The Lexus IS convertibles – the IS 250C and IS 350C — have only been on the market for about a month now, but demand is already starting to outstrip supply. Orders for the IS C models have flooded Toyota ’s Kyushu plant, leaving U.S. dealers in short supply.
Lexus originally planned to sell about 1,600 units of the IS convertible globally per month, but is now forecasting 1,200 monthly sales in the U.S. alone. “I don’t think we’re going to outstrip demand with our build rate,” Scott Wracher, general manager of the Lexus’s eastern area, told Ward’s Auto. “There’s a lot of value in the IS (models) compared to our competition.”
Lexus expects the IS 250C to represent the bulk of IS convertible sales – with an expected 85 percent take rate – with the up-level IS 350C model making up the rest of IS C sales. Only about 5 percent of buyers are expected to opt for the car’s manual transmission, only available on the IS 250C model.
Sales of the IS C could receive a significant boost in early 2011 as an open air version of Lexus’ high-performance IS F is expected to join the lineup.
