Lexus's second attempt at a convertible offering will definitely be better than the first. At over $78 grand, the luxurious SC 430 is way too expensive and doesn't really stand out in the high-end convertible segment.
And, we think people who generally shop for a luxury convertible don't need a V8 engine; they just want to soak up the sun in a solid and nicely-finished package. Yet the decision to produce a droptop based on the IS sedan is a peculiar one.
First, Lexus' smallest offering probably wasn't designed at the start to be a two-door convertible, which means greater efforts must be made to insure the car's structural rigidity. Second, the current IS has been around since the 2006 model year, which means it will be redesigned within the next two years. The folks at Lexus must be positive that the IS C will be a success.
As a result, not many body panels are shared with the sedan aft of the A-pillar, if any at all. The car sports a three-piece, power-folding hard top that disappears in 21 seconds. Since the whole decklid lifts rearward to accommodate the top, the radio antenna is mounted on the car's right rear flank, just above the rear wheel.
Toyota's luxury division did a good job of converting the IS sedan into a droptop; it still looks unmistakably like the four-door model, even from the rear.
Inside, the IS C's automatic climate control system adjusts itself according to vehicle speed and the intensity of sunlight in the cabin. The sound system's output also varies when the top is down or not. Unlike the sedan but as with most of its competitors, the convertible accommodates only four passengers.
And, we think people who generally shop for a luxury convertible don't need a V8 engine; they just want to soak up the sun in a solid and nicely-finished package. Yet the decision to produce a droptop based on the IS sedan is a peculiar one.
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| Look for the new Lexus droptop in the spring of 2009. |
First, Lexus' smallest offering probably wasn't designed at the start to be a two-door convertible, which means greater efforts must be made to insure the car's structural rigidity. Second, the current IS has been around since the 2006 model year, which means it will be redesigned within the next two years. The folks at Lexus must be positive that the IS C will be a success.
As a result, not many body panels are shared with the sedan aft of the A-pillar, if any at all. The car sports a three-piece, power-folding hard top that disappears in 21 seconds. Since the whole decklid lifts rearward to accommodate the top, the radio antenna is mounted on the car's right rear flank, just above the rear wheel.
Toyota's luxury division did a good job of converting the IS sedan into a droptop; it still looks unmistakably like the four-door model, even from the rear.
Inside, the IS C's automatic climate control system adjusts itself according to vehicle speed and the intensity of sunlight in the cabin. The sound system's output also varies when the top is down or not. Unlike the sedan but as with most of its competitors, the convertible accommodates only four passengers.
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| Toyota's luxury division did a good job of converting the IS sedan into a droptop. |