September 1999 Volume 80 Number 9 "serving the protectors"
Motoring
By Jim Barnett

Immediately brought to mind by the name Lexus is the image of big, luxurious and expensive cars and four-wheel drives. But the new Lexus IS200 is neither big nor expensive. In fact, it is perhaps one of the best new releases in years.

This car is sensational to drive. It is extremely sure-footed with the potential to corner confidently at high speed while offering smooth, quiet ride characteristics. It looks the part, has an extensive array of luxury and safety appointments and handles like a dream.

Inside, everything is at the driver’s fingertips. All controls are clearly marked and simple to use. Most functions only require the simple push of a button, or in the case of the climate control system, the turn of one of the three rotary knobs.

The driving position is excellent. The eight-way adjustable seat provides optimum positioning. The somewhat unique instrument panel’s gauges are arranged to resemble a pilot’s chronograph watch.

The car’s ability to exhilarate its driver lies in its combination of a close-ratio six-speed box, excellent braking and steering characteristics and well-sorted suspension.

The IS200 is a compact, four-door, wedge-shaped sports sedan and features a long wheelbase with short overhangs to maximize interior space. Adding to its sporty appearance are:

• Flared front wheel arches.
• A bonnet bulge.
• 16-inch alloy wheels with low profile tyres.
• A large exhaust outlet.

Under the bonnet is an advanced, 2.0-litre, straight six-cylinder engine which features:

• Double overhead camshafts.
• Variable valve timing (VVTi).
• Two-staged, acoustic-controlled variable-length induction system.

This 24-valve, fuel-injected engine also features a Formula One-type drive-by-wire electronic throttle system.

While a little sedate off the mark, the 2.0-litre six performs strongly in the mid and upper rev ranges. It delivers 114kW at 6,200 rpm and 195Nm of torque at 4,600 rpm. The VVTi system provides 80 per cent of peak torque at just 1,500rpm.

Drive is to the rear wheels through the standard six-speed manual transmission, or an optional four-speed automatic with gate-type gear selector. Lexus designers have produced an excellent manual gearbox, with close ratios from second to sixth gear. This provides the right gear for every corner and increases driving enjoyment. Attention to shift quality has resulted in a stubby, short-throw lever, which is a delight to use.

With optimum handling and ride quality high priorities for the design team, extensive testing was carried out in Japan, Australia and Europe. The result was a car with its weight concentrated toward its centre and an extremely stiff body. Suspension layouts are similar to those developed for the Lexus GS300 sports sedan. They include independent double wishbones with coil springs and stabilizer bars front and rear.

The IS200 has been designed to meet the world’s toughest safety crash-test standards. Its passive safety package includes:

• A strong central safety cell.
• Collision-impact absorbing structures.
• Dual airbags SRS.
• Front seat-mounted side airbags.
• Force-limiting front seatbelt pretensioners.
• Four-way collapsible energy-absorbing steering column.

Active safety equipment includes:

• ABS brakes with an Australian-developed gravel road strategy.
• Traction control.
• A snow mode for throttle control in poor traction conditions.

In addition to the safety features, standard equipment includes:

• Power steering.
• Climate control air conditioning.
• A premium sound system featuring six-disc in-dash CD changer and eight speakers.
• Power windows, door locks and mirrors.
• A state-of-the-art anti-theft system incorporating engine immobilizer and alarm for all doors, bonnet and boot lid.

The Luxury Option model has additional features which include:

• A choice of black or ivory leather/Alcantar seat trim.
• Heated front seats.
• Electrically operated driver’s seat.
• 17-inch x seven-inch alloy wheels with high performance tyres.
• Sports steering wheel.
• Drilled alloy sports pedals.

The manual version of this up-market model also has high-performance sports suspension and a limited-slip differential.

The base model IS200 retails for $51,900. The Luxury Option model costs $58,100. Automatic transmission adds $2,000 and $1,300 respectively. Fuel economy on test averaged 10 litres/100km.

Test car from Lexus Australia.

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