DUO LEXI
This article is from our archives and has not been updated and integrated with our "new" site yet... Even so, it's still awesome - so keep reading!
Published on Fri, Jun 5, 2009
By: The LACar Editorial Staff
Lexus IS 350 C F-Sport
F
DUO LEXI
Sunny Southern California, a beautiful place where the sun keeps the residents
warm eight to ten months out of the year. There is also an abundance of
restaurants, clubs, great beaches, hot cars and 'beautiful people.'
Lexus IS 350 C
Great news this year in our Garden of Eden are the 2 new cars from Lexus: the IS
350 Convertible, and the brand new HS250h, a sophisticated, stylish, and
efficient hybrid. These two new luxury vehicles have something for everybody.
Lexus put on an event to drive these new cars around the spectacular Pelican
Resort. But then again, where else should Lexus be found. The first Lexus that
caught my attention was a black IS 350C F-Sport with all the bells and whistles.
The F-Sport package includes, a sport dual exhaust system, and a myriad of
specialty items that will make your head spin. The F-Sport is the cream of the
crop and this is obvious from the first drive. The powerful growl of the exhaust
doesn't let you forget that there is real muscle under the hood, 320 horses
worth of it. The F-Sport is equipped with a quick-shifting manu-matic
transmission, plus high performance brakes; which are very useful when one wants
to put the aforementioned 'ponies' back in the barn. Driving the F-Sport is a
thrill a minute.
Lexus IS 350 C
Since the F-Sport was an exceptional experience, I probably should have tested
the standard IS 350C first. The fact that the F-Sport has 'more' in many areas
does not mean that the standard IS 350C has 'less', it's just different.
Granted, there was no exhaust growl, and less tightness in cornering, and softer
brakes, but nonetheless, a true luxury convertible throughout. It performed very
well, and even though this IS was not equipped with the performance shifting,
the paddle shifting performed flawlessly.
Since the convertible top only takes 20 seconds to stow, the coupe is quickly
transformed into a luxury tanning bed. Finishing the course with the top down
showed how comfortable and surprisingly quite the ride is. The IS 350C fits in
nicely at the beach with the top down, or in valet parking at a fine restaurant,
or of course, at the premier Pelican Hill Resort.
Lexus HS 250h
Even though the IS was luxurious and great fun to drive; perhaps the excitement
of the event was to test drive the HS 250h, a brand new luxury hybrid. Lexus is
not new to the hybrid genre, but the HS 250h is new from the ground up. The
doors were open to develop something unique; and that is exactly what they did.
Even some of the interior and cargo area accouterments were developed from
plant-based materials. In addition, the cabin was shifted forward to provide
better weight distribution for improved handling.
When driving the HS, there are three specialized driving positions: power,
economy, and EV, which uses only the battery for slow driving conditions. The
three modes provide a nice variety in determining how much of the178 HP you
need. Shifting through all three modes while driving up a hill illustrates the
differences between the modes and it was obvious when the power mode was called
for.
Lexus HS 250h
Overall, this Hybrid is definitely a Lexus, with the requisite level of comfort,
driving pleasure and of course the Navigation System in the event one gets lost.
The HS 250h luxury hybrid could be a home run, it doesn't look like a hybrid,
doesn't drive like a hybrid, and as our gas prices continue to climb, a luxury
hybrid might be just the thing for someone looking to change their driving
experience.
Lexus IS 350 C
The IS 350 Convertible
Engine:
60 degree V6 aluminum block with
Four cam, four valves per cylinder, with
Dual variable valve timing
HP:
306 hp @ 6,400
Torque:
277 lb-ft @ 4,800
Suspension:
Front - Independent, double-wishbone with coil springs, gas pressurized shock
absorbers and stabilizer bar
Rear - Independent, multi-link with coil springs, gas pressurized shock
absorbers and stabilizer bar
Brakes:
Four wheel power assisted Anti-lock braking system (ABS),
Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and brake assist
Lexus HS 250h
The HS 250h Hybrid
Engine: 24-liter Atkinson Cycle Inline 4 with
four cam, four valves per cylinder with Variable Valve Timing
Electric Drive Motor:
High-output, permanent-magnet electric drive motor
Total System Horsepower:
188 hp
Transmission:
Electronically controlled Continuous Variable Transmission (ECVT)
Drive Type:
Front-wheel drive
Suspension:
Front - Independent, struts with coil springs,
gas pressurized shock absorbers, and stabilizer bar
Rear:
Independent double wishbone with coil springs, gas pressurized shocks,
And stabilizer bar
Brakes:
Four wheel Power Assisted disc brakes with Electronically Controlled Braking (ECB)
And energized function
Lexus IS 350 C F-Sport