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By
EWAN KENNEDY
20 March 2006
|The Lexus IS250 is a sports sedan in the true
sense of that often misused term. Meaning it has excellent handling, a
responsive engine and brakes well up to the task of hard driving.
Launched in Australia in November last year it was all-new and replaced
both the Lexus IS200 and IS300.
The new Lexus IS250 follows the
Japanese company’s latest styling theme, thus joining the GS
series Lexus that was introduced only a few months prior to the
new IS. This styling is intended to give the Lexus range a
corporate look across all models in a similar manner to the
styling continuity used successfully by companies like BMW and
Mercedes for many years.
The Lexus shape concentrates on
using a strong waistline that runs all the way from the front
guards and continues through to the boot lid. This tall waistline
makes for high-set side windows that give the IS250 a strong,
purposeful look. At the front, the guards are visually separated
from the bonnet to give them an independent appearance.
Interestingly, Lexus isn’t the only car marque using this
semi-separate look for the front guards, the new Mercedes S-Class,
launched in Australia early this year has a similar theme.
Cabin space in the latest Lexus IS
has been improved over the old, but the rear-drive layout isn’t
kind to a desire for high-volume in any low-slung vehicle. Though
the latest IS is slightly larger than the superseded one, but two
six-footers sitting behind one another will have to compromise on
legroom.
The interior is a pleasant
environment to sit in, with well-shaped seats and a design theme
that carries strong sporting overtones. In particular, the dials
are large no-nonsense units and are shielded by a cowl that makes
a strong styling statement.
Despite strongly promoting the use
of a straight-six engine in the previous IS models, Lexus now
falls into line with most other makers by opting for a V6, chiefly
because it’s a more compact setup. BMW is a proponent of
straight-six engines and Lexus previously targetted the BMW 3
Series. Apparently that is no longer the case.
All Australian imports of the new
IS have a twin-cam engine with 2.5-litre capacity. This unit is
virtually the same as that used in European variants of the IS250
and we found it a little lacking in power and torque at low revs,
but good over 3000rpm and sensational once it’s past 4000 rpm.
These top-end engine characteristics are well suited to driving at
everyday speeds on European motorways, but aren't ideally suited
to the low speed limits we have in Australia.
Thankfully, it’s easy to keep the
engine in its best rev band as six ratios are offered in both the
manual and automatic transmissions. The automatic has tiptronic-type
manual overrides that can be operated either through the floor
shift or steering wheel paddles. The latter are large and easy to
use.
Most are likely to buy the
automatic IS250, but it’s worth considering the manual if you’re
a keen driver. Being a rear-drive car means the IS250’s gear
lever is close to the gearbox, so the changes are slick and
precise with a nice metallic feel.
Efficiency of engine design means
the Lexus IS250 uses about the same amount of petrol as did the
superseded IS200, that despite it having significantly more
performance. During our test week the Lexus IS250 automatic
consumed about eight to nine litres per hundred kilometres in
country and motorway driving. Around town this rose to a
reasonable 10 to 12 litres per hundred.
There are two grades of suspension
on this latest small Lexus, you would call them standard and
sporting. Some owners may find the firmer one a little on the
harsh side on rough roads, others will find it quite acceptable.
The standard suspension already has plenty of sporting flair and
only the most enthusiastic drivers are likely to demand more than
it offers.
Steering is simply delightful with
near-instantaneous response and excellent feedback. As we said
this really is a true sporting sedan and nowhere is this more
obvious than in the way the Lexus IS250's steering reacts and
feels.
The brakes are simply superb and
pull the car up reassuringly from high speeds, with a nice meaty
bite that suggests they stay fade free under just about any
circumstances.
Lexus' new IS250 is a fine machine
that deserves serious consideration from buyers who are otherwise
locked into only thinking of prestige German cars when they go
shopping for a sports sedan.
AT A GLANCE
MODEL RANGE
IS250 2.5-litre four-door sedan - $53,890
IS250 Sports 2.5-litre four-door sedan - $67,400
IS250 Sports Luxury 2.5-litre four-door sedan - $78,500
FEATURES
ABS Brakes: Standard on all models
Air Conditioning: Standard on all models
Automatic Transmission: Standard on Sports Luxury, $2600 option on
other models
CD Player: Standard on all models
Central Locking: Standard on all models
Cruise Control: Standard on all models
Driver Airbag: Standard on all models
Passenger Airbag: Standard on all models
Front Side Airbags: Standard on all models
SPECIFICATIONS (Lexus IS250
Sports 2.5-litre four-door sedan)
ENGINE:
Capacity: 2.500 litres
Configuration: Six cylinders in line
Head Design: DOHC, four valves per cylinder
Compression Ratio: 12.0:1
Bore/Stroke: 83.0 x 77.0mm
Maximum Power: 153kW @ 6400rpm
Maximum Torque: 252Nm @ 4800rpm
DRIVELINE:
Driven Wheels: Rear
Manual Transmission: Six-speed
Automatic Transmission: Six-speed
Final Drive Ratio: 3.583:1
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 4575mm
Wheelbase: 2730mm
Width: 1800mm
Height: 1425mm
Turning Circle: 10.2 metres
Kerb Mass: 1570kg
Fuel Tank Capacity: 65 litres
Towing Ability: 560kg (1500kg with braked trailer)
SUSPENSION AND BRAKES:
Front Suspension: Independent, double wishbone, coil springs,
anti-roll bar
Rear Suspension: Independent, multi-link, coil springs, anti-roll
bar
Front Brakes: Ventilated Disc
Rear Brakes: Disc
PERFORMANCE:
0-100 km/h Acceleration: 8.4 secs
Standing 400 Metres: 16.2 secs
FUEL CONSUMPTION:
City Cycle: 11.0 L/100km
Highway Cycle: 8.2 L/100km
STANDARD WARRANTY:
Four years/100,000km
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Copyright Marque Publishing Company
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