[shuzmaker]

Thoughts?




Spy Shots: Lexus IS500

Posted Jul 17th 2006 8:01AM by John Neff

The most logical engine powering this beast would be the 4.6-liter V-8 introduced in the new Lexus LS460, which, if in the same state of tune, would mean 380 hp and 370 lb-ft of torque. Sources say that this engine could be tuned and tweaked for more power, but Lexus has been quite adamant that they won't get sucked into horsepower wars with their German competition

[sstarch1]

Ugly.

[e90fanatic]

wow.....the entire car looks alrite except the mirrors on the side...looked like they took it from the camry

[kdan]

first 2 door station wagon i've seen in a while...

[wyrm11]

Sources say that this engine could be tuned and tweaked for more power, but Lexus has been quite adamant that they won't get sucked into horsepower wars with their German competition

Uhhh...since when are the Germans the ones leading the HP wars? BMW was trying to stay out of the HP wars as evidenced by the 330's 255 HP engine. It was Infiniti and Lexus coming out with 300+ hp cars that forced BMW to step up their HP efforts in order to remain competitive in the US market (where we like big hp numbers).

Am I wrong here?

That IS looks terrible. How the heck is that going to be an M3 killer? LOL cmon now.

[spydrz]

They probably won't sell it with a manual, thus making it irrelevant.

[Squawks]

They don't need an M3 killer. Lexus/Toyota is the biggest automaker in shear stock market value and is #2 in the number of vehicles sold worldwide, closely and quickly coming to the point where they will soon overcome GM as the world's highest selling automaker.

[voodoo22]

I like Toyota's and this car looks nice, but the fact remains, until Toyota builds a car for full sized Germans, I'll never be able to even test drive a Toyota. I'm 6'4" and 200lbs. So I'm not over weight, just tall. I couldn't close the door on the old IS and my head goes through the roof on the is350.

I love the 3 series and doubt any car would suit me better, but until Toyota builds a car I can even fit in, it doesn't really matter how good their product is.

When I was in the Lexus dealership last week, checking out the is350 before buying my 330i, the sales person asked if I needed any help and I asked her, "Why are Germans the only people who are able to make small sporty sedans that other Germans can fiit in?" She just walked away and I whistled all the way back to the deal table with my BMW dealership!

[Squawks]

Hey, voodoo - perhaps because the average Japanese person is much shorter than the average German!

[voodoo22]

Originally Posted by Squawks

closely and quickly coming to the point where they will soon overcome GM as the world's highest selling automaker.

Toyota actually outsold GM last year, but they held back some numbers with fancy accounting, because it would have put them ahead of their business plan. I know some people who work for Toyota and know this is fact.

Can't argue that they build great cars, I find them souless though.

[voodoo22]

Originally Posted by Squawks

Hey, voodoo - perhaps because the average Japanese person is much shorter than the average German!

Maybe! Seems like the cars are about the same size, if they would just position the seats lower and have longer seat rails in Toyota's I would have a chance to fit so I could take a test drive to confirm how much better the BMW's are

[John]

car does look ugly to me too. and the m3 will still smoke it i bet.

[Asiann]

Originally Posted by shuzmaker

Thoughts?




Spy Shots: Lexus IS500

Posted Jul 17th 2006 8:01AM by John Neff

The most logical engine powering this beast would be the 4.6-liter V-8 introduced in the new Lexus LS460, which, if in the same state of tune, would mean 380 hp and 370 lb-ft of torque. Sources say that this engine could be tuned and tweaked for more power, but Lexus has been quite adamant that they won't get sucked into horsepower wars with their German competition

Not feeling the ugly mirrors. Why so big? Not backing up a truck. Sits tooo high in the rear and the rims look familar.

[wheeler]

Originally Posted by voodoo22

Maybe! Seems like the cars are about the same size, if they would just position the seats lower and have longer seat rails in Toyota's I would have a chance to fit so I could take a test drive to confirm how much better the BMW's are

My Bimmer's in the shop for body work and I'm driving an Avalon loaner. It is big enough inside, surprisingly quick, and a solid car, but soulless indeed. Worse even--I think it began sucking soul out of my body as I drove it!

The IS was really way too small for me. I'm 6'2" and my head hit the roof. That was a deal breaker in itself.

So Toyota CAN build in more room, they just didn't in the IS. I think they just rushed the IS to market to time it against new 3 series release.

[shimshimhada]

shuzmaker, you see the guy standing there in Tiananmen square? The new M3 is the tank.

[BMW F22]

there's reason y it's called compact performance sedans...

[Gearcraft]

the back looks really busy. and not feeling the chrome wheels. i think the tri-exhaust should be reserved for the exotic cars. doesnt look like it belongs there.

[MeTaL]

Actually not that bad, except for the exhaust, what were they thinking...

[Frosty]

... i like it! Need to see it in the flesh when it is a rel car... the recent IS has quite a high rear end... does not do it for me.

amazing to me how many people on here are obsedssed with beating out other cars .... lots of racers here!

~Frost

[Tony]

Originally Posted by wyrm11

Uhhh...since when are the Germans the ones leading the HP wars? BMW was trying to stay out of the HP wars as evidenced by the 330's 255 HP engine. It was Infiniti and Lexus coming out with 300+ hp cars that forced BMW to step up their HP efforts in order to remain competitive in the US market (where we like big hp numbers).

Am I wrong here?

When he said Germans that doesn't mean just BMW. MB has been in the HP war more than BMW. 486hp AMG E-classes and 500+hp AMG CL's, AMG S-Classes with 700lbft of torque and almost 600hp. Sorry but none of the Japanese makers can compete with MB's numbers. In fact, there isn't a Japanese car available today that tops the M5's 500hp, And BMW isn't even into the HP war.

Originally Posted by wyrm11

That IS looks terrible. How the heck is that going to be an M3 killer? LOL cmon now.

It's not going to be an M3 killer just like the IS350 isn't a 330i killer.

[shuzmaker]

Originally Posted by shimshimhada

shuzmaker, you see the guy standing there in Tiananmen square? The new M3 is the tank.

David,

You are a funny guy.
But don't you think the guy in front of the tank should represent the new M3?

-Shuz

[ksfrogman]

Not sure what's up with the exhaust--it's a bit too Japanesee. Stacking them vertically makes the lower tips rub more easily, and has no advantage over a horizontal arrangement.