The intrepid Hans G. Lehmann has caught a highly disguised prototype for the Lexus IS 500 Coupe in testing. The luxury division of Toyota first debuted its new Lexus IS compact sedan at the Geneva Motor Show, but the story doesn’t end there. Lexus is said to be developing a coupe version of the IS designed to rival the BMW M3 and Mercedes CLK 55. The IS 500 is expected to deliver around 300 horsepower via a 4.3 liter V8, according to the report. It’s unclear why it would receive a ‘500′ designation, since Lexus naming is based on engine size. However, automakers are known to stray slightly from convention, as is the case with the 3.0-liter BMW 325i. (Show right is a computer rendering, also by Lehmann). While a 300 horsepower V8 could successfully challenge a current BMW M3 or AMG CLK, the next iterations of these cars — the V8 BMW M3 and CLK 63 AMG — will offer significantly more grunt. The new M3 is expected to cost a fair bit more than the current E46 M3, so it will be interesting to see how Lexus prices this new hotrod IS coupe. Lexus is also rumored to be planning an IS convertible, which will debut in concept form at the 2006 Detroit Motor Show.
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12/06, 11:27 AM
posted by:
Anonymous
I doubt it will be called IS 500 with a 4.3L engine. Lexus has a pattern to their naming. An IS 500 would have a 5.0L engine and an IS 430 would have a 4.3L engine.
There’s also a typo in the text: “While a 300 horsepower V8 could will successfully challenge…”
12/06, 12:39 PM
posted by:
jwon
Seems like a “IS500″ at V8 300HP is a rival to the current M3 and not the E90. It’ll be a real interesting car if BMW creates a 335 turbo. I can’t wait to see the BMW and Lexus coupes.
Also, I saw 2 IS cars this morning and the trunk line is stupidly high. The rear is just plain ugly in some colors while beautiful in white.
12/06, 12:48 PM
posted by:
Scott
This is one of the worst articles I have read here, first of all, why would they make a “500″ with less horsepower than their “350″ and second of all, 300hp would not even challenge the current offerings of any of the high end luxury sports coupes. I assume 300hp should have been written 400hp. The only part of this that wasn’t completely false or worthless was the picture. Proofread please next time? But another competitor in this arena is good for everyone, at the very least it will give us a car to see the 420hp new M3 demolish.
12/06, 1:39 PM
posted by:
Left Lane News
We can only work with the information given by Lehmann and World Car Fans.
03/17, 3:37 PM
posted by:
han350z
There is another typo if they wanted to make the IS500 with 300 hp they could easily do this with the 3.5L engine. The 5.0L Engine is expected to create somewhere in the 420-450 hp.