Lopped-top Lexus

Retractable hardtop adds open-air appeal to IS lineup

by Lorne Drury

Lexus marks its 20th anniversary this year. Instead of a cake, the luxury brand is celebrating by launching the 2010 IS 250 C and IS 350 C convertibles.
Built on the proven IS platform – already underpinning the 250, 350 and high-powered F sedans - the convertibles wear a retractable hardtop, giving drivers the best of all worlds — top-down driving in fine weather and the protection of a fix roof in inclement climates.
Lexus says the rear-wheel drive IS Cs are more than just sedans turned into convertibles — they are designed from top to bottom to minimize turbulence and wind noise and to eliminate noise, vibration and harshness.
The three-section lightweight aluminum top retracts at the touch of a button in just 20 seconds. This is done through the use of 15 motors and 37 sensors, while a roof status indicator displays the progress of operation during either opening or closing.
The 2010 IS convertibles offer two engine choices: a 2.5-litre V6 producing 204 hp and 185 lb-ft of torque and, for more performance, a 306 hp 3.5-litre V6 with 277 lb-ft of torque.
Prices start at $52,100 for the IS 250 C with a six-speed manual transmission. A six-speed automatic is $53,700, while the IS 350 C starts at $60,400 with a six-speed auto.
Driving the IS C with the roof up, you’d swear you’re in a sedan, it’s so quiet. Lexus said its engineers spent a lot of time in the wind tunnel working on aerodynamics, the acoustic windshield and seals on the doors, roof and windows. The coefficient of drag for the car is 0.29, best-in-class according to the automaker.
Amongst the user-friendly features offered on the IS C, there’s Intuitive Park Assist which uses the parking sensors to detect obstacles behind the car that could impede the retractable roof. If anything is in the way, the operation of the roof is stopped.
The IS C offers enough space inside to be called a true, four-passenger droptop. Legroom in the rear row has been maximized thanks to the arched design of the front seat backings.
Rear seats access too, a common complaint with convertibles, is improved via doors that are 30 cm (11.8 in.) longer than the sedan’s. Also, they open in a three-step process, making enter and exit easier in narrow quarters. The doors also wear forged hinges to improve structural rigidity. Exiting is further helped in the Lexus by a one-touch ‘fold and slide’ feature, operated by a button at the shoulder area of the driver’s and passenger’s seats.
Still with the seats, the available heating/cooling function has been improved, with increased heating in the shoulder areas and increased airflow for the ventilation. The rear headrests are retractable to increase visibility and the comfortable and supportive front seats offer eight-way power adjustment.
The IS C’s cabin is beautifully finished, as befits an entry-level luxury car. Special touches were added to make the interior look attractive from the outside with the top down.
The IS 250/350 C have exterior styling similar to the IS sedan’s, but with the exception of the hood, all the body parts are new. That low coefficient of drag has been accomplished partially with underbody covers and the shape of the side mirrors and rear taillamps.
The rear overhang of the IS C is two inches longer than on the sedan. This means a luggage capacity of 553 litres (19.5 cu-ft) with the roof up and 205 (7.2) with it down. Comparably, the IS sedans offers 378 L (13.3).
On the road, the Lexus’ body is extremely rigid for a convertible, thanks to additional bracing to improve the handling and ride. Sound absorption and insulation materials help create a quiet cabin.
For those wishing to customize their IS convertible, a full line of ‘F’ sport accessories are available, including high performance brakes, lowering springs, an air intake and alloy wheels.
My co-driver and I only sampled the IS 250 C during our test drive, but we came away impressed (hopefully, we’ll be able to get into the 350 C soon). The IS C is no performance car, but it’s sporty enough and a great summer cruiser.
And thanks to the retractable hardtop, it can be a car for all seasons.
Stephen Beatty, Toyota Canada’s managing director, calls the IS 250/350 C a “light addition to the lineup this year.”
He said the IS family just wasn’t complete without a convertible. “(Convertibles) are appreciated by a hard-core few, but it’s important for us to have it.”