Lexus, not usually seen as a predator, is on the prowl. The hunting grounds are the upper reaches of the medium passenger sedan sales segment and the lower branches of the premium car market tree.
A major player in the luxury car market in Australia since the early 1990s, the Japanese marque is looking to broaden its appeal and has chosen a sports sedan, the IS 200t, with a blend of performance and economy to do this.
A replacement for the IS 250, sharp prices characterise the range which consists of three variants; Luxury, F Sport and Sports Luxury, coming to the market at $57,500, $65,500 and $76,500, respectively, plus on road costs.
Lexus throws down the gauntlet to rivals with the IS 200t bringing a stack of standard luxury features including pre-collision safety, active cruise control, reversing alarm, rain-sensing wipers and power adjustable steering column.
The Luxury grade is on offer with an enhancement pack that includes a moonroof, adding $2500 to the price. The F Sport, adds styling and performance upgrades, including adaptive suspension, sporty pedals, high friction front brake pads, 18-inch F Sport alloy wheels, sports front seats and different instrumentation.
There are two other enhancement packs, one adding the premium Mark Levinson audio system and moonroof for $4000, while the second, at $6000, has automatic high beam and lane departure warning.
The range-topping Sports Luxury model has standard moonroof, woodgrain trim, Levinson 15-speaker audio and electric rear sunshade.
The engine is taken from the NX 200t compact SUV, switched the 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged unit through 90 degrees to face north / south, and hooked it up to the rear wheels via an eight-speed Sports Direct Shift automatic transmission.
With help from a revised exhaust system layout, it comes up with 180 kW, 27 kW more than the IS 250 V6 it replaces, that’s more power than the Mercedes-Benz C250 and Audi A4 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engines, while stop/start engine technology helps with fuel savings, particularly in congested traffic.
Further savings can be made by locking in the transmission’s Lexus Drive Mode Select function to Eco as opposed to Normal.
A boost meter on the F Sport, combined with oil pressure and temperature gauges, keep track of how the 2.0-litre turbo is operating. In addition, comprehensive instrumentation is projected via an LFA-inspired liquid crystal display meter.
The tachometer and other systems can be switched from blue to white to red depending on the driver’s preference, while the meter ring slides across to reveal a menu a-la LFA when the multimedia system is activated through the steering wheel switch.
The F Sport front seats come in two colour combinations – black and exclusive Dark Rose – and offer plenty of lateral support during spirited driving through sharp curves
Further exclusive touches include an F Sport steering wheel emblem, aluminium pedals and scuff plates.
The IS platform has been reworked to deal with the characteristics of turbo power as opposed to the previous naturally aspirated unit. Attention was paid especially to noise and vibration levels, in keeping with the manufacturer’s tradition.
The powertrain is particularly well matched with the chassis, providing body rigidity, sharp steering and well maintained suspension control over varying road conditions, amply illustrated during a drive in south-east Queensland.
Off the mark, the Lexus IS 200t is at the mercy of the turbo, which only comes into its own under heavy pedal pressure, urging the engine on to high revs. The motor chimes in with a non-intimidating growl.
However, all models exhibit the Lexus quiet cabin due to the company’s long-running battle against engine noise and vibration, although road noise does intrude on harsh surfaces.
Lexus F Sport and Sports Luxury models use an adaptive damping system to vary chassis response with driving style, while the Sport S+ mode on F Sport and Sports Luxury modifies steering and chassis control for a more sporting experience.
The new Lexus IS 200t is Lexus’s entry-level to its rear-wheel drive sports sedan line-up, which includes the GS and flagship LS lines, and together with an extended dealer network, is aimed at gaining extra sales in the Australian luxury vehicle market.