I am a big fan of Lexus and am really excited about the new 2014 IS-350 sedan! Here is a rundown on what to expect.
The Lexus IS 350 is in the middle of the Lexus IS line, between the IS 250 and the IS F.
It features a robust 3.5-liter V6 that pumps out 306 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. Rear-wheel or all-wheel drive is offered, and a six-speed automatic transmission is standard.
Picking out an IS 350 is pretty simple, as it comes fairly loaded. Standard equipment includes 17-inch wheels, xenon headlights, leather seats, power front seats, automatic dual-zone climate control, a sunroof, Bluetooth and a 13-speaker sound system. Optional items include a voice-activated navigation system, heated and ventilated seats, adaptive headlights, a Mark Levinson 14-speaker surround-sound system and an F Sport package that includes a sport-tuned suspension and sport seats.
First things first: Lexus’s major rework of the IS does not include the engines. The 2.5- and 3.5-liter DOHC V-6s carry over, including output—no fancy, efficiency-baiting turbo four here, bub. That means the IS250 still has 204 horsepower and 185 lb-ft of torque, and the IS350 packs 306 horsepower and 277 lb-ft. You can tick off boxes for rear- or all-wheel drive and regular or F Sport trim. Most iterations use the same six-speed automatic as in the outgoing cars, but Lexus decided that rear-wheel-drive IS350s deserved the eight-speed direct-shift automatic from the IS F. (No manual this time. Lexus told us it thought it might have sold one [!] last year.) The eight-speed incorporates “G-force Artificial Intelligence” when in Sport mode, which can automatically grab a gear and go to full torque-converter lockup depending on input from a g-force sensor.
The IS 350 is propelled with authority, benefitting from a 306-hp 3.5-liter V6. It has VDIM electronic stability designed to keep the driver out of trouble. More sophisticated braking and electronic stability systems augment its additional performance. Safety features include driver and front-passenger knee airbags. The brakes are large and effective four-wheel discs, clamped at the front by aluminum four-piston calipers. Augmenting the big brakes are ABS, Electronic Brake-force Distribution, and Brake Assist.
Inside, Lexus has abandoned the rather traditional look of the old IS’s center stack in favor of what might be called a more technical and layered look that nods toward the LFA supercar. From top to bottom now reside a seven-inch screen, the HVAC vents, and then the HVAC and audio controls. On the center tunnel, you’ll find Lexus’s “mouse” infotainment control. It guides a cursor on the screen, but it still never quite lands it where you want it. F Sports have a more direct homage to the LFA in their instrument clusters in the form of the central multi-readout dial that swings into position when you light the engine.
We have no pricing information yet but suspect the 2014 will nudge upward while staying within the mid-$30,000-to-low-$40,000 envelope of today’s car. Options include a backup camera, navigation, a 15-speaker Mark Levinson audio system, a Premium package with full-LED headlamps and heated and ventilated seats, and a Luxury bundle that brings the Premium goods, rain-sensing wipers, a contrast-stitched leather interior, wood trim, blind-spot monitoring, cross-traffic alert, and a power tilting-and-telescoping steering wheel.
An Article by Stella Fair Published at: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=1829350&ca=Automotive
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