LEXUS IS250

New Acura ILX Set for Los Angeles Debut

October 22, 2014 by admin Leave a Comment

Smallest Acura set for a big refresh.

A hint of what the 2016 Acura ILX will look like.

Among entry level premium models, the Acura ILX has found its place in the market. Its sales, however, are down by 15.8 percent for the year through Sept. for a model that is clearly overmatched by competing vehicles, including the Buick Verano, Lexus IS250, Audi A3 and the Mercedes-Benz CLA250.

Hybrid Model Canceled

Introduced in gas and hybrid configurations for the 2013 model year, Acura dropped the hybrid for 2015, relying on a pair of gasoline engines going forward. Since its introduction, Acura has sold fewer than 3,000 hybrid ILXs, a paltry number covering two full model years.

This week, Acura announced that it would show a “substantially new 2016 ILX” at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show next month. “Substantially new” is a code phrase for “mid cycle refresh,” not a generational shift — instead, its debut is keeping with the industry’s usual practice of refreshing a model in the third or fourth year, before readying an all-new model after six years.

Acura ILX Midcycle Refresh

Acura hasn’t said much about its refresh and offered only a light-restricted three-quarter view of the sedan from the rear as featured here. In a related press release Acura noted, “…the 2016 ILX will bring a sharper performance focus while delivering a greater set of high-value comfort, convenience and safety features that consumers desire in the increasingly competitive entry-luxury field.”

That “increasingly competitive” field includes new models from Audi and Mercedes-Benz as well as the next generation Buick Verano, the latter expected to arrive within the next 12 to 16 months.

Acura says that it attracts more under 35 buyers than its competitors, a good thing for a brand that wants to bring in new customers and keep them. Even so, the Acura ILX has been criticized for its bland looks, anemic performance and the fact that it is based on the Honda Civic Si. Not that the Si is a dud, its just that the Acura ILX hasn’t met even modest expectations. You might do better buying the Honda and pocketing the difference.

Engines and Transmissions

The current Acura ILX is powered by a standard 2.0-liter four cylinder engine making 150 horsepower and 140 foot-pounds of torque. Those numbers are certainly not meant to suggest performance, instead the ILX is a fuel economy leader with its 24 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway rating.

You can also choose a 2.4 liter four cylinder engine making 201 horsepower and 170 foot-pounds of torque. It gets 22 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway. Choose the base engine and you get a 5-speed automatic transmission. Go with the larger engine and you’ll work with a 6-speed manual transmission.

All-Wheel Drive Possibilities

With little product information offered by Acura, the speculation has begun. Tweaks to the body and interior are a given. More performance seems likely and an all-wheel drive option may be readied, in keeping with the direction Acura has promised as reported by Auto Trends here last week. If Acura does go with the latter, it will match what Audi, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz offer. It might also force GM to seriously explore an all-wheel drive option for the Verano.

AWD may yet show up, but it may have to wait until the next generation ILX is released. If that is the case then figure Acura would keep the refresh around for two years before debuting its next generation model. Wait any longer and both its current and new competition could move further ahead.

For Acura fans who have been patiently waiting for the brand’s next move, the ILX refresh may be just the start of greater things. Anything less and its competitors will widen the sales gap, hardly the outcome parent Honda Manufacturing wants to entertain.

Photo courtesy of Acura.

Seductive: 2014 Lexus IS350 F Sport

February 24, 2014 by admin 5 Comments

Third generation IS sedans grow in size and attitude.

It took eight years for Lexus to breathe fresh life into its IS line, what represents a family of smaller luxury vehicles including a pair of flashy sedans: the IS250 and IS350. Eight years is a long time between all-new models and the changes extend only to the sedans and not to the IS-C convertible or the potent IS-F.

For the sedans, Lexus grew these models by adding about three inches to their length (2.7 inches wheel to wheel) and made fractional increases to both the width and height. What Lexus did not change were the engines, as the IS250 continues with its 2.5-liter, 204-hp V-6 and the IS350 with a 3.5-liter, 306-hp V-6.

The base engine is paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission while the larger engine is now coupled with an 8-speed automatic, but with one notable exception: the Lexus IS350 F Sport, an all-wheel drive model, keeps a 6-speed slushbox. No manual gearbox is offered with either sedan.

2014 Lexus IS350 F Sport

It was a 2014 Lexus IS350 F Sport AWD in Nebula Gray Pearl finish that was delivered to me on a bright, mild February morning, my first opportunity to take one through the paces since a regional press roll out for the IS sedans 10 months earlier.

That press event was held at the Rockingham (NC) Speedway, an outlying track that once featured various NASCAR cup races. The Rock is still used as a test track and was an ideal venue for discovering what these sedans had to offer.

My first impression of the IS250 ($36,100) was that the engine was too weak for the car. It lacks the oomph that sport sedan enthusiasts want, a deficiency easily rectified by driving the energetic IS350 ($39,615). However, when it comes to sales the IS250 outsells the IS350 by about a 2-to1 margin, suggesting that buyers love the looks, but performance is not of primary importance.

2014 Lexus IS350 F Sport

For 2014, the IS sedans received new fascia, dominated by a spindle (hourglass) grille. Creases running from the top edge of the grille and extending to the top of the hood line serve to amplify the flared headlights and L-shaped LED lights, with sculpted recesses surrounding the fog lights.

Do you like an aggressive look? The IS350 delivers it in spades. Distinctive body sculpting, a short rear deck, an integrated spoiler and wrap around tail lights add to its persona. The third generation IS line scores in the looks department, matching up well against the competition.

Further decorative embellishments are offered when you choose either F Sport model (IS 250 F Sport: $39,565; IS 350 F Sport: $43,585). A mesh grille and revised fascia are up front; 18-inch split-five spoke alloy wheels are all around, encased in summer tires for rear-wheel drive editions and all-season tires with the all-wheel drive models. F Sport badging is also plastered on the body.

Inside, silver performance trim, a black headliner, and aluminum pedals are among the chief F Sport adornments. Oh, yes, a fetching center-mounted tachometer with moving bezel is also present, appropriated from the LFA.

2014 Lexus IS350 F Sport

Improved Rigidity and Suspension

One of the deficiencies of the previous generation IS line was its driving dynamics. It delivered a good drive, but not the memorable or wholly desirable experience you enjoy when behind the wheel of a BMW 3 Series.

For 2014, overall body rigidity was improved as laser screw welding, adhesive bonding, and additional spot welding were used. Lexus says that the double wishbone front suspension now delivers a 20 percent increase in sway rigidity, while the rear suspension was taken directly from the GS. Grip performance and steering response have improved noticeably.

All F Sport editions received special suspension and steering tuning to augment steering performance. A driver mode select system is a switch-controlled arrangement with four settings: eco, normal, sport, and sport+. You can adjust the dial to earn improvements in fuel economy, ride comfort, vehicle performance and handling.

2014 Lexus IS350 F Sport Lexus strong suit has always been its interiors. Along with the brands stellar overall quality and reliability, customers depend on Lexus to deliver the high-end goods and are not disappointed.

The cabin is clean and uncomplicated, garbed in NuLuxe simulated leather, contributing to the sedans elegance. In the review model, a Rioja Red NuLuxe design covered the seats and doors, accented with silver performance trim. The instrument panel and other driver controls are ergonomically positioned; the touch control audio and navigation switch includes a resting pad to relieve hand pressure, allowing for one- or two-finger control of the same.

Changes to the driver seat increases comfort and extends lateral support. The seats hip point and the steering wheel have been lowered to provide a driver-centric seating position. Good-bye pillowy sedan hello race car. Or at least that is the emotive response Lexus had in mind.

Rear passengers benefit the most from the sedans extended wheelbase with more knee room provided. Thinner front seats also contribute to an expanded rear compartment that comfortably seats two and can add a third person in a pinch.

Safety is another area where Lexus excels, offering 10 standard airbags including a pair of rear seat side airbags. Blind spot monitor, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure alert, and automatic high beam control are among the safety features available.

Lexus IS Sedan Line is All New

View manufacturer details and pricing

Three-Point Marketing Strategy

Lexus has a three-prong entry point to the brand. One of them is its IS line. The other two are its large front-wheel drive ES sedan and the compact CT hybrid. The approach is a unique one with the IS designed to counter sedans like the BMW 3 Series, the ES to serve traditional luxury car shoppers that might once have gone with a Lincoln or a Cadillac (or even a Buick), and the CT appealing to environmentally conscious shoppers with luxury aspirations beyond what the Prius delivers. Welcome to Lexus: choose your entry point.

The ES line is also the most popular of the set, selling 72,351 models in 2013 to the IS 35,017, and the CTs 15,071. Thats 122,000+ units, eclipsing the 3/4-Series 119,521 models sold.

2014 Lexus IS350 F Sport

Even so, you know that the worlds number one automaker isnt satisfied with an IS line delivering just 30 percent of the sales total reached by the BMW 3/4 Series. Going forward were likely to see at least one of the two engines replaced in a bid to reach drivers for whom performance is a priority. The smaller V-6 might yield to a twin-turbo inline four, delivering improved performance and better gas mileage. Then again, Lexus might cast a wide net by keeping the two engines and adding a third one to extend the IS range.

Beyond a new engine, I cant help but think that a 6-speed manual transmission would enhance the IS line too. Its what Lexus German competitors and Cadillac offer, an important ingredient that would increase the brands conquest rate while serving notice to the world that Lexus intends to own the luxury segment.

2014 Lexus IS350 F Sport

Sticker price from $41,700
Price as tested: $49,737
Seats 5 occupants
3.5-liter 24-valve V-6 engine
306 horsepower @ 6,400 rpm
277 foot-pounds of torque @ 4,800 rpm
3.70 inches bore by 3.27 inches stroke
Engine compression ratio: 11.8-to-1
6-speed automatic transmission
Wheelbase: 110.2 inches
Length: 183.7 inches
Width: 71.3 inches
Height: 56.3 inches
Passenger volume: 90.2 cubic feet
Storage volume: 13.8 cubic feet
Towing capacity: N/R
EPA: 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway
Premium grade gasoline
Fuel tank: 17.4 gallons
Curb weight: From 3,737 pounds
Vehicle assembly: Japan

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At The Rock With the 2014 Lexus IS

May 23, 2013 by admin 4 Comments

Posing with a red 2014 Lexus IS at The Rock.

Once in a while an automotive event really moves the “way cool” needle. The “Lexus Education Event” currently taking place at race tracks around the country is one such opportunity, giving drivers a schooling in all things 2014 Lexus IS. Yes, after eight years the compact IS sedan is being replaced, with the third generation model hitting Lexus showrooms later this summer.

2014 Lexus IS Unleashed

This writer graciously accepted Lexus’ invitation to stay with them overnight at The Carolina in Pinehurst, NC, and to travel to the Rockingham Speedway (The Rock) the following morning for track time. Living in the Tarheel State made this trip a snap, an 80 minute journey down Route 1 to NC’s golf mecca. Disclaimer: hotel and food were provided by Lexus with transportation expenses covered by yours truly.

At the track, Lexus had every possible iteration of the new IS on hand plus a 2013 model. Place these models side by side and you will quickly note a few things right off: the Lexus spindle grille is now a fixture of the third generation sedan. Also, numerous bodily changes and adornments including updated headlamps, chiseled lines, a stronger beltline, new wheels and lighting treatments are apparent. The latest Lexus IS also comes in slightly wider and longer than its predecessor.

Inside, the driver’s seat has been lowered slightly to enhance the drive. Bolstered seating, lumbar support and available heating and ventilation provide comfort. Lexus outfits the driver’s seat with an eight-way power control including a four-way adjustable head rest.

Preparing GoPro to film our track endeavors.

Your V-6 Awaits

Two engine choices, both V-6s, ensure that your level of performance is reached with this sedan. The engines and the transmission are carryovers, although the IS350 RWD is now paired with an eight-speed automatic. All other models get the six-speed automatic including the F Sport. The F Sport package is now available with both rear- and all-wheel-drive versions of the IS250 and IS350. It represents mostly an appearance upgrade although the suspension system has been tweaked to provide sportier handling. Adaptive variable suspension and variable gear ratio steering are options peculiar to the F Sport.

For those of us who dared to take to the track alone, the chance to get behind the wheel was an opportunity not to be missed. As a Lexus representative noted, in an ideal world we would have tested the 2013 model first and then the new sedans. With just one second-generation sedan present, that opportunity came on a catch-as-catch-can basis. It wasn’t until I lapped The Rock in three different iterations of the 2014 sedan that the 2013 model became available. Noticeably, it didn’t handle turns as well and fish-tailed twice, a problem not experienced with any version of the IS250 and IS350 models, rear- or all-wheel-drive.

A slick track meant that the driving was cautious at first, but the rain cleared away by the time the company of two dozen journalists got its start. Ponding at various bends and straightaways was quickly identified and avoided as much as possible. Still, the slickness didn’t shake the new sedan, imbuing confidence in the most inspired driver to push the Lexus IS to its limits.

Handling and Steering

Where the 2014 Lexus IS sedan truly shined was as it navigated the slalom. Only slight pitching was felt and not once did it seem as if the wheels would pull out from underneath it. While the IS250 offered good power, the robust engine powering the IS350 was worthy of The Rock and remains this writer’s favorite. All-wheel-drive presented an improved handling touch, but enthusiasts may simply prefer rear-wheel drive and the eight-speed gearbox. That transmission is standard on the IS350 RWD, with the first two forward gears set for launch and acceleration performance. Stick it in manual mode and the gears shift smoothly with full lockup performed in the second through eighth gears.

Some eight to ten car changes and lap time later, our track time ended. After lunch it was a two-hour countryside drive with this writer getting behind the wheel of both IS250 and IS350 models, the latter with the eight-speed transmission. But the best indication of how well the new Lexus IS sedan performs was confirmed on the track, offering a clear signal to the BMW 3 Series, Cadillac ATS, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and the Audi A4 that this segment’s competition has only grown stronger.