The all-new Lexus IS 250C convertible will have a base price of $38,490 when it arrives in dealerships in May, the luxury automaker announced today. That will buy you a 250C equipped with a manual gearbox, while six-speed automatic pushes the price up to $39,660. The more powerful IS 350C will have a MSRP of $43,940.
The new model is expected to go head-to-head with BMW’s drop-top 3-Series and will eventually replace the company’s SC430. Like the SC, the IS convertible will use a retractable hardtop — a three piece aluminum unit in this case — rather than a conventional canvas roof. The IS 250C’s solid top should make it a more attractive option for those residing in cold weather states, and will also give the IS equal footing with BMW’s retractable hard top 3-Series offerings.
The convertible IS features revised front and rear fascia, with overhangs slightly longer than its four-door counterparts. Inside, the IS 250C coddles with all the creature comforts Lexus buyers have come to expect, including enough room in the trunk — roof down — to hold a couple of golf bags.
Powered by the same engines as the IS sedans, the IS 250C features a 2.5-liter, 204 horsepower V6 mated to a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission, while the IS 350C contains a 3.5-liter, 306 hp V6 with a six-speed auto. Revisions to the body structure and suspension provide torsional stiffness and ride comfort with the top down, and low Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) on par with the IS sedan when in coupe configuration.
Fans of open air motoring and V8 power will have to look elsewhere – Lexus doesn’t plan to produce a convertible version of the hotter IS-F.
Official Photos
04/24, 10:54 AM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
Solara owners everywhere now have a place to retire
04/24, 11:06 AM
posted by:
tripleonefive
I guess for a reliable premium brand like Lexus its not expensive. I would have to research the price of the G37 Conv.
I think the VW Eos even starts at 32k
04/24, 11:32 AM
posted by:
JakeK66
It’s actually priced very well when you consider the Ford Focus-based C70 costs as much if not more than this very superior RWD Lexus.
04/24, 11:41 AM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
What a “Noble” idea.
1115: G37 beats the snot out of this toyota. At least you call it a “Premium” brand and not a “luxury” brand
04/24, 11:57 AM
posted by:
tripleonefive
The Volvo C70 is Focus based ? Its just the S 40 coupe I guess
04/24, 12:20 PM
posted by:
tripleonefive
JJT My mistake it is a Luxury Brand
04/24, 12:32 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
1115 thinks crApura is a luxury brand too. That’s delusional. My friend’s 1 year old MDX is a POS
04/24, 12:36 PM
posted by:
anderson_b76
WOW is the IS design getting long in the tooth. Try changing the design….boring and small…either a girl’s car or car for someone younger then 25.
04/24, 1:08 PM
posted by:
tripleonefive
crApura- Ingenious did yu think of that one yourself ? Even if you have a friend( you dont ) and he did hve a POS MDX its still better than an Acadia or Enclave ..which were recalled BTW
04/24, 1:13 PM
posted by:
PerformanceGuy
I am not a fan of convertibles, but think the G37 and 3 series are better choices and will dominate over this.
04/24, 1:24 PM
posted by:
F50
This isn’t very good but think of it this way, this is way better than the SC430 POS
04/24, 2:02 PM
posted by:
Borat
The good news you can have it with 3 pedals, the bad news only weaker engine. I imagine 200+ ponies are sufficient, but if Toyota would mate 300 HP with manual it could dance with 335 and even ‘tang.
04/24, 2:10 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Borat, I was wondering why they even bothered offering the manual at all. I’d have better luck handing out Hooters coupons at a feminist rally.
04/24, 2:51 PM
posted by:
CADDY-V
111FAG:
Did you ever get around to putting more money on your bus pass yet? If not get off the computer and get it done.
04/24, 2:55 PM
posted by:
tripleonefive
Hey FAGGY-V
Did you ever think of a better joke ? Did you ever think that GM would be killing brands, having recalls on their “new” cars and still have lower resale than a Japanese car from Toyota or Honda
If not get off the board and do some research
04/24, 3:07 PM
posted by:
zeegone
The SC430 wasn’t a bad car at all so I’m not sure what some of you guys are talking about. It pretty much set the standard for folding hard-tops when it was released. ANYWAY. I’ll definetly take a G37 convertible over this, just based on styling alone. Looks a little too goofy. The SC was bulbous but this just looks chopped, where’s the suave looks and flowing lines at? For now give me a 335i hardtop convertible and i’ll be on my way.
I’d reconsider if they offered an IS-F version however!
04/24, 5:26 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
tripleonefive: “JJT My mistake it is a Luxury Brand.” yes, calling it a luxury brand is a mistake.
mayer_ray_nagin: I’ll be driving the “TL SH-AWD” home tonight. That’s “hi-dollar accord” to us with working brain cells.
PerformanceGuy: “I … think the G37 and 3 series are better choices and will dominate over this.”
They’ll dominate over just about anything.
Rather than burst into homophobic euphoria, i’ll now talk about resale value, and how it’s theoretical at best.
According to Spreen Honda, KBB on a 2005 Civic EX is 11,560 … really.
Is there anyone, even in Southern California (where hondas are beloved and the type of weather that steers people toward tougher cars is absent) that would pay that?
No.
They’re asking $8,975. That’s an asking price, sale price is certainly going to be much less.
A 2006 Civic EX KBB: $16,580, Asking Price: $11,895. Sale Price <$11,895
2006 Accord SE K: $17,130, A: $14,295.
2004 VW Touareg: K: $17,105; A: $15,885.
2004 Dodge Neon SXT K: $8,050 A: $6,995
2005 “TSX” (A laugher) K: $20,535 … really. Asking price is $19,275, so maybe its real value is a little closer to its theoretical value.
2000 CR-V EX K: $9,125, Asking price $5,995.
2008 Kia Rio SX K: $12,030 (if you can believe that) A: $8,995. Eighty-nine ninety-five is a much more realistic price.
zeegone: The jdm Soarer was a downright GOOD car.
04/24, 5:35 PM
posted by:
Borat
JJT, what is the mileage on those cars? KBB estimates 12K miles driven per year. Is this realistic in CA? It is not in NJ (tiny densely populated state). Could it be discrepancy due mileage? I could never sell/get for my car KBB advertised value. By same token, prices of cars are skewed today due to recession. I read that used cars are holding value better, cause people who leased, can’t and new cars are somewhat pricey to buy (especially with crappy credit).
04/24, 5:36 PM
posted by:
Borat
Johnny, you should be able to unload Hooters coupons at feminist rally with no problems: butch dikes love lipstick!
04/24, 6:08 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
Borat: Just goes to support my conclusion that resale value is theoretical.
If you’ve got a car with 12,000 miles, KBB will value it more than the same model that has $20,000 miles.
I learned about KBB selling a Ford Tempo
04/24, 6:17 PM
posted by:
GT40
I would rather have a Mustang GT convertible or a 335i hardtop convert.
04/24, 6:21 PM
posted by:
bmwmpower
I would rather have a turkey sandwich
04/24, 6:28 PM
posted by:
elviososa
I will choose Camaro over this!
04/24, 7:55 PM
posted by:
nestle_s
to me, the side profile looks like a chrysler sebring hard-top convertible.
04/25, 12:12 PM
posted by:
TornadoGTI
JakeK66 – The C70 is based on the S60 platform and NOT the s40/Focus platform. But I hate when people say it like this. The foucs is based on the S40, not the other way around. This “very superior” Lexus also has a worse drivetrain (for the cost) than the C70 and doesn’t look nearly as good.
Also, people who keep saying the G37 and 335i will tear this apart… Please consider the IS350 and not the 250 when saying this. The 328i Convertble is the slowest car in BMW’s lineup. It is embarrasing and the IS350 sedan puts down sub 5 sec to 60 numbers. As fast as the 335i sedan and faster than a G37 sedan. This convertable in 350 guise should fair quite well against the others. Both of those cars are ugly too.
A good rule of thumb that I take very seriously for convertabiles.
Use soft top when coupe counterpart exist and use hardtop when no coupe counterpart exist.
I.E. both the ugly 3-series conv. and ugly G37 convertable. Both are offered in coupe and hardtop convertable why? ISC and C70 don’t have a coupe counterpart so they can pull off a hardtop convertable. Then you have the Audi A5 and Benz CLK (upcomming E-Class coupe/conv) that come in both coupe and convertable and their convertables are soft. Hell, even the Mustang and 370Z employ this philosphy.
Hard top convertables are generally ugly to begin with but when you have an exact replica coupe to compare it too, they are even uglier.
Just my $0.02
04/27, 12:04 AM
posted by:
writeeddie
IS… ZZZzzzzz ..
04/27, 10:35 AM
posted by:
mr_hunter
If you have to make the rearend longer and not go with original the styling of the vehicle you probably don’t need to make it a convertible. And Solara owners will not be interested in this car because it’s way to small. it’s interior room is about the same as a Corolla. My best freind has 1 and it’s tiny.