What Is It?
2006 Lexus IS 250
What's Special About It?
Introduced to the world today in Geneva, the all-new 2006 Lexus IS sport sedan's homing device is clearly beaming on the hearts and minds of one vehicle's buyer: the BMW 3 Series. And the rest of the entry-level luxury market can go rot as far as Lexus is concerned.
The IS 250 is powered by a 2.5-liter, 208-horsepower V6 (there's also a 2.2-liter diesel V6 offered in Europe) and possesses its own four-door-coupe-looking profile — nothing derivative in this shape. The IS 250 is available in rear-wheel drive as well as all-wheel drive. Lexus offers buyers the choice of a six-speed manual transmission or an all-new six-speed automatic with steering wheel-mounted shift paddles.
In Europe, the Lexus VDIM (Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management — currently available only in the new GS sedan) stability system comes standard, as do 10 airbags, including kneebag for the driver and front passenger.
Word on the street in Geneva indicates that alongside the IS 250, a second V6 model with significantly more horsepower — think equal or greater than that of a BMW M3 — will be offered in the U.S. And the same word from the same street tells us that the VDIM system that got hammered so hard in our recent comparison test of Japanese sport sedans will be retuned for the IS to allow a higher degree of hard-core driving before kicking in the stability controls and calling a timeout.
The 2006 IS 250 offers wider and longer dimensions, more rear legroom, sweeter amenities and more safety features over the current IS at a price that's comparable.
What's Edmunds' Take?
Well, somebody is going to kick the baby Bimmer out of the Winner's Circle. Someday. The fact that few people looking at the new IS are going to be thinking Toyota (and nobody is going to be thinking Mercedes-Benz) is an excellent start for a brand that is still finding its feet on the world stage. The need for Lexus to relaunch in Europe — starting with the IS — could be the best thing that ever happened to enthusiast drivers in the U.S. — Richard Homan
2006 Lexus IS 250
What's Special About It?
Introduced to the world today in Geneva, the all-new 2006 Lexus IS sport sedan's homing device is clearly beaming on the hearts and minds of one vehicle's buyer: the BMW 3 Series. And the rest of the entry-level luxury market can go rot as far as Lexus is concerned.
The IS 250 is powered by a 2.5-liter, 208-horsepower V6 (there's also a 2.2-liter diesel V6 offered in Europe) and possesses its own four-door-coupe-looking profile — nothing derivative in this shape. The IS 250 is available in rear-wheel drive as well as all-wheel drive. Lexus offers buyers the choice of a six-speed manual transmission or an all-new six-speed automatic with steering wheel-mounted shift paddles.
In Europe, the Lexus VDIM (Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management — currently available only in the new GS sedan) stability system comes standard, as do 10 airbags, including kneebag for the driver and front passenger.
Word on the street in Geneva indicates that alongside the IS 250, a second V6 model with significantly more horsepower — think equal or greater than that of a BMW M3 — will be offered in the U.S. And the same word from the same street tells us that the VDIM system that got hammered so hard in our recent comparison test of Japanese sport sedans will be retuned for the IS to allow a higher degree of hard-core driving before kicking in the stability controls and calling a timeout.
The 2006 IS 250 offers wider and longer dimensions, more rear legroom, sweeter amenities and more safety features over the current IS at a price that's comparable.
What's Edmunds' Take?
Well, somebody is going to kick the baby Bimmer out of the Winner's Circle. Someday. The fact that few people looking at the new IS are going to be thinking Toyota (and nobody is going to be thinking Mercedes-Benz) is an excellent start for a brand that is still finding its feet on the world stage. The need for Lexus to relaunch in Europe — starting with the IS — could be the best thing that ever happened to enthusiast drivers in the U.S. — Richard Homan
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