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Lexus announces IS350C F-Sport Special Edition, priced from $58,375*

Steven J. Ewing — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Lexus, Design/Style, Luxury

Lexus IS C F-Sport - Click above for high-res image gallery

As much as we'd love to see a convertible version of the pulse-quickening Lexus IS F, it doesn't appear to be in the cards. Instead, Lexus is offering up plenty of F-Sport accessories for the IS C, including the new IS350C F-Sport Special Edition which goes on sale later this month. Only 100 of these F-tuned droptops will be produced, retailing for $58,375 (including the $875 destination charge).

Available in either Obsidian or Tungsten Pearl, the F-Sport isn't any more powerful than a standard IS350, but it includes things like new 19-inch wheels, a front and rear brake upgrade and Blistein shocks. Additionally, new lowering springs set the IS one inch lower to the ground, and a beefier sway bar is in place to aid in better overall handling. Inside, there's a leather-wrapped shift knob, embroidered floor mats and a numbered badge, all with F-Sport logos, of course.

While this is all well and good for the IS C, we can't help but think that, at over $58K, our money would be better spent on a BMW 335i or Audi S5 cabriolet. Still, Lexus buyers looking for a more sporting edge should like the F-Sport touches, and with only 100 units being made, we doubt the automaker will have any trouble moving them off of dealer lots. Hit the jump to read all of the details in the press release.

Gallery: Lexus IS C F-Sport

[Source: Lexus]

Continue reading Lexus announces IS350C F-Sport Special Edition, priced from $58,375*

Lexus announces IS350C F-Sport Special Edition, priced from $58,375* originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEMA 2009: A trio of modded Lexus customs drop their tops

Jonny Lieberman — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:20:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Convertible, Performance, Lexus, Luxury

Lexus IS250 and 350 Cs at SEMA - Click above for high-res image gallery

While it might be tempting to dismiss the Lexus C (either the 250 or 350) as a bustled buttocksed luxury faux-sports car, Lexus implanted enough good handling (in the 250 C) and/or POWA! (in the 350 C) to make 'em pretty much OK in our book. Still, this is SEMA -- pretty much OK is never even kinda close to good enough.

Meet the IS 350C by Fox Marketing. First of all, check out that Foxy Green paint. We like it, and it reminds us of the Snake Skin Green found on the Dodge Viper -- bonus! But Fox's IS 350C is much more than several coats of high-gloss paint, there's a supercharger bolted to the 3.5-liter V6 making six pounds of boost and increasing the motor's gumption from 300 horses to a pretty dang respectable 405 hp. There are no less than eleven custom body panels, including a Foxy Green Lexus badge. We like this one.

Next up is the IS 350 C by Auto Salon and JTuned.com. Unlike the shiny Foxy Green C, this one is matte. And red. With a touch of black. And while there's (sadly) no supercharger, there is about $15,000 worth of mods and baubles, including performance enhancing goodies like a custom intake, exhaust and air filter. There's also a reworked fuel mapping schema and a new throttle system. There's also a set of big old Hankooks and more carbon fiber than a Boeing Dreamliner. Just kidding on that last bit, but you get the idea.

Lastly, we've got 0-60 and Design Craft Fabrication's custom IS 250 C. From a handling perspective, this might be pick of the litter, as we've always dug the more balanced dancing ways of the smaller 250 to the faster but nose-heavier 350. Add to that a KW coilover setup, chipped ECU, tuned exhaust and custom Brembos stopping one-piece Advan racing wheels and you've got quite a tasty package. And the Pontiac G8 looking twin hood vents are kinda growing on us.

Gallery: SEMA 2009: Lexus' tuned trio of IS Cs

SEMA 2009: A trio of modded Lexus customs drop their tops originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Lexus preparing soft-top SC430 successor

Noah Joseph — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Lexus, Rumormill

2009 Lexus SC430 Pebble Beach Edition - Click above for high-res image gallery

While the Lexus IS C is enjoying strong early sales and the luxury Toyota marque prepares to launch a version with the 5.0-liter V8 from the IS F, the top-of-the-line SC 430 grows increasingly irrelevant and long-in-the-tooth. However, contrary to reports that surfaced this time last year - 'tis the season for convertibles, after all - Lexus is indeed planning a successor to the range-topping coupe-cabrio.

Reports indicate that, far from the IS C replacing the aging SC 430, a clean-slate successor to the big roadster is in the planning stages. Because the SC has been around so long, Toyota's designers and engineers are reportedly going back to the drawing board. What they're apparently coming up with eschews the current model's complex folding hard top - one of the first on the market after the Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4 Spyder and Mercedes SLK - in favor of a simpler, lighter folding soft top.

With a new SC 430, an IS F convertible and a potential LF-A roadster all in the pipeline, the forecast looks sunny for Lexus.

[Source: Car and Driver]

REPORT: Lexus preparing soft-top SC430 successor originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2010 Lexus IS250 C and IS350 C prove that going topless isn't always freeing

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 18 May 2009 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Lexus, First Drives, Luxury

2010 Lexus IS250 C and IS350C - Click above for high-res image gallery

When Lexus researched the target demographic for its IS 250C and IS 350C, respondents were asked what they wanted to do with - and in - their convertibles. When the answers came back, Lexus discovered that no matter how much driving and champagne and sun and moonlight were involved, the scenario always included at least two people doing one thing: engaging in NSFW activities. So the new IS convertible was designed to fulfill those dreams, and according to Lexus, this duo of folding tin-tops represents the automaker's wild side. But does Lexus even have a wild side? Make the jump to find out.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Lexus IS250 C and IS350 C

Photos copyright (C)2009 Jonathon Ramsey / Weblogs, Inc
Shot with a Nikon D70 and Nikon 18-200 lens

Continue reading First Drive: 2010 Lexus IS250 C and IS350 C prove that going topless isn't always freeing

First Drive: 2010 Lexus IS250 C and IS350 C prove that going topless isn't always freeing originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 May 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lexus files trademarks for IS Coupe

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:57:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Lexus

The image above is only a rendering we found on the interweb

We've been hearing about a possible Lexus IS coupe for what seems like eons, and by most accounts, it's likely to hit the streets sometime around the turn of the decade. A convertible is supposedly in the works too, but until now, there's been limited proof that Lexus was planning to offer the two-door version of its entry-level sedan. However, the crew at my.is has been scouring U.S. and Canadian trademark applications and has come up with three new filings from Toyota's luxury division that could mean Lexus is at least considering bringing the IS coupe to market.

The trademarks include alphanumeric names with a "C" affixed to the end, including the IS250C, IS300C and IS350C. "C" could mean a couple of things, but the smart money is on "Coupe." It's also telling that Lexus' lawyers have trademarked the IS300C designation, since there's nothing to slot in between the current entry-level IS250 and the markedly more powerful IS350. There's no filing for an IS-FC, but if Lexus finally decides to provide the coupe people crave and do serious battle with the BMW M3, it's just a matter of time before we see some derivation of that name pop up in the trademark office.

[Source: my.is, Photo: Unknown Source]

Lexus files trademarks for IS Coupe originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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