2011 Lexus IS 250, IS 350 to debut at Australian International Motor Show

By Tim Beissmann | August 30th, 2010

Lexus has revealed the 2011 model year updates for the 2011 Lexus IS range ahead of its official unveiling at the Paris Motor Show in October.

A spokesperson for Lexus Australia today confirmed the refreshed IS 250 would arrive in Australia alongside the long-anticipated 228kW/375Nm IS 350, with sales to begin after the vehicles’ local debut at the Australian International Motor Show (AIMS) in Sydney in October.

Lexus says the revisions to the IS are the most significant since the vehicle’s launch in 2005, with the biggest change being the introduction of the new IS 200d, which replaces the previous IS 220d in overseas markets.

The 110kW/340Nm 2.2-litre diesel has benefitted from a number of engineering enhancements and is now Euro V compliant. Combined cycle fuel consumption is 5.1 litres/100km and CO₂ emissions are a tidy 134g/km (the old IS 220d achieved 5.6 litres/100km and 148g/km CO₂).

The upgrades have not convinced Lexus Australia to add the diesel to the local line up however, with a spokesman admitting the IS 200d was not on the radar.

“Our chief executive Tony Cramb said a couple of months ago that there were no plans to bring it here. We’re not saying it will never happen but there are no plans to bring it here at this point in time,” he said.

The new IS 250 is now automatic-only to ensure it complies with emissions standards. Power and torque from the 2.5-litre V6 are unchanged at 153kW and 252Nm, although combined fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions have improved to 8.4 litres/100km and 194g/km – down from 8.9 litres/100km and 209g/km.

The 2011 IS 250C also benefits from the engine refinements, with its figures dropping to 9.2 litres/100km and 213g/km CO₂.

Visual updates are minor and follow the standard facelift template of revised headlight and tail light designs, LED daytime running lamps, restyled front grille, new exterior colours and fresh alloy wheel designs.

The new F-Sport packages for the IS 250 and IS 220d draw inspiration from the high-performance IS F model, adding a new deep front spoiler with fog lights, new grille design, rear spoiler with integrated stop light and 18in dark silver alloy wheels to the exterior and a revised steering wheel, gear level, sports pedals and front seats on the inside.

A Lexus Australia spokesman said the F-Sport option pack (currently available on IS 250 in Australia) was likely to expand to other IS models.

“We’ll reveal more about our local line up at AIMS, but you could assume that it’s at least available on 250 and we’d like to make sure it’s available on most if we can.”

Chucky

With no reported changes to the standard equipment levels, how can they expect this tired old car to compete with the rest of the pack?

Bugger.

The IS range is still the best looking car in this class, they dont need a diesel but i am glad that the IS350 is finally here, the IS350 motor & 6 speed auto is the best out there!
Damian

I don’t see how the IS250 is a “tired old car” as it is still very competitive in its segment. I am interested in hearing your thoughts on this.

Keep in mind that the base model IS 250 Prestige is competing with the likes of the Audi A4 1.8T, BMW 320i, and Mercedes C200 CGI. The Lexus is the only one with a 6 cylinder as standard. The Audi uses a 1.8T which has 250nm of torque (2nm less than the Lexus), and 118kw (a massive 35kw less than the Lexus). I won’t even go into what BMW has to offer with its 320i. Only the Mercedes C200 CGI is competition for the IS 250 Prestige, with RWD and a boosted 4 cylinder that has more torque than the IS 250.

You’ll need to pay around $70k for a base BMW 325i in order to be able to compete with the IS250 Prestige, and that’s before you start digging into the eye-watering BMW options list.

http://www.caradvice.com.au Ok

Some people just don’t get it some people just look at what they can get as options and others prefer to drive a car with feel and drive, Cars like Mercedes BMW Audi Volkswagen are the best at feeling every driver in put understeer oversteer bumps road surface the steering wheel is just full of information , oh man this is a waste of time trying to educate all of you that have not driven a European car . i have driven holdens fords then jap cars like Honda Toyota and yes lexus a lexus is250 what a dud that was…i climbed my way up to own a German car and mate Germans know how to engineer a car. All jap cars and oz cars have no character no feel.

Damian

“All jap cars and oz cars have no character no feel.”

This is a classic “badge snob” mentality that is so prevalent amongst low-end European car buyers. For these people, a car is not assessed by its merits, but by the badge alone.

What “German” car do you drive, “OK”?
Not OK

I don’t think you really know what you’re talking about, considering that reviews of most cars on the market these days have reported that they have lifeless steering feel, which is non-communicative at best. Mercedes, BMW, Audi, and Volkswagen are no exception. Reviews have even said that the current e92 M3, which I bet you have parked next to your CLK Black and R8, falls under the same category. If you think that all “jap” cars have “no character no feel”, then I’m guessing all you can’t have driven too many “jap” sports cars.

Oh, and I don’t think you need the steering wheel to tell you that your car is understeering OR oversteering… unless you don’t actually drive and watch playschool after kinder everyday.
krjlwelkewf

Can you please remove yourself from the gene pool? Prefearbly by getting crushed to death in a
garbage compactor, by getting your face cut to ribbons with a
pocketknife, your head cracked open with a baseball bat, your stomach
sliced open and your entrails spilled out, and your eyeballs ripped
out of their sockets.
Suntory time

“I climbed my way up to own a German car”

This one sentence reveals much about your flawed perceptions regarding cars.

It screams of proving yourself to others based on the car you own… as opposed to sound judgement.

Josh

No diesel? That is so typical jap I just don’t get it how are they going to get ahead even Hyundai offer diesel on their models.

Grammar Nazi

Yep, no diesel is a bit of a failure if they want to seriously compete with the BMWs and Audis in this segment.

Also, removal of manual is a bad decision, it was the only way to extract any power out of the 2.5 6-cyl.

Lack of manual in the IS350 is also an oversight, as they sound like some good figures. Then again, I don’t think Toyota’s 3.5L V6 has been mated to a manual anywhere else before (Aurion; RAV4; Tarago etc.).

And lastly…this car’s getting a bit long in the tooth. Blink and you’ll miss whatever facelift they’ve made here.

G

Facelift? Where?
Camski

From memory the IS220d only came in manual, the market here for that segment of car is small, however it wouldn’t hurt to market it here anyway.

The IS250 manual was mediocre at best, however they removed it to comply with emission standards.

The IS350 never had a manual option anywhere in the world, however can still easily keep up with a 335i without the need for a good launch. At the very least it is one of the better 6 speed conventional automatics available.
A manual tranmission may not be as easy as shoe-horning it from another model because this direct injection 2GR-FSE version of the 2GR-FE engine is specifically a rear wheel drive only platform.

Martin

They’ll probably come soon enough…

Ricky

This makes no sense. The IS already had a facelift in 2009 with new rear light clusters (featuring the white “L” shaped reverse light) and slightly updated grill. Seeing as it is going to be replaced in less than 2 years, why bother investing more money in it so late?
jay

auto only? sports pack? does not compute…

product mix fail.

Camski

Oh yeah, my mistake, I forgot, all of MB’s AMGs suck with their 5/7 speed automatics, what were they thinking?!

They were thinking 21st century, just look at all the motorsports now, they almost all use some derivative of a “sequential” automatic (or clutchless) gearbox.

j

Except Lexus’ autos are autos and not sequential manual gearboxes.

As Clarkson said about the ISF vs M3, which also holds true to the rest of the IS range…

More expensive than the BMW
Slower than the BMW

And I add, less soul than the BMW.

lexus lover

more expensive than a BMW?? You must be living in la-la land mate !

j

comparing like for like it is.
is250 vs 320i

Camski

Note: “5/7 Speed Automatics” – AMG’s derivative of MB’s 5G-Tronic/7G-Tronic Speed is a traditional automatic, “Speedshift” (bar their MCT transmission).

Also note then that with regards to motorsport, I specifically said, ‘some derivative of a “sequential” AUTOMATIC (or clutchless) gearbox’. That said, the term ‘some derivative’ can be used loosely.

Compare the IS250 with the 320i as you wish, i’d take the IS250. Compare the IS250 and 325i, my mind might change, however when we’re talking dollar for dollar, not apples to apples, the IS250 comes ontop over the 320i, debatably, cheaper too.
Dan

More expensive in Europe, much much cheaper in our market.

And why do people take Clarkson’s comments as gospel?

Glen

A lot of ill-advised comments on here… If you had actually driven one of the IS 250 manual models, you would recognise (as I’m sure Lexus does), that it is really quite ordinary as far as manual transmissions go… In comparison, Toyota’s combination of the 6-sp auto and 3.5-litre V6 is one of the smoothest and most refined drivetrains going around… And I’m sure the IS 350 will come in a good $15-20K under a similar BMW…

Damian

“And I’m sure the IS 350 will come in a good $15-20K under a similar BMW…”

I’d be interested to see how Lexus prices the IS 350. The IS 250 Sports Luxury is a $78k car, so the IS 350 will probably be close to $100k, which is solid BMW 335i territory. Unless Lexus drastically reduces the price of the IS 250 Sports Luxury, or in the alternative, substitutes the IS 250 Sports Luxury with the IS 350, I don’t see how the latter will sell.

Camski

In the US, a loaded IS250 is slightly cheaper than an entry level IS350. If that trend follows here, at say ~$80K for the IS250 SL, you can bet top dollar that the IS350 will be somewhere above that, but I suspect below $90K.

I’m just guessing, but i’d say that’d be a pretty good estimate if US trends carry over here.

Tony

The IS 350 should enable Lexus to increase its market share a bit. Always good to see new models in the market from a car buyer’s point of view.
Chucky

Damian, the BMW 323i which has a 2.5 litre 6 cylinder engine like the IS250 is only $59,000. Even Audi has a 2 litre turbo A4 for less than $59,000. Of recent the Germans have really improved in terms of value for money with their base prestige offerings. The IS250 is no quicker than these competitors, and it’s standard features are not significantly better. So Lexus either needs to reduce their prices or throw in more features to even stand a chance.

Dan

Yeah, euros might be cheap as base model with no options, but start ticking those options boxes to get the same spec as the IS250 base model, and you’ll be paying $$$ more. The IS250 is very generously equipped as standard already. Value for money, can’t beat it.

Realcars

Nice Camry mate!

http://www.checkwebhosting.com Neutral

Do yourself a favour and stop posting dumb comment like this. It just makes you look like a fool.
lexus lover

this is not the ES matey…..
Bugger.

Once again realcars “the man who knows nothing about cars” makes another incorrect statement! cant you read up on something before posting your garbage!

http://www.caradvice.com.au It’s true

well it is a camry an IS camry only different’s is a camry driver saved 60k and IS driver spent 60k for a badge.

Bimmerc

If you really want to relate it to Toyota, the very closed relative is Toyota Reiz (Mark X), they share same platform and drivetrain. This model is not selling in Aus market which is shame, it can turn the Toyota dull image.

However, it is certainly not a Camry
Bugger.

And a yellow cab is a HSV GTS only the cabbie saved 100k! same as your ridiculous statement!

Ee

The IS250 doesn’t looked aged out at all, infact it loke better than the C-class, 3 series and the Audi A?, the interiors are a different story, lexuscinteriors are focused purily on luxury, quality and refinement.. Go inside the interior of the c-class and look how cheap and bad designed it is.. The Lexus IS250 luxury has a better interior than even the S-Class and 7 series

The Lexus has focuse on ride smoothness, quietness and refinement and also it’s comes standard V6, wheras the German have nasty 4 cylinders

And is250 is the best in the market and the IS350 will just steal more market share

I’m not biased at all just honest and fact wise
DJCJ

Well to add my five cents worth – I went from a Audi A4 having owned it less than 12 months, into an IS250. Best move I ever made. Lost money on the Audi, but just had to get rid of it in the end. I hated the ride after all, the understeer and the sloppy handling, and the turbo lag on the 1.8T I had was really annoying. Nicely put together, but there were niggly things that were wrong from day 1. I was never going to buy a Japanese prestige vehicle initially (admittedly a bit of a badge snob myself once), but after pronouncing my grievance for the A4 to a motoring nut of a friend, he dragged me kicking n screaming into a Lexus dealer to test drive an IS250. Bought one the next week! Never thought Id do it – but am rapt.

For $60k a German can’t get close in terms of overall package the IS provides. Driveability, 2nd to none build & finish, warranty, standard features and customer service. You just have to look at the materials used to see a huge difference in quality. Then once you add the options with the Germans, you’re spending 15k more than you should. If you’re going to get a German prestige vehicle, spend 80-90k and do it properly, but if your budget is ‘entry level prestige’ (60k or so) and you don’t at the least have a test drive of an IS, then you wont realise how the Germans are ripping off us Aussie motorists.

Faz

I checked out the IS250 against the C200 CGI. From memory I didn’t get blown away by how much more “stuff” I would get in the Lexus vs what I would get in the Merc. Main thing was an extra year of warranty, but that got swamped by 1) I rate the looks of the C200 higher than the IS 2) rear space in the IS was inferior to the C200 and 3) C200 has better fuel consumption.