Performance Car Reviews, News and Parts for the Car Enthusiast

The Lexus IS 250c was revealed at the Paris Motor Show back in the year 2008 without much astonishment. Seldom do the words Lexus and Convertible go together, but this time, the Japanese sumptuousness car maker has jammed the Germans with their tops downwards. The IS 250c is expected to do fine for the company in two different ways; first of all, by attracting customers who have certainly not chewed over the hallucination of investing in a Lexus, and secondly, by giving its European rivals something tough to grind on.

With top down, the car looks pretty much like standard Lexus IS Sedan, when you see it for the first time. You would come to know very quickly when the top slides back into its original position. This elegant car is different from Sedan in many ways; it gets its highest speed in just 20 seconds and features two-door coupe with a three metal piece-folding roof. Nonetheless, do not be confused by the name; Lexus IS 250c is a latest car, which looks very similar to standard IS versions but has altogether new added features.

The engine and the gearbox are the same. Mutually, both the models have the 60-degree V6, which produces 153kW at 6400rpm, and 252Nm at 4800rpm, which consumes 9.3 litres of fuel for every 100km, and generates 219 grams/kilometre of CO2. The gearbox is obtainable in six speed variants of both the automatic and the manual. Besides this, the only body parts in general are the bonnet, headlights, door mirrors and the dashboard.

The person responsible for the main engineering bit is the same person behind the development of the chassis of the last generation Toyota Supra. This is obvious with the way the car feels like a sedan while driving, and it has to do with the extra reinforcements done under the skin of the car. Comprising of seven under-body braces, four internal floor reinforcements, and three different grades of high strength steel, in addition to the bigger rear brakes, which support this, added weight, the car has added up to an extra 1750kg depending on model (3 Models are available; Prestige, Sports, Sports Luxury).

However, the engine is not overworked and does not require more juice. The IS250 consumes 9.1L/100Km, while the IS250C does 9.3L/100Km. Only Premium Unleaded 95OCT, or higher is recommended.

The inside look of both the cars is same because of similar dashboard and controls. Nevertheless, some accessories like Audio Player and Touch Screen 40GB SATNAV have been modified to give better sound quality while driving with the roof down. Both cars have spacious sitting arrangements for both the driver and the passengers.

There is no safety issue in both these cars. Both cars have lots of safety features and airbag controls. While tested for road safety rating, both these cars have gotten five stars on their names. Nevertheless, IS 250c has gotten more body strength and additional airbags than standard Lexus.

Overall, the IS-C is an impressive addition to the already prestigious IS range, which includes the IS Standard and IS-F. With add on like this, Lexus is surely to make other car makers hit back for the workshop, and its no shocker that the car already has a two-month waiting list ahead of its arrival in 2010.

Detailed information about the Lexus IS 250c is availiable. Why not book a test drive now!