New IS debut in March

SICKIS300 · Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2005 3:56 am Post subject: New IS debut in March

Hot on the heels of the official Lexus LF-A Press Release come the comments of Toyota and Lexus officials at the Detroit Auto Show's Lexus Press Conference. Here are the most important, interesting and relevant excerpts from Lexus Group Vice President & General Manager Dennis E. Clements' comments:

An interesting aside to our strong sales growth over the last five years is that we have accomplished it without a steady stream of new products. In fact, believe it or not, we haven't had a new car introduction since September 2001.

Now, that's going to change in a big way this year.

As you know, arriving in mid-April will be the RX 400h, the world's-first luxury hybrid vehicle.

Speaking of benchmarks, arriving in showrooms a month earlier than the 400h, is a fully evolved, high-performance luxury vehicle of a different stripe. The completely redesigned Lexus GS will be the fastest Lexus ever built. It will also be the most technically advanced.

It will be the first Lexus to offer Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management, a breakthrough stability-control system designed to anticipate the vehicle's handling limits then make nearly invisible corrections, allowing the car to be driven much closer to its handling limits.

GS will also be the first Lexus sedan to offer the all-weather enhancement of full-time all-wheel drive. And it will be the first Lexus to offer an electronic, variable-gear-ratio steering system, capable of providing true, computer-controlled steering output.

With the all-new GS lineup we will change the perception of what a performance sedan is all about. More importantly, GS will set a new course for the entire Lexus brand - In how it looks, how it feels and how it works. And what it says about its owner.

And, if that isn't enough, I can confirm for you today that GS will be the second vehicle in the Lexus lineup to offer a high, h-performance hybrid gas-electric powertrain. Join us in March at the New York Auto Show - and I'll tell you more about it.

Also in March, Lexus will unveil the second-generation IS sport sedan at the Geneva and New York Auto Shows. Arriving at dealerships this fall, the new IS, like the GS, will clearly define an exciting new breed of luxury high-performance sedans from Lexus. IS will be a breed with a pedigree that will be unmistakable with swagger in its style and high-performance to match.

And speaking of high-performance, last year, Lexus entered the highly competitive Grand AM Rolex Series. And right out of the box, in our first season we took 11 of 12 poles, won five races, the team championship and the driver championship.

Now that's a performance statement with swagger and style. And it's the kind of statement we're going to make when GS and IS roll out against the competition this year.

A little over a year ago, at the Tokyo Motor Show, we began to talk publicly about an all-new direction in styling for Lexus. At that event we showed two concept vehicles - The LF-X luxury crossover, a vehicle that hints of the future direction of our leading SUV line-up. And the LF-S that expresses the new design language for our exciting future sedans.

Six months later in New York we made yet another strong statement with the world premiere of the LF-C luxury sport coupe. LF-C further refined our focus on a distinctive and recognizable new look for the next-generation IS.

For the full text of the Detroit Auto Show's Lexus Press Conference, check out Post #13 (no, I'm not superstitious) of this thread.

As to the big date when the world finally gets its first peek at the next Lexus IS, it'll be either Tuesday 1 March or Wednesday 2 March 2005, which is when the Geneva Auto Show Press Conferences take place.

~Chris

Steve Lextasy · Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 8:01 am Post subject:

Finally!

Who's getting the new IS300.....I know I am!

MarkIS · Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 8:38 am Post subject:

any pics of the new IS ??