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The Lexus IS C went on sale few days ago, when the manufacturer announced that is planning to sell over 1,600 units per month. Now Lexus wanted to offer a surprise for its customers and expanded its F-Sport Performance Accessories line for the IS250C and IS350C.
The new IS C F-Sport accessories include performance enhancing parts such as forged alloy wheels, brake upgrades, suspension systems, air intake, exhaust systems and more. The parts were developed with help from Toyota Racing Development (TRD) and will be available at North American Lexus showrooms from June 1.
The new range includes 19in forged alloy wheels designed in a dark graphite finish, six-piston fixed calipers and drilled cast-iron rotors, braided stainless-steel brake lines, sports pads, and a new shock absorber and suspension spring set.
The shock absorbers and springs were co-developed with Bilstein and provide a firmer ride, increased stability and reduced body roll. Body roll and chassis flex is further reduced with the adoption of the sway bars and a chassis brace.
Engine performance is lifted with a new sports exhaust and intake system consisting of stainless-steel mufflers and double-wall exhaust tips and high-flow filters. Other pieces include a carbon-fiber engine cover, a performance clutch for manual models, as well as a quick-shift gearstick that decreases shift throw by approximately 35%.
Previously the F-Sport accessories was only applicable for the IS 250 and IS 350 sedans but Lexus has always maintained that parts would eventually be developed for other vehicles in its lineup.
Lexus' much anticipated IS Convertible went on sale in Tokyo today, a car that the Toyota luxury division has been working on for the past year or so in order to compete with similar offerings from BMW and Audi. With the new convertible, Lexus has revealed that it will be hoping to steal away sales from other premium brands, namely the 3-series and previous A4 convertibles.
Speaking with Automotive News, Lexus project manager Keiichi Nishiyama revealed that pricing for the car will start at under $40,000. Unsurprisingly, Lexus is targeting the U.S. market even though the financial crisis seems to be deepening rather than improving.
The carmaker is hoping to sell around 1,600 units of the IS250C per month around the world, but 70% of these sales are expected to come from the U.S. alone. That means that Lexus is expecting U.S. customers to account for around 1,120 units per month, or 13,400 sales per year.
The IS convertible will be offered in two versions: the IS 250C and the IS 350C. The IS 250C, which is equipped with a 2.5-liter V-6 engine, will start at $39,365 while the IS 350C with a 3.5-liter V-6 will start at $44,815. The SC 430 is positioned well above the IS 350C at $67,680 with a 4.3-liter V-8. (All prices include an $875 destination fee.)
The IS convertible "is meant to appeal as an entry-level Lexus," says project manager Keiichi Nishiyama. "Its main target is overseas customers, especially in North America." But the IS faces stiff competition, both from the stalwart BMW 3-series convertible and the new Infiniti G convertible.
Creating a new entry-level Lexus convertible means that customers will not have to rely on the expensive (and frankly outdated) SC convertible to get their top-down Lexus kicks. When the car arrives in the U.S. this June, Lexus is hoping that it can pick up the slack of falling SC convertible sales. A convertible version of the IS 350 is expected to be launched later in the year.
