TARRYTOWN, NY – Seeking to carve out a bigger slice of the pie in a segment dominated by the BMW 3-Series coupe, Lexus is filling customer orders as fast as it receives shipments of its recently introduced IS-C luxury coupe-convertible sports car from parent Toyota Motor Corp.’s Kyushu plant in Japan.
The facility is ramping up to produce at least 225 IS-C models a month just for the Northeast region of the U.S., Scott Wracher, general manager of the Lexus's eastern area, says at a press conference here.
The overall build rate will allow Lexus to sell 1,200 units per month nationally. “I don't think we're going to outstrip demand with our build rate,” he says, adding, “There's a lot of value in the IS (models) compared to our competition.”
In addition to the 3-Series coupe, the IS competes in a segment that includes the Mercedes CLK, Audi A5, Volvo C70, Infiniti G37 and Saab 9-3.
The new IS 250C comes with a 2.5L V-6 engine that generates 204 hp and 185 lb.-ft. (251 Nm) of torque. The new 350C's V-6 ups the power ante to 305 hp and 277 lb.-ft. (376 Nm) of torque.
Both engines use aluminum blocks and heads. Acceleration from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) for the IS 250C is 8.4 seconds, while the 350C’s larger engine accelerates to 60 mph in a swift 5.8 seconds.
Among the chief features of the new Lexus convertible is its ability to open or shut its folding hard top in a mere 20 seconds thanks to 15 electric motors and 30 sensors. Yet even with the top down, there is sufficient cargo space in the trunk. There is no rag-top available.
Base price for the manual transmission IS 250C, which is expected to account for a mere 5% of sales, is $46,740. The model with an automatic transmission starts at $39,660. Base price for the IS 350C is $51,740, which only is available with an automatic transmission. The automatics offer paddle shifters.
Wracher says it’s too early in the sales cycle to estimate the average transaction price for the new convertibles, although he believes all units will be sold at the base price. He also predicts sales of the new models will break 85% for the 250C and 15% for the 350C.
High-performance option packages can drive prices up considerably. For instance, customers who select the sport upgraded braking kit will have to pony up $3,025 for the front set and $2,550 for the rear brakes. Lexus sources the upgrade brake kit from StopTech of Compton, CA.
Front StopTech brakes can be purchased separately, but the rear set only is available with the front pair. The optional brakes provide 22.5% more pad contact area and significantly reduce stopping distances that already are short with conventional brakes.
With the standard OEM brakes, stopping distance for the IS from 60 mph is a short 119.2 ft. (36 m).With the sport brake package, stopping distance is cut to an impressive 108.8 ft. (33 m).
That works out to a cost of about $536 per foot for the improvement. But 10 ft. (3 m) can mean the difference between a crash and a harmless stop in many instances. For practical purposes, the upgraded brakes likely are targeted at buyers who want to drive the IS in races.
Other performance options include lowered springs and shocks, different sway bars and intake system and 18-in. sport rim wheels. Buyers also can order a navigation system that offers real-time traffic information from Sirius XM Satellite Radio. Audio enthusiasts can order a Mark Levinson system with 12 speakers.
Additionally, the new IS-C models feature the Lexus Park Assist feature, voice- activated controls for the heating and ventilation systems and cell-phone calling, among other functions.
