Lexus has announced that it will be making some changes to its lineup for the 2009 model year. While some models will receive slight revisions, most of the change comes in the form of higher prices. Lexus cites rising raw material costs for the price increases.
Lexus’ IS range – excluding the IS-F – will be receiving some minor interior and exterior tweaks for ’09. Outside, the IS will be sporting new front and rear bumpers, a revised grille, new side mirrors and new 17 and 18 inch wheels. Inside, the 2009 IS features an updated center stack and foldable rear head rests.
Most of the IS’ mechanics will remain intact, although both the IS 250 and IS 350 will see a revised suspension, which should help the four-door in the handling department.
All IS models will see a price increase of $300, or roughly a 0.8 to 1 percent increase.
Although the high-performance IS-F just launched earlier this year, it too will be receiving some changes. The car’s exterior will remain the same, but the IS-F’s interior will sport a new instrument panel, a piano-black center stack for cars equipped with navigation and an optional terra cotta and black two-tone interior. The IS-F will remain mechanically the same for 2009.
Pricing for the ’09 IS-F will rise by 1.1 percent, or $610.
The GS sedan will soldier on unchanged for 2009, but will see a price increase of 0.6-0.7 percent.
For 2009, Lexus’ flagship LS 460 and LS 460L model will be available with all-wheel drive for the first time in the line’s history. In addition to the two extra drive wheels, the AWD versions of the LS will also feature an air suspension, Variable Gear-Ratio Steering and Adaptive Variable Suspension. Pricing will start at $67,200 for the LS 460 AWD, with the long-wheel base LS 460L AWD starting at $77,110.
Two-wheel LS models and the LS 600h L hybrid model will be receiving passenger memory seats for 2009. Standard LS models will see a price increase of 0.9-1.2 percent, while the range-topping LS 600h L will get a price bump of 0.9 percent to $105,885.
09/08, 2:15 PM
posted by:
yarddog82abn
I can under stand the price going up, that’s O.K., but how can Toyota not want a piece of the under $50K sport car market??? They have all the right tools in there hands, Dodge, Chevy are making a come back, Nissan Mitsubishi, Subaru, Mazda, are all playing ball, but Toyota is missing out not brining back the Supra. “Green Cars” will sale and every one is on the ban-wagon, but 38% of American families have a 3rd car and most are “Toy Sports Cars” the more competition the more auto makers have to improve there product.
09/09, 12:26 PM
posted by:
inspire
It would be nice if another car company would enter the sports car market, but Toyota is all about profits and with the price of oil the way it is … and after getting burned with the pickup market they entered in full-steam … they are probably watching and waiting with regards to sports cars.
But … they’ve already entered an agreement with Subaru so they’ll have some smaller, sporty car in the market shortly. Also, the car they showered at the Detroit autoshow in 2008 … that looks like that project has been given the green light … so they have smaller, sporty cars coming to market, but they’re slow to the punch compared to the other manufacturers.
11/09, 2:06 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
Does the “tweak” include any dedicated models?