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COMPETITOR SPECIFICATION AND PRICING COMPARISON – LEXUS IS 250 SE (manual)
Prices at October 2005 COMPETITOR SPECIFICATION AND PRICING COMPARISON – LEXUS IS 250 SE-L (manual)
Prices at October 2005 COMPETITIVE PARTS PRICING Another important area in which the new Lexus IS excels compared to its principle rivals is in the cost of replacement parts. In the event of a typical front or rear collision, the repair parts costs for the Lexus work out substantially cheaper – an aspect of the car which has a positive impact on the model’s UK insurance group ratings. For example, the combined cost of front-end elements, including bonnet, grille, bumper cover, wing, headlamp, radiator, front panel and air conditioning condenser for the Audi A4 is almost 26 per cent greater than for the Lexus, while the Mercedes C-Class, Jaguar X-Type and BMW 3-Series range between 18 and 24 per cent more expensive. As well as achieving lower costs compared to the competition, Lexus has also achieved a reduction in price of more than 24 per cent compared to the previous generation IS. It’s a similar story where the rear of the car is concerned, except that the Lexus’s price advantage is even more marked. The bumper cover for the Lexus costs approximately £124, compared to £311 for the same item on a 3-Series. And the X-Type’s bootlid costs a hefty £280, almost £150 more than that on the IS. Adding together rear bumper cover, bootlid, rear quarter panel, rear panel and light cluster, the combined costs for the X-Type and the 3-Series are more than 50 per cent greater than for the Lexus, with the Mercedes marking a hike of almost 30 per cent and the Audi priced more than 11 per cent higher. MARKET TARGETS The launch of the new IS is set to generate substantial sales growth for the Lexus brand in the UK. In the first full year of sales, Lexus expects to sell 7,400 units, with the split roughly two to one, diesel to petrol. Totals should continue to rise towards the end of the decade. The strong appeal of the new car and the first availability of a diesel engine option will bring many new owners to the Lexus brand, with around 70 per cent of the first year total expected to be conquest sales from other premium marques, or buyers looking to move up to the premium sector for the first time. BODY AND CHASSIS
The new generation Lexus IS is wider and lower than its competitors, its low centre of gravity combining with a sophisticated suspension design and new electric power steering to deliver dynamic performance without compromising the legendary Lexus ride quality. Smooth bodywork with minimal panel gaps and numerous aerodynamic underbody elements promote high speed stability, reduce wind noise levels and contribute to improved fuel efficiency. And comprehensive measures to cut noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels ensure an ultra-quiet cabin environment. BODYSHELL The new Lexus IS shares the same luxury saloon platform as the latest generation GS. It is 175mm longer and 75mm wider than its predecessor, with front and rear track increased 40mm. Torsional stiffness is 20 per cent greater, achieved through extensive use of high tensile steel and a brace located between the frontal attachment of the rear sub-frame and the front floor reinforcement. Transverse rigidity is further improved by means of a pipe brace interconnecting the new bracing members. The bonnet, main engine components and several suspension elements are made of aluminium to reduce yaw moment and unsprung weight, thus enhancing the new IS’s agility. AERODYNAMICS The new Lexus IS has a drag coefficient of just 0.27, making it one of the most aerodynamically efficient cars in its segment. The sleek, flowing bodywork has exceptionally narrow gaps, minimal protrusions and flush bonnet, headlight and windscreen surface surrounds. Door-mounted mirrors reduce air turbulence around the A pillars and at the rear a duck-tail lip to the trailing edge of the boot lid and an ‘air-kick’ detail moulded into the lamp clusters ensure a clean passage of air, further reducing drag and turbulence. High speed stability and low wind noise levels are aided by the deep front spoiler and side skirts, while beneath the vehicle front and rear tyre fairings and covers to the cabin floor, transmission, fuel tank and rear suspension create the smoothest and flattest surface possible. A new engine undercover has been designed to create a venturi effect, which generates downforce for a zero lift coefficient at high speeds. A rear floor diffuser with twin vertical fins is fitted, like a racing car undertray, to reduce the rear lift coefficient and bolster high speed handling stability. NOISE, VIBRATION AND HARSHNESS Lexus has paid special attention to reducing the intrusion of external noise and refining the acoustic qualities of the new IS’s cabin. Sound absorbing and insulating materials are used extensively throughout the interior, including a newly developed foam-asphalt sheeting that also contributes to the car’s overall weight-saving gains. Rubberised underbody floor covers and sound absorbing felt and rubber resin wheel arch liners combat the noise made by water and gravel splatter. The interior carpeting has an absorption-insulation-absorption sandwich to help cut road noise disturbance. The detailed design of external bodywork seals, weather strips and door and window frame mouldings, contributes to greatly reduced wind noise. Triple seals are used on all four doors, with additional door sill seals to prevent air ingress, and a rubber seal is fitted right around the rim of the bonnet. Wind noise is also reduced by the flush mounted mouldings for the windscreen and door glazing. The windscreen itself has a noise damping, acoustic inner film that leads to a reduction in cabin noise of up to 4dB at idle. A further example of Lexus’s attention to detail is the introduction of perforated, sound-absorbing sun visors. Their unique design yields a significant reduction in wind noise intrusion from the top of the windscreen and the A pillars. SUSPENSION The new Lexus IS has double wishbone front and multilink rear suspension, which successfully deliver Lexus’s legendary ride comfort with excellent handling and dynamic performance. Front suspension The front, high-mount double wishbone suspension system combines lightweight forged aluminium knuckles with a high tensile steel lower arm and hollow anti-roll bar to reduce unsprung weight. This new configuration has a 35 per cent higher camber angle than the previous generation IS, which improves steering wheel centring and the level of negative camber to the outside wheel when cornering. Steering feedback is also better. An 18 per cent modified kingpin angle improves straight line stability, a 10 per cent increase in caster trail promotes more stable steering feel, and a 22 per cent reduction in roll centre height provides better cornering stability with reduced body roll. Precise steering control and straight line, high speed stability are also aided by the new forward-mounted power steering gear, allied to low toe variation along the suspension stroke. |