The Existence of the New Lexus IS500 is Confirmed

scionlife · Joined: 10 Apr 2003 Posts: 4137 Location: scionlife.com

Well, Edmunds is reporting that new spy photos reveal that the IS500 is a reality...

Quote: Either Toyota has one seriously fast transport ship, or there are more than a few of these V8-powered IS sedans being put through their paces on the international test circuit. After catching a similar prototype on the Nurburgring recently, these shots come to us from the California desert.

From up close, this prototype reveals a few more details we couldn't see before. First off, those odd stacked tailpipes that looked so fake from far away are indeed the real deal. Second, this high-powered Lexus is going to have some serious running gear. Check out the cross drilled brake rotors, 19-inch wheels and Michelin Pilot Sport tires. Third, Lexus doesn't appear to be very worried about keeping this model under wraps any longer as the engineers behind the wheel appeared uninterested in the camera snapping away right in front of them. Maybe it's a sign that we'll be seeing the production version of this IS 500 sedan in the very near future, like the Paris auto show in September maybe?

Then Nihon Car & Bike laughs and says that REAL photos of the IS500 have been available in Japan since March...

Quote: It's sometimes a lot of fun to see people swim across oceans or climb the highest mountains to snap a (low quality) "spy shot" of a vehicle that hasn't been released yet, while in Japan, the only thing we need to do is get out of the house and go to a press shop and buy a magazine that has "press pictures" of these cars.

Let's take the long-awaited Lexus IS500 as an example, the M and AMG killer from Japan. Press shots of this vehicle have been available since April 2006 in magazines like Car Top (in their April issue that has been on sale since March). Here's a scan of the page.

For those of you that are not aware what Toyota has cooked up for us, here are the main specs of this IS500: a V8 (2UR-FSE) engine that develops 420bhp (at 5800rpm) and 550Nm of torque (at 3800rpm), 5.0L displacement, overall dimensions of 4665x1820x1435mm with a 2730mm wheelbase and a total weight of 1685kg.

Either way, it seems that Toyota has stopped worrying about keeping this V8 sedan a secret, so everyone cross your fingers and wish for a red bow on your new Christmas present!

skiboarder72 · Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 342 Location: Rochester, NY

:drool:

BADS33D · Joined: 20 Jul 2005 Posts: 2104 Location: Miramar, FL

:wet: lol

Freudenfahrer · Joined: 06 Jun 2006 Posts: 79 Location: League City, TX

I wonder what the real thing is going to look like, since those are most likely photoshops.

scionlife · Joined: 10 Apr 2003 Posts: 4137 Location: scionlife.com

I am betting that it will be cost-competitive with an M3, though. The current M3 coupe STARTS at $50,000. Hmmm... is the world ready for a $50k IS?

bBlover · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 6368 Location: Long Beach,CA

Ooh!! I like!!! Maybe it'll be in the vicinity of the mid 40s.

hayalex6 · Joined: 25 Jul 2005 Posts: 2119 Location: Austin, TX

M3 > any lexus.

BADS33D · Joined: 20 Jul 2005 Posts: 2104 Location: Miramar, FL

hayalex6 wrote: M3 > any lexus.
no way jose. LEXUS > m3

hayalex6 · Joined: 25 Jul 2005 Posts: 2119 Location: Austin, TX

drive an M3 and tell me that.

BADS33D · Joined: 20 Jul 2005 Posts: 2104 Location: Miramar, FL

sorry man, not into euro cars

apexjr · Joined: 29 Sep 2004 Posts: 563 Location: Portland, OR.

Great from any angle and it has the power it needs to fight off M3 attacks, but does it have the electronics and drivability. Only time will tell.

Freudenfahrer · Joined: 06 Jun 2006 Posts: 79 Location: League City, TX

Am I the only one wondering why these supposed press pictures have been around for 5 months and this is the first we've heard of them? Don't get your hopes up too high, because although I'm sure the real one will look nice, this isn't it.

zer0 · Joined: 04 Nov 2005 Posts: 4666 Location: Central PA

badseed305 wrote: sorry man, not into euro cars

ditto, its hard to get into liking them

JDMJim · Joined: 10 Jul 2004 Posts: 1947

I bet the new V8 powered M3 will be tough to beat anyway

R2D2 · Joined: 11 Aug 2005 Posts: 950

IS500
:eyes: :money: :clap:
I seriously hope they have a coupe version :idea:

equinox2355 · Joined: 03 Jan 2006 Posts: 2588 Location: Pleasanton, CA

m3's are really nice and to be honest, I think that this IS wont be able to take it down, due to BMWs race history and the reputation of both BMW and the M series

Benggolf · Posted: 8/9/06 1:44PM Post subject: WOW!

The IS500 looks awesome! Looks like I am in to trading up my IS350 when they do the sales intro of the IS500! :bow:

emokid158 · Joined: 26 Sep 2005 Posts: 756 Location: Highland, CA

toyota made cars = more durability with less maintenance than any euro car

lyrictenor1 · Joined: 14 Nov 2004 Posts: 201 Location: Long Beach, CA

How can you guys predict which car is better/faster? We can't drive the new IS 500 and test specs aren't out yet. I know we can make assumptions based on what we know about past cars, but give the new product a chance before saying XX will beat it.

Also, much of this is suggestive. If you seriously are shopping the IS and/or the M3, what will be its purpose? Daily driver? Track/weekend toy? Sure, Lexus usually has more luxury, more sedate driving manners and better reliability, but how much of that applies on the track? The M3 has a very stiff chassis and wonderful driving dynamics, but is that something you want to have put up w/ on a daily commute? It all comes down to the buyer's intended purpose for the car.

R2D2 · Joined: 11 Aug 2005 Posts: 950

^ SERIOUS.. Haters i call'em.