Gimme shelter – or not
I’m sure that Mick Jagger would approve of the shelter provided by the IS 250 C’s hardtop roof.
When in place, it’s pretty well indiscernible from a conventional roof; all is snug, tight and nicely finished however rearward visibility isn’t the best due to a smallish rear window and protruding rear head restraints.
Within 20-seconds, shelter can be dispensed with. When retracted, there is no sign of the power-operated lid; it stows discreetly beneath a series of rigid tonneau panels that smoothly blend interior contouring with exterior bodylines to create an unbroken finish.
Wild wild horses – not quite
Spinning beneath the hood of the moderately powered IS 250 C is a 2.5-litre DOHC 24-valve V6 engine featuring Dual Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (DVVT-i). This charming workhorse dispenses 204 horsepower @ 6,400 rpm and 185 pound-feet of torque @ 4,800 rpm.
Such figures are sufficient to hustle the open-air Lexus with sufficient vigor for the majority of sun seekers however those desirous of greater roofless velocity can opt for the more powerful IS 350 C, in which case a 306 horsepower 3.5-litre V6 mill fulfills propulsion needs.
Output from both engines is wisely directed to the rear wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission. Interestingly though, a six-speed manual gearbox is standard equipment in the IS 250 C but not available in the IS 350 C.
My tester was equipped with the optional automatic transmission, which shifted with commendable precision. An electronic manual-mode feature combined with shift paddles adds a sense of sportiness to top-down motoring.
Beneath the sun and behind the wheel
The true delight in driving the IS 250 C emerges when the roof is down and the sun is up – or stars; this is a convertible that delivers refinement with its infinite supply of wind-driven pleasure.
A rigid body structure eliminates the shake and shudder often associated with roofless driving. It also serves as a solid platform for the suspension to effectively absorb road degradation along with unpleasant thumping when potholes are encountered.
The same setup also delivers spirited handling dynamics, which easily facilitate a romp through the sinewy. The relaxing nature and easy driveability of the IS 250 C makes such exercises exceptionally enjoyable. This experience is enhanced by a premium audio system supplied as standard equipment.
The wedge-like body of the IS 250 C performs a remarkable job of minimizing wind turbulence, enabling casual conversation in most top-down driving scenarios.
Refined yet capable
In selecting just a few words to sum up the IS 250 C, I have settled on ‘refined yet capable.’ This vehicle provides delightful top-down motoring. It’s not the fastest convertible out there by any stretch nor is it the sharpest handling, still it doesn’t lack driving spirit while delivering impressive refinement.
photo:Rob Rothwell
I’m sure that Mick Jagger would approve of the shelter provided by the IS 250 C’s hardtop roof.
When in place, it’s pretty well indiscernible from a conventional roof; all is snug, tight and nicely finished however rearward visibility isn’t the best due to a smallish rear window and protruding rear head restraints.
Within 20-seconds, shelter can be dispensed with. When retracted, there is no sign of the power-operated lid; it stows discreetly beneath a series of rigid tonneau panels that smoothly blend interior contouring with exterior bodylines to create an unbroken finish.
Wild wild horses – not quite
Spinning beneath the hood of the moderately powered IS 250 C is a 2.5-litre DOHC 24-valve V6 engine featuring Dual Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (DVVT-i). This charming workhorse dispenses 204 horsepower @ 6,400 rpm and 185 pound-feet of torque @ 4,800 rpm.
Such figures are sufficient to hustle the open-air Lexus with sufficient vigor for the majority of sun seekers however those desirous of greater roofless velocity can opt for the more powerful IS 350 C, in which case a 306 horsepower 3.5-litre V6 mill fulfills propulsion needs.
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| This charming workhorse dispenses 204 horsepower @ 6,400 rpm and 185 pound-feet of torque @ 4,800 rpm. |
Output from both engines is wisely directed to the rear wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission. Interestingly though, a six-speed manual gearbox is standard equipment in the IS 250 C but not available in the IS 350 C.
My tester was equipped with the optional automatic transmission, which shifted with commendable precision. An electronic manual-mode feature combined with shift paddles adds a sense of sportiness to top-down motoring.
Beneath the sun and behind the wheel
The true delight in driving the IS 250 C emerges when the roof is down and the sun is up – or stars; this is a convertible that delivers refinement with its infinite supply of wind-driven pleasure.
A rigid body structure eliminates the shake and shudder often associated with roofless driving. It also serves as a solid platform for the suspension to effectively absorb road degradation along with unpleasant thumping when potholes are encountered.
The same setup also delivers spirited handling dynamics, which easily facilitate a romp through the sinewy. The relaxing nature and easy driveability of the IS 250 C makes such exercises exceptionally enjoyable. This experience is enhanced by a premium audio system supplied as standard equipment.
The wedge-like body of the IS 250 C performs a remarkable job of minimizing wind turbulence, enabling casual conversation in most top-down driving scenarios.
Refined yet capable
In selecting just a few words to sum up the IS 250 C, I have settled on ‘refined yet capable.’ This vehicle provides delightful top-down motoring. It’s not the fastest convertible out there by any stretch nor is it the sharpest handling, still it doesn’t lack driving spirit while delivering impressive refinement.
photo:Rob Rothwell
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