Anticipation was high in the Car Showroom office when word was passed around that Lexus had a new IS 250C heading our way for a week.
The stunning convertible hard top - the first body variant of the successful IS 250 sedan - is a genuine four-seater and, as one expects from Lexus, features a raft of high-tech driving aids and luxury/convenience features.
What the market didn't expect was the sharp pricing with entry to the three-model IS 250C lineup a surprising $79,900.
What You Get
Based on the IS 250 sedan platform, the convertible model is an engineering masterpiece with extensive re-design and development to support not only the three-piece metal folding roof but also to ensure the trademark Lexus driving dynamics transfer to open top motoring.
Transformation from coupe to convertible requires the push of just one button and takes just 20 seconds.
And with the roof up or down, the IS 250C looks magnificent with dynamic proportions and styling, a purposeful stance and genuine on-road 'presence'.
Under The Hood
Power comes from Lexus' silky-smooth 2.5-litre Quad Cam multi-valve direct injection V6 engine.
Maximum power is 153kW at 6400 rpm and peak torque of 252 Nm is delivered at 4800 rpm.
The combined cycle fuel economy is 9.3l/100kms and CO2 emissions are 219g/km.
Drive is via a six-speed electronically controlled automatic with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters for manual operation.
The Interior
Make no mistake, the IS 250C is a genuine four-seater - the back of the front seat frames feature an arch design which adds 20mm of leg and knee room for rear seat passengers.
All four occupants have individual sculptured seats and those in the rear have their own center console.
Naturally there is leather throughout, thick, high quality carpets and even the individual heating for the front seats has been increased by 20 per cent over the sedan model to keep you warm with the top down.
The climate control air-conditioning has also been ramped-up and has an 'Open' mode for use when the roof is down. Airflow can be doubled in this mode which monitors ambient temperatures, vehicle speed and even sunlight strength to keep things comfortable.
Likewise the instrumentation with a higher-contrast multi-function seven-inch LCD screen and new dial colors to make easier reading with the top down.
Three trim colors are available - Mellow White, Black and Silver Pearl - while range-topping Sports Luxury models have Dark Brown or Grey Wood trim.
As per the IS 250 sedan, the gauges and instrument clusters are stylish and well laid-out. The driving position is excellent and we particularly liked the beautifully finished and sculptured transmission paddle shifters on the steering wheel - no cheap plastic offerings from Lexus!
Prestige and Sport models offer an eight-speaker audio system while range-topping Sports Luxury models secure a 12-speaker Mark Levinson system.
All models receive six airbags, a reversing camera with guide assist, stability and traction control. Sports and Sports Luxury models gain Active Cruise Control and the Pre-Collision System which optimizes seat belt and emergency braking efficiency.
Exterior & Styling
Lexus designers started from a good base with IS 250, but the hardtop version is visually jaw-dropping especially when viewed from the side or the rear.
At the front, the stylish Lexus grille and large cool air intakes are complimented by curved halogen headlights (High Intensity Discharge on Sport Luxury) while the rear lamps are large LED displays.
Deep sculpture lines feature at the side and the curves around the lower edge of the roof are elegant.
The roof itself has three aluminium sections and a large 3.1mm thick reinforced glass rear window.
Aerodynamics played a big role in the IS 250C's design. For starters the drag coefficient is just 0.29 (just 0.02 points higher than the sedan).
However minimizing wind noise with the roof down was a big factor.
Underbody diffusers help the overall aerodynamic package and provide increased downforce for high-speed handling.
The bootlid opens forwards for the hard-top function and opens at the rear conventionally for the boot (205 litres with the roof down or 553 litres when closed). Lexus says the cargo area can hold two full-size golf bags and two 77-litre suitcases.
Cleverly four sensors in the luggage cover prevent the roof being operated when it is too loaded to do so.
On The Road
Over our test route of city, suburban and mountain roads, it was the Lexus IS 250C with the roof closed that was most impressive. While many soft and hard top convertibles compromise their driving enjoyment with too much intrusion of outside noise, the Lexus reins supreme because it remains so quiet.
We tackled our high-speed mountain route with the roof closed and open and could not detect a change in dynamics - there was no sign of the squeeks or groans that often accompany high speed driving in convertibles. Naturally there was some airflow disturbance around your ears but a lot less than many others we have tested - and anyway isn't that the point of open top motoring?
The IS 250C runs independent suspension and the ride is sporty and firm - like European prestige vehicles. We liked the overall package which provided nice feedback, precision and cornering balance.
With the roof up, rear three-quarter vision was a little restricted but parking remained a breeze thanks to the excellent reversing camera.
Challenges
Our only complaint with the IS 250C was access to the rear seat.
The front seats have electronic controls to shift them forwards and also tilt the seatback forwards however clambering into the rear was still a tad cumbersome.
Verdict
A brilliantly executed hard top - absolutely one of the best we have driven.
And - here's the real surprise - when you do the sums, the IS 250C is also great value.
The Competition
Audi's A4 is a good-looker but priced north of $100K with the V6. BMW's 3-Series also looks sharp and it's 2.5-litre six is a pearlier.
Thumbs-up:
Brilliantly styled; lots of kit; nice to drive; value
Thumbs-down:
Rear seat access
