Start Saving for the IS500

[adamsheehy]

So they're purporting that it's a V8 based soley upon the deep air dam, larger spoiler and exhaust?

[Cruxader]

yeah i mean i've heard the rumor that Lexus has registered the is460 name in Europe, but they're all just that. I still stand by my prediction that it will be a hybrid when it comes out. 6 cylinder engine of some sort, paired with a hybrid assist to be similar to the gs450h...maybe the is460h if those rumors are true?

[k3vo]

Some more spyshots @ Nurburgring







Is it just me, or do the taillights look more angular (narrower) on the inside than on the current 2is?

[jruhi4]

Is it just me, or do the taillights look more angular (narrower) on the inside than on the current 2is?

I think it's optical illusion from a combination of the lighting and the shadows it creates, the fact that the photos were shot from overhead and even the car's black colo(u)r.

[jruhi4]

A brief blurb from TheCarConnection.com:

Spy Shots: ’08 Lexus IS500

Nippon ueber alles?

Lexus now appears ready to up the ante, and go head-to-head with the BMW M3, C-Class AMG, and Audi S/RS4 with this hot version of its IS sedan.

This prototype has all the necessary sporty cues: An aggressive front air dam that appears to take inspiration from Lexus' LF-A sports car, subtly integrated fender flares, and a deep rear bumper with uniquely stacked dual-exhaust tips. From an appearance standpoint, this high-performance Lexus looks like it can hold its own against the competition.

The most logical engine powering this beast would be the 4.6-liter V-8 introduced in the new Lexus LS460, which, if in the same state of tune, would mean 380 hp and 370 lb-ft of torque. Sources say that this engine could be tuned and tweaked for more power, but Lexus has been quite adamant that they won't get sucked into horsepower wars with their German competition.

By the looks of this prototype, though, it looks like there is now another player in the factory tuner game.

To view the original article AND more pictures,
click here.

[jruhi4]

Edmunds' Straightline is now speculating that the Lexus IS500 may be making its public debut as soon as September 2006's Paris Auto Show.

Also, discussion of the IS500 was getting to be so scattered and unwieldly that it has now been merged and focused into a single thread in the General Discussion forum.

[jruhi4]

These pictures and information were located and submitted by my.IS member ISbrandon300:

We can always count on Nihon Car & Bike to keep us abreast of the goings on in Japan, and its latest scoop is what we think are official shots and specs of the forthcoming Lexus IS500. While these images could be nicely done Photochops, we're going with our gut here and guessing that they're not. According to NC&B, this information comes straight out of Japanese car mag Car Top, which reveals the IS500 will be powered by a 5.0-liter V8 developing 420 bhp and 405 ft-lbs. of torque, which is a larger and more powerful engine than the 380-hp, 4.6-liter V8 that we've been expecting. Clearly the car gains some width thanks to more pronounced fender flares covering a more aggressive wheel/tire combo. We did notice, however, that the oddly stacked quad exhaust tips we've seen in spy shots have been reordered into two neatly space pairs that flank an underbody air diffuser, while the rear deck also gets a subtle lip spoiler.

[Source: Autoblog]

http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/09/l...aces-in-japan/

[Source: Nihon Car & Bike]

http://www.nihoncarandbike.com/news-323-X.html

[rpwsrw]

My General Manager called and said they showed the new IS 500 in Chicago at the GM meeting. Anybody have any spy shots of it yet?

[dencoop]

Wow, this sounds very interesting....If they offer it with a 6MT I think this may be my next ride....but I need to do more research....

One thing, though...the new 335i does 0-60 in 4.8 sec. as per Car and Driver and there is already a tuner that gets 380hp and 430 tq...with a simple tune...the 0-60 will prob drop to 4.2-4.5 sec....shouldint this V8 be much faster...If I go with the next M3/IS500 V8 I really dont want to be taken by someone with a 335i and a few k invested in tuning the chip....

Thanks...

[malujerry]

Originally Posted by SilverF16

Toyota will not make a hardcore sport car or sports sedan. The new V10 will be a GT - As in Grand Touring, not a purist sports car.

Toyota knows itself well. It knows its strength and weakness. Hardcore sports anything isn't Toyota's strength.

The question is does the buyer know himself well to know what they truly want in a vehicle. If a hardcore sports car/sedan is what you truly want, check out Honda, BMW, Porsche, Ferrari, Lotus, . If you want a good compromise of sporty intentions, reliability, and luxury, then the IS350/500 and the new V10 GT are worthy considerations.

Originally Posted by TRDFantasy

With an F1 derived engine, F1 derived transmission, you're right ... Toyota is not making a sports car ... they are making a supercar.

The car's V10 is a very high rev engine ... believe me this won't be a GT car.

Sorry, but you need to get back to reality if you *actually* think BMW makes "hardcore" sports cars or sports sedans. BMW makes sporty luxury cars, that lean more towards sport than luxury. It's a joke to even think of grouping Lotus and BMW together. You might as well group Yugo and Toyota while you're at it.

Toyota's goal with the Lexus supercar is to offer a combination never before seen in a supercar: high reliability/world class quality and craftsmanship, supercar performance, exotic technology, and of course Lexus luxury.

Originally Posted by SilverF16

trd FANTASY - Sounds like you have very high expectation for the upcoming Toyota "super car". That, and you believe that Lexus will make something more sporty than BMW.

4 years later....

Originally Posted by zerokarma

Yeah, the tailpipes look funny like that...

haha