Lexus IS 250C: Japanese Luxury Drop Top

Motoring Channel Staff - 8/October/2008

Paris, France — When Lexus made the decision to discontinue building the SC 430, it would have been without a convertible model.

However this situation has changed with the emergence of the IS 250C at the 2008 Paris Motor Show.

Sitting at the same table as the BMW 3 Series convertible, the new IS 250C has a 3-piece metal (aluminium) folding roof that folds up and down at the touch of a button.

More and more car makers are favouring metal instead of cloth roofs, and though they cost more to manufacture and engineer, they provide better weather protection and improved general security.

Compared to the hard-roof Lexus IS 250, the IS 250C is a bit longer due to the folding roof mechanism and as the photos show it gets different front and rear end treatments.

The rear end of the Lexus gets differently designed brake lights to fit with the altered design, which is a byproduct of the metal folding roof. 

Further to this, the boot space is reduced somewhat, but Lexus assures us that even with the roof down there's still enough room for a couple of golf bags.

Convertibles are traditionally more expensive than their tin-topped cousins, and the IS 250 will be no different, and is likely to command a hefty premium over the IS 250 model.

The drop-top car will be powered by the same 2.5-litre V6 motor used in the IS 250, which outputs 153kW @ 6400rpm and 252Nm @ 4800rpm. Drive is via the rear wheels.

Like its luxury German rivals, the Lexus IS 250C will benefit from a range of high class features, such as premium leather upholstery, a high-end sound system, advanced driving aids, several airbags and automatically deploying roll-over bars.

It is still not known whether Lexus plans on building more powerful versions of the 4-seater IS convertible.

If sales are strong after the car launches in 2009 - North America will be its biggest market so this is by no means guaranteed - the likelihood of another more powerful model will increase. 

Speculation that an IS-F convertible is on the way, powered by a 5.0-litre V8, is premature. However an IS 350C is more likely.

Related Links:
- Lexus IS Update (2009)
- Lexus LS 460 AWD (2008)
- Lexus LX 570 (2008)
- Lexus IS-F Sports Car (2008)
- Lexus GS450h (Road Test)
- Lexus IS250 (Road Test)
- Lexus LS460 (2007)
- Lexus LS 600h L (2007)
- Lexus GS430 (Road Test)
- Lexus LF-Sh (concept)