Jalopnik: Lexus May Build IS Coupe [Over The Back Fence]

[NewsFeeder]

With the Lexus IS convertible, most of the work for a hardtop coupe's already been done. That got us to asking Lexus if one's in the pipeline. The answer isn't a "No."

We spoke with Mark Templin, group VP and general manager of Toyota's Lexus division, and asked him: "Since all the hard work of getting a two-door form factor has been done with the IS convertible, is there a possibility of an IS coupe in the future?" With a sly look around the room, Templin responded:

Obviously, we're making no announcements today, but it's certainly something we should study carefully."

Considering Lexus is aiming its sights directly at the top-selling 3-series in the sporting luxury segment and the lone remaining hole in their lineup is a car to compete against the excellent 3-series coupes, we're taking this non-answer as a definite maybe.

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[MyerShift]

Feel free to flog me mercilessly, but I would find one of these quite interesting but no doubt no where near as entertaining as the CTS-Coupe, 3-Series Coupe, or Infiniti G37 Coupe.

[CaddyXLR-V]

Has Lexus ever made the manual an option on the V6?

[Intrepidation]

I like the IS sedan. The details are a little busy but no worse than what Mercedes and BMW have doe to their competitors.

That being said, the proportions of the convertible are terrible, almost as bad as the G6 coupe. A proper coupe would be much better.

[siegen]

I used to like the IS350. I thought it was sporty. But the styling has aged into a more generic Lexus look, and doesn't look sporty to me anymore. The interior, as always, looks low market. Unless they make some significant tweaks to the exterior and interior, I don't think a coupe will be any sportier.

Based on the pictures of the convertible with the hard top up, it isn't as bad as the SC, and it does have a resemblance to the older, nicer looking, SC's. Still nowhere near as sporty as a 3-coupe, A5, or G37 coupe. But then that's not what Lexus is about.

Has Lexus ever made the manual an option on the V6?

Well, yes, but only the 2.5L 200HP V6.

[CaddyXLR-V]

I used to like the IS350. I thought it was sporty. But the styling has aged into a more generic Lexus look, and doesn't look sporty to me anymore. The interior, as always, looks low market. Unless they make some significant tweaks to the exterior and interior, I don't think a coupe will be any sportier.

Based on the pictures of the convertible with the hard top up, it isn't as bad as the SC, and it does have a resemblance to the older, nicer looking, SC's. Still nowhere near as sporty as a 3-coupe, A5, or G37 coupe. But then that's not what Lexus is about.

Well, yes, but only the 2.5L 200HP V6.

So still not on the 3.5L. It's a shame that the only desirable Lexus can't be ordered with the 3.5L and manual combo.

[Z-06]

So still not on the 3.5L. It's a shame that the only desirable Lexus can't be ordered with the 3.5L and manual combo.

If you look at the excuse/reasoning "only 3% buyers opt for manual transmissions," said Acura, MB and Lexus.

[CaddyXLR-V]

If you look at the excuse/reasoning "only 3% buyers opt for manual transmissions," said Acura, MB and Lexus.

That's why some people prefer BMW, and Audi. But wouldn't it make sense that the person opting for the manual wants the bigger engine too, not the other way around?

Could you imagine a 325Ci offering a manual, and there not being an option for a manual on the 335Ci?

[Z-06]

That's why some people prefer BMW, and Audi. But wouldn't it make sense that the person opting for the manual wants the bigger engine too, not the other way around?

Could you imagine a 325Ci offering a manual, and there not being an option for a manual on the 335Ci?

Audi has also joined the list I mentioned above. The only hardcore cars in that category that do offer manual on the bigger/higher output engines are BMW, Infiniti (there is no higher output) and GULP - Cadillac.

I cannot imagine having no manual transmission. I like BMW for the reason no matter if the take is 1% they still make genuine effort to offer manual transmission. I guess it is a real dying breed.

[CaddyXLR-V]

Well it depends on which Audi your considering. The S4 and S5 with the 4.2L does have a manual available, but the 3.2L A4 does not. The A5 with the 3.2L has a manual available also.

[Z-06]

Well it depends on which Audi your considering. The S4 and S5 with the 4.2L does have a manual available, but the 3.2L A4 does not. The A5 with the 3.2L has a manual available also.

True that. Is the supercharged S4 going to be available with the manual transmission?

[CaddyXLR-V]

BMW, Audi, Infiniti, and Cadillac are the only luxury brands on my radar, while Lexus, MB, and Acura are not. I'm sure it's the same for many performance oriented buyers.

[CaddyXLR-V]

True that. Is the supercharged S4 going to be available with the manual transmission?

I don't know anything about the supercharged S4, but the RS4 is manual only I believe.

[A Horse With No Name]

BMW, Audi, Infiniti, and Cadillac are the only luxury brands on my radar, while Lexus, MB, and Acura are not. I'm sure it's the same for many performance oriented buyers.

Scratch Infinity and you would have my list if I were into luxury cars.

I think the proportions on the coupe are just wrong, wrong, wrong, as are the proportions on the convertible.

Convertible is not as bad as the coupe.

Coupe looks like a Lexus version of the Scion TC.

Not a fanboi of this car.

Chris

[regfootball]

the IS sedan and Venza are two toyo products i like. this coupe version is pretty nice.

[Robert Hall]

Scratch Infiniti and you would have my list if I were into luxury cars.

I think the proportions on the coupe are just wrong, wrong, wrong, as are the proportions on the convertible.

Convertible is not as bad as the coupe.

Coupe looks like a Lexus version of the Scion TC.

Not a fanboi of this car.

Chris

I would assume that photo in the first post is just a photoshop from a sedan...looks odd.

As far as coupes go, I really like the 3 series, A5, and G37..a friend has a G37, still don't like Infiniti interiors that much, but the exterior is really sharp. I'm looking forward to the CTS coupe.

Rob

[A Horse With No Name]

I could see you in a CTS coupe or a 3 series.

Chris

[CSpec]

I hope this is a substantially updated design over the IS sedan--the IS is getting quite dated now. I also never really liked the IS to begin with--too cramped and small with ugly styling.

[Robert Hall]

I could see you in a CTS coupe or a 3 series.

Chris

Well, I used to have an M3 ('96)... the price of the new M3s has scared me away.. I really like the CTS sedan, looking forward to seeing how the coupe turns out..

Rob

[A Horse With No Name]

Even the 96 M3 is still much better than the IS coupe.

Toyota styling seems to be like putting a million monkeys with a million typewriters and hoping you come up with the complete works of Shakespere.

Lexus styling is like a million monkeys f@#king a million typewriters and then smashing the $h! out of them.

Chris

[Robert Hall]

Even the 96 M3 is still much better than the IS coupe.

Toyota styling seems to be like putting a million monkeys with a million typewriters and hoping you come up with the complete works of Shakespere.

Lexus styling is like a million monkeys f@#king a million typewriters and then smashing the $h! out of them.

Chris

Sometimes I regret selling that car..it had only 65k miles...but I didn't have enough garage space, didn't want it to sit outside. Great driving car.

I've ridden in several Lexus models--a friend has an ES330--clean, quiet, smooth, totally dull. The friend that bought the Infiniti G37 coupe had a '90s SC400..it was pretty nice..that's one of the few Lexus models I've liked. Drove nicely. Another had a 2nd gen LS400, drove that a couple times..smooth and quiet, but I'd probably take a Town Car over it.

Rob

Edited June 13, 2009 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[A Horse With No Name]

Actually my wife's uncle has a town car. Great car. I can see why you like them.

Chris

[Robert Hall]

Actually my wife's uncle has a town car. Great car. I can see why you like them.

Chris

Maybe it's partially sentimentality for my late father, he loved 'em, and that they are the last of their kind--a classic RWD American land yacht, complete w/ bench seat and a standup hood ornament. And they drive quite nicely--smooth, quiet, roomy, comfortable, decent gas mileage. One would make a great commuter car for me.

Rob

[A Horse With No Name]

With 5 kids it would make a great family car for me.

Wife's uncle Pete got like 250k-300k trouble free out of his first one. His other car alas is a Miata. And Pete is a hair stylist!

...but yeah...I remember the 69 Pontiac Bonneville across the street from me when I was a kid. That whole RWD, land yacht thing is really cool. That Bonneville was really awesome, that dark gold color GM had back then. Freshly waxed it was just the cat's ass sitting in their driveway.

We also had neighbors who had a 68 or 69 Bonneville, I think it was the Verdero Green instead of the other dark green color Pontiac had then. I could be wrong. That car was a California car and looked like a million bucks when they moved in in 72 or 73.

I remember my Grandfathers and their Buicks also...

Going down memory lane is both fun and depressing...when I think of those gret old RWD land yachts and look at the depressing piece of crap in the initial post I really understand why Balthazar and people like him don't like modern cars.

A Lincoln town car or a 69 Bonneville just has it all over a Lexus IMHO.

But if I were single a Lexus would be a very good car to drive in one sense because it would be a sign of success financially to the 40+ year old females I would want to date.

My off topic rant for Friday night.

Chris

[Robert Hall]

But if I were single a Lexus would be a very good car to drive in one sense because it would be a sign of success financially to the 40+ year old females I would want to date.

My off topic rant for Friday night.

Chris

I hear you about the women angle..when I was 28, the M3 maybe helped w/ the ladies more than the Mustang GT did. At approaching 40 now, the Town Car may not.

Rob