Lexus IS350 at AIMS 2010

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By Brett Davis | October 15th, 2010

The Lexus IS250 has been around for a while now, and one of main complaints critics gave the car was that it was perhaps underpowered. Now, Lexus has just launched the Lexus IS350 at the Motor Show in Sydney.

Featuring a larger, 3.5-litre V6, the car now outputting a BMW 335i-chasing 228kW of power and 375Nm of torque. The new model and its specifications allows the car to sprint from 0-100km/h in just 5.6 seconds, quite a lot faster than the IS250.

The IS350 is also available with an ‘F Sport’ package which sees the addition of sports suspension, a larger alloy wheel package with uprated tyres, and a discreetly enhanced front bumper bar with more aggression, as well as LED daytime running lights and HID xenon headlights incorporated into the front end.

The new car slots perfectly in between the almighty Lexus IS F sports sedan and the existing IS250 luxury sedan. Prices start at $64,800.

Ghost

Prices start at $64,500

errr for the 350?

ST

Actually $64800 but don’t let the facts get in the way of a good story.

Ghost

So this is the performance bargain of the millennium then?

TomJ

This is no doubt the 3.5L Aurion engine.

Not really bad value for the money actually, should be a good drive.

http://baji192.wordpress.com Baji

Almost, but not quite.

The engine that the IS350 uses is a variant of that used in the Aurion. Difference is it utilizes both Direct and Port Injection.

http://baji192.wordpress.com Baji

Engine in the Aurion = 2GR-FE
Engine in the IS350 = 2GR-FSE

Difference being the FSE egnine has toyota’s twin injection system.

Yeah go on. give me another thumbs down.

Shak

Whats the benefit of both types of injection. I though manufacturers saw DI as beneficial over port injection. If you know i would really like to know.

http://baji192.wordpress.com Baji

Well I believe Lexus uses both types of injections mainly for reasons of engine refinement and NVH. Direct Injected engines are a little bit noisier than port injected engines and make a ticking kidn of sound.

In the models that use the 2GR-FSE engines, at low revs and idle, port injection is used, but when at higher revs or when power is needed, direct injection is utilized.
http://baji192.wordpress.com Baji

Oh i forgot to mention for fuel economy and emissions control reasons. at low engine speeds but with high engine load, the direct injection system cannot properly atomize the fuel, and this is where the port injection is used in conjection with the direct injector.

This system also makes it easier for fuel to ignite in a cold engine, and helps the engine warm up faster from a cold-start.

sm

I’m reading it that the IS range starts at $64,800…if it’s the case that its the price for the 350, where do i sign?

Alex

At the table situated next to that silver Camry…

Alan

Oh how I wish that IS350 is 65k….
Damian

The IS350 is much cheaper than I thought it would be, especially considering the cars it’s going up against.

The BMW 335i M Sport starts at $110k, the Audi A4 3.2 FSI starts at $87k, and the Mercedes C300 starts at $85k… The aforementioned cars will cost much more once you start piling up the options.

The IS350 Prestige is an absolute BARGAIN.
milobob

At $65k, this car is more bang for buck in terms of performance and features than most of its competition. Quite honestly I think at this price, we will see a really big proportion of the IS sales to go to the IS350…
LukasUtopia

Nice car, won’t handle quite as well as a BMW or maybe an Audi or Mercedes and the interior needs to be less geeky, but for that price most people won’t notice that. Plus it has that long term Japanese durability on it’s side.

correction

Why would teh IS250 not handle as well as an Audi?
Audi designed for FWD. Lexus is RWD. So on that point alone it has cred.
A4 is a tweaked Golf.

Dan

Tempting, a car I will seriously consider next year, when it comes time to upgrade.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1435885244 Yani Hendriawan

i want one!
Ricky

Um, the price is correct. The IS250 is more like $53,000. The $64k price tag, however, is just for the plain, standard IS350. It won’t include GPS, or the F-Sport package, so it will basically look identical to the IS250.

ST

This includes Sat Nav, reverse camera and HID in the $65k price over and above IS250 base.

Damian

I highly doubt that the base IS350 will come with Sat nav, Mark Levinson, reverse camera, and HID headlights. It’s still a bargain considering how well equipped an IS250 Prestige is…

J.D

Prices are pre GST, LCT stamp duty and registration (Julia has to pay for the school halls some how…) All IS350 models will feature navigation, reverse camera and Bluetooth. Yes the F sport will be more expensive, but it adds more gear. There are no options. You choose the car with the spec you want.

ST

You mean just excluding dealer delivery and state taxes (stamp duty, rego etc).

LCT and GST is inclusive in the RRP (by definition of RRP).

http://www.facebook.com/leong.jon Jon Leong

Using Japan’s Lexus price as reference of percentage difference between 230 and 350,

the IS350 should be priced 24% higher then the equivalent IS250

Therefore, IS350 here should be priced around 55900 (current is250) + 24% which is 69316.

Considering that they might have lower the price of the new-ish 250 to 53000 thanks to strong aussie dollar, is350 starting from 65000 sounds reasonable. (I was expecting 70,000)

Ricky

You can’t use any other country’s prices as a reference, because once you get over $57k, 48% of the total price goes to the govt (33% LCT + 5% duty + 10% GST). So you need to add 48% (at least) onto the difference, for a realistic picture.

http://www.facebook.com/leong.jon Jon Leong

I am not using price on other country as reference…
I am using the Percentage of price in crease between models form the same manufacturer as a reference…

In japan IS350 in japan is 24% dearer in price compared to the equivalent IS250 in japan…

So in Australia, The price of the IS350 should be around 24% dearer in price compared to the equivalent IS250 in Australia. (inclsive of GST + duty 15%) as is250 price is inclusive of GST& duty.

33%LCT is only for amount over 57466.
LCT is not payable on GST.
Check Ato Website

Therefore its {[(estimated price(53000*1.24)-57466) *10/11]*0.33}= 2260.2 lct payable.

my estimated cost is 65720+ 2260.2 = 679080.2

Give or take it should be 68000. Hence my estimation of 70,000

http://www.facebook.com/leong.jon Jon Leong

**Calculation error & typo

{[(estimated price(53000*1.24)-57466) *10/11]*0.33}= 2476.2 lct payable.

my estimated cost is (53000*1.24)+ 2476.2 = 68196.2

BMW

Please buy the BMW 323i, it does 0-100km in 8.7 sec (auto vs auto), is less equipped and costs the same as this IS 350

Ricky

WHAT?? You’re crazy. The 323i is MUCH less – it’s $59,100, nearly 10 grand less than the IS350.

Ricky

Sorry – $5700 less. Still a big gap.

BMW

Fine, for ~$20k more you can still get a slower and less equipped BMW (the 325i)

sm

@ Ricky, my bad.. you’re right that is indeed the starting price for the 350…base model or not thought that represents pretty compelling buying, given that Lexus models in general have a good array of features that are definitely optional on the german 3 (at that’s coming from a current audi owner)

Ricky

You know what, despite how good value this may sound, I personally would rather have a Chrysler 300C HEMI V8 for $52,990 drive away, which is what they’re doing them for now.

sm

yes and the HEMI sound is addictive, but the styling (subjective i know) is getting on and i’m not sure about the built quality

Ricky

The styling of the IS is getting on too. It’s over 5 years old now.
Ricky

I agree that the Lexus warranty of 4 years is a bonus too. And the 300C is due to be replaced next year. But the sound of a V8 will be enough for many.

Damian

“You know what, despite how good value this may sound, I personally would rather have a Chrysler 300C HEMI V8 for $52,990 drive away, which is what they’re doing them for now.”

What an absolute joke. Your previous comparison of the IS350 with the 323i goes to show how ignorant you are when it comes to cars. The 323i is inferior to the IS250, with the IS350 being a natural competitor to the 335i. The 300C uses dinosaur technology, and is a different category of car altogether, hence, your comparison is invalid.

Ricky

They really need to adjust the pricing on the IS250 now. $55,900 looks way overpriced. It should be at least 5 grand less – $50-$51k.

sm

spot on.. for less than a $10K price differential i see alot more 350 going out the door…then again will Lexus care…a sale is a sale

Bob.

Now they need to bring out the IS350C here. The IS200/220d would be a good move.
Shak

If this thing is 65K for real, then bye bye SS-V and hello Sake!
DRIVER

IS250 PRICING LEXUS WEB SITE
You got the pricing all wrong go to lexus site and check
IS250 PRESTIGE ON THE ROAD NO OPTIONS
$61135
IS250 PRESTIGE OPTION F PACKAGE $12500
$74456 on the road
IS250 LUXURY on the road
$83771
Your dreaming if the IS350 is $64000
$80000-$95000 always lexus adds about $20000 for a bigger engine

Lexus

err did you miss the announcement or something?

Ee

This design with the refresh that happened late last year is beautiful

Anyways I prefer the interior and exterior of the IS to any if the German 3
DJCJ

As a very happy current IS250 owner (2006 model), I’ve fallen over at the price of the IS350! I was expecting for the entry-level to start in the mid 70s! I love my IS250 (I was a Euro-badge snob and had little time for Lexus until someone twisted my arm to test drive one) and the value for money, handling and reliability it has. My car still drives ‘as-new’ 4.5 years on. Incidentally the IS250 feels underpowered to some (still 0/100 in 8.1sec) simply because the auto’s programming gets it into a higher gear much too early. Drive the thing in sports mode (manual gear changing) and it has plenty of kick. So the 350 (with 70kW more guts) will undoubtedly fly. If I was a potential buyer, I just cannot make a case for the 250 anymore, if the 350 is just 8k more. I think I know what my next car might be now!

This is an absolute performance bargain (I’m still staggered at the entry cost), and would have to get some of the ‘European badge blinkered’ to take notice. Lexus every 4 or 5 years makes a statement to it’s Euro competition – this sure as hell is one!

figjam

If what i’m reading is right, the IS 350 will be faster then all its competitors and at that price I could buy two for the price of a BMW 335i.

That’s awesome – sign me up!

Buzz

Any chance of a review car advice?
Ricky

Your info on the engine specs is wrong. It has 233 kW, not 228 kW, and torque is 378 nm.
Joober

Now i want to wait… for This or still contemplate a second hand VW R36…