standard so we know when that open stretch can be the excuse to blast this baby.
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the chad 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
To keep w/ naming conventions, wouldn't "IC 500" be better? And please, Lexus, get rid of the drive-by-wire! It sucks!
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Jigga 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
As many others have said, wake me up when I can get a manual transmission and I'm able to turn traction control off. Their efforts are noble, but it's no BMW.
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bgdc 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
hopefully the coupe will be something the is350 sedan isn't: fun to drive. the is350 was a major let down. it was positioned by lexus as a bmw fighter but it's more of an acura tl fighter - all power, no finesse or handling.
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Scott 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
I agreed with what Jigga (#17) said.
I hope Lexus keeps it up, though. At last someone besides Audi to keep BMW on their toes in the "sport-luxury" world.
Lexus, please keep that floaty feeling to a minimum and add more steering feel. Then you'll win some BMW drivers.
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