LOST IN THE CROWD? Lexus New IS Falls Short In Swaying Buyers From German Brands

LOST IN THE CROWD? Lexus New IS Falls Short In Swaying Buyers From German Brands
Toyota Motor Corps Lexus, dethroned by BMW and Mercedes as the U.S. luxury sales leader, aims to remake itself with models more like performance cars and less like family cars, leading to a new IS sport sedan intended to lure entry-level drivers who would otherwise buy German.
Enlarge image Lexus Puts Performance First to Lure Younger Luxury Buyer

The 2014 IS arrives midyear with features derived from an intense racetrack analysis with its German rivals. The redesigned car has a lower seating position, a stiffer frame and a “spindle” grille that’s the new face of Lexus.

“Every development decision was based on achieving and then exceeding, ever higher levels of fun to drive,” Naoki Kobayashi, the engineer who managed its development, said in a briefing in Austin, Texas.



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enthusiastx11enthusiastx11 - 4/8/2013 11:34:38 PM
+2 Boost
oh lexus has NAILED boy racer. just look at this IS. bmw could never compete with that monster grille, those little LED lights and the swoopy rear end. Or the 2006 engines. lol


enthusiastx11enthusiastx11 - 4/10/2013 11:56:06 PM
-1 Boost
the IS250 is PATHETIC. it's worth mockery. i mean really...a 204hp/186lb-ft SIX cylinder compared to a 240hp/260lb-ft FOUR cylinder. and the BMW gets better mileage. how is that NOT pathetic?


LexusLexus - 4/8/2013 1:45:43 PM
+2 Boost
I don't know how they went from having the best looking Sport Sedan with it IS250/IS350 and IS-F models in this class to being the UGLIEST or one of Ugliest car in it segment with this new design?

What were they thinking when they redesign this car? And this is coming from a Hardcore Lexus fan. The last generation Lexus IS250/IS350/IS-F and GS350/430/450h was one of the besting looking car in it class. The new IS250/IS350 and GS350 is Freaking Ugly. But at least they did get the new ES350 right because it look really good.


USNA1999USNA1999 - 4/8/2013 2:10:04 PM
+2 Boost
"The average Lexus buyer is 61, compared with 54 for Mercedes and 49 for BMW", God I feel old now! No wonder all my buddies are always giving me a hard time about borrowing "grampa's car". I am in my mid forties and purchased the car because of it being one of the top luxury sedans available at a modest price and not because of sportiness. Lexus needs to stick to what they know best, I highly doubt they will be able to sway away that many owners of MB, BMW and AUDI.



LexSucksLexSucks - 4/8/2013 2:57:27 PM
-7 Boost
Nothing wrong with the new IS. Its the segment leader in style, value and performance. Not to mention reliability.


gkearns56gkearns56 - 4/8/2013 7:05:10 PM
+4 Boost
How about that "sharp" dash levels in. Come ON, inside looks confusing.


LexSucksLexSucks - 4/10/2013 8:45:56 AM
-5 Boost
I was never on edmunds. Shunned? Wouldn't that term apply to you here on autospies? The amount of times you've been banned and all.


LexSucksLexSucks - 4/10/2013 2:31:19 PM
-3 Boost
At least I wasn't banned. You got kicked out of here several different times. That has to be embarrassing. Yet you keep coming back. LOL!!! No one points you out? The Admins might beg to differ.

Either way “Angryinch1” or “Pondosinatra”, oh... your name is “ClevelandSteamer” now, you’ve upset the Admins here multiple times. Enough for them to kick your tail out of here (I’ve never been kicked out of here) MULTIPLE TIMES. So what do you do? You come back and open another account, with another stupid looking silly avatar, and claim that you didn’t do anything wrong. Funny.


LexSucksLexSucks - 4/10/2013 2:43:46 PM
-3 Boost
Says the man who's been banned multiple times. I know that hurts. And you seem to be racking up a nice deboost count on this very thread. Like you've never been deboosted?


LexSucksLexSucks - 4/10/2013 2:59:31 PM
-3 Boost
Less despised? But not despised enough to get shown the door by the admins like you were.


LexSucksLexSucks - 4/10/2013 3:12:22 PM
-2 Boost
Someone new to this board will instantly know that you've been banned here several times. I'll make sure of that. But they can pretty much determine on their own that you are an internet bully.


GG123GG123 - 4/8/2013 3:35:06 PM
+11 Boost
Did this OP even read his source article??? The lame title implies that the NEW IS (I'm assuming the redesigned one) already lost against all these manufacturers he's on the take from.

Here's one bit of info this nutbag might have missed: The new IS HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED YET !!! How on this green earth can it lose when the game hasn't even started?


thetruth01thetruth01 - 4/8/2013 3:37:01 PM
+8 Boost
From what part of this article did you derive the absurd headline that the new IS falls short??? It hasn't gone on sale yet, nor has there even been a comparo. Mix one part your obsession with driving traffic and two parts your hatred for Toyota. Shake well to come up with ridiculous headlines. Ugh.


lexworldlexworld - 4/8/2013 4:29:02 PM
+1 Boost
I agree with LexSucks, there aint nothing wrong with that new IS. I'm sure it looks even better in person and furthermore, give Lexus time and they will sway a lot of those MB, Audi and Bimmer buyers. They will first pick a part the competition from the inside out. After all, they still make the much better build car in the Luxury segment and that aint gonna change no time soon.


FirewombatFirewombat - 4/8/2013 5:10:01 PM
0 Boost
Maybe once you learn to speak English, you'll be able to represent all lexus buyers a lot better. It is not the best built car, granted it's reliability is good but it's engines are old and out-dated, the styling is trying VERY hard, and the brand does still not hold much cache outside of the US.

The old adage, putting lipstick on a pig still applies to this, it is still in the infiniti, acura class and it will be that way until they start engineering the cars to the standard of the germans. End.Of.Story,


USNA1999USNA1999 - 4/8/2013 5:16:53 PM
-5 Boost
Good one firewombat but don't try to tell the fans this, they won't accept the truth.


FirewombatFirewombat - 4/10/2013 4:05:17 PM
0 Boost
We have already established the outputs are not the same. If you want to carry on with that argument then we can add a Unicorn into the mix so that those figures are more inline with you're logic?

Everyone is doing 2ltr turbo fours in this class, lexus is not and the engine they have is old. End. Of. Story.


FirewombatFirewombat - 4/13/2013 3:38:37 PM
+1 Boost
I was talking about us troll, you and I, it's just that you're having a breakdown because some called you out on the fake numbers you posted. That's all, no hard feelings, just stop lying to try and prove a point and we'll all get along.


CarCrazedinCaliCarCrazedinCali - 4/8/2013 5:36:19 PM
-1 Boost
I will look at it and I love BMW best


lexworldlexworld - 4/9/2013 4:36:17 PM
+1 Boost
Well now Mr. -Firewormbat (same as -Firewombat), interesting to see you can instruct me on a little slang use of the english language. Stick around and I will be educating you on quite a few things on a variety of these informed and misinformed articles. Dont say I did'nt warn you because I will be very, and I mean very straight forward about my opinions and about the facts on the subject.

Anyway, back to the question regarding the subject title. The new IS is a great accomplishment and I think it will do great in the performance comparisons against its main rivals.


FirewombatFirewombat - 4/10/2013 3:50:24 AM
-1 Boost
I'm trembling, really, can't wait, teach me something :) Loser


lexworldlexworld - 4/9/2013 4:49:53 PM
+1 Boost
Both of -ClevelandSteamers points are valid. This latest IS offering is and was not meant to be the bread and butter of the Lexus line. They left that assignment to the ES model.

However, the IS's new assignment is strategically focused on extreme visual appeal and aggressive driving and performance dynamics. Make no mistake about this car. It will accomplish its upline goals. Not to mention that light weight IS-F 8 speed tranny the IS350 F Sport will have will produce excellent mpg numbers in its class with that level of performance.


FirewombatFirewombat - 4/10/2013 3:51:32 AM
0 Boost
You should contact GermanNut, maybe you can go on a date and fantasize about your brands together, you seem to the same mentality.


FirewombatFirewombat - 4/10/2013 3:52:35 AM
+2 Boost
@ClevelandSteamer if you really think that an IS350 and a 335i have identical specs then you have to go back on the meds sport


LexSucksLexSucks - 4/10/2013 2:19:20 PM
-3 Boost
Turbo vs. Normally Aspirated
Inline 6 vs. V6

And that's what you call "Identical"? LOL!! Specs are more than just measured power/performance numbers. Engine specifications also include the engine configuration. And in the case of the 335i vs. IS350? They have different Engine specifics. Specifically Forced Injection vs. Normally Aspirated, and Inline 6 vs. V6.


LexSucksLexSucks - 4/10/2013 2:38:58 PM
-3 Boost
You need to go look up the word "Specifications" in the dictionary.


FirewombatFirewombat - 4/10/2013 3:35:16 PM
0 Boost
Again, in case you need more schooling Cleveland, please google it, Literally is NOT Virtually, and the figures were still made up, school bout error, if you are still in school, which I doubt


FirewombatFirewombat - 4/10/2013 1:27:15 PM
0 Boost
I don't know where you're getting your figures from little girl?

The lexus.com website states the IS 350 RWD has:

306 @ 6,400 for HP and 277 lb-ft @ 4,800 for torque. 0-60 is 5.6 secs

bmwusa.com states the 335i has:
300 hp and 300 lb.-ft. of torque at 1300-5000 rpms .0-60 is 5.1 secs

Check the websites and your figures next time bitch.




LexSucksLexSucks - 4/10/2013 2:35:33 PM
-3 Boost
What are you talking about? You think that the only person who has a disagreement with you is me? Funny… I’d give your new account another month before you insult and attack other users enough for the admins to ban you again.


LexSucksLexSucks - 4/10/2013 2:50:10 PM
-3 Boost
Crawling back? I was never banned. So how can I crawl back? You were banned. You crawled back. You crawled back after being kicked out of here MULTIPLE TIMES. If I was kicked out of some place 6 plus times I wouldn't come back. Why do you keep coming back? Isn't it obvious to you that the admins dont want you here? If they did want you here you wouldn't have been banned so many times. Give it a break


LexSucksLexSucks - 4/10/2013 3:09:21 PM
-2 Boost
"I simply posted comments that a random admin disagreed with"

- Dude you were banned at least 6 times. Stop trying to deflect blame. You were banned because you bully, attack and insult people on a personal level. And now you're trying to downplay that with this "random admin disagreed with" crap. You were banned MULTIPLE TIMES. Shown the door, kicked out, 86'd... You know what? That hasn't happened to me here.

So go ahead and keep on offending folks. You'll get banned and open another account, Get banned again open another account, Get banned again open another account, repeat another 3 or more times and we have your account activity here from the last couple of years. Insult, get banned, open another account. Rinse and repeat. Enjoy


FirewombatFirewombat - 4/10/2013 3:50:02 PM
0 Boost
@Cleveland shame, so you took one publications figures and made up your entire fantasy about just that. Immature but, in a sense understandable, considering you're so young.

Either way, if you're going to quote figures again best to do your research, otherwise people will just think you're a troll.

Like I said, I will not stop, you need to start thinking before you post, because most of your posts have little or no facts to back them up and are purely emotional.

Then again, when I turned 16 that kind of changed for me so maybe it will for you too?


FirewombatFirewombat - 4/13/2013 3:36:48 PM
+1 Boost
I'm not telling you what to do Cleveland, I'm asking you to stop lying and posting made-up figures, that's all


FirewombatFirewombat - 4/10/2013 3:23:57 PM
0 Boost
@ClevelandSteamer, I am only quoting the same types of figures you did, you're either so dillusional or stupid that you can't see your original argument was ended.

Dismissed, listen school boy, literally means per fact, as opposed to to figuratively - theoretically, which is all your argument is based on.

You have lied, stated fake figures, pretended you didn't mean what you said but you quoted exact figures?

Like I said, you either need mental help or you need to grow up, either way, please do at least one.


FirewombatFirewombat - 4/10/2013 4:02:41 PM
+1 Boost
And Edmunds is the car God? Please, go there


FirewombatFirewombat - 4/13/2013 3:24:16 PM
+1 Boost
Look troll, you're lying about the edmunds test and the others. You've been caught out and now you're having a hissy fit because someone dare challenge you. The only one looking like a retard is you because you were caught lying, making up figures ans stats and now you feel ashamed. I know it's hard but you're a douche so carry on.
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