It's always fun to see the engineering behind hard top convertibles. The latest member of the breed comes from Lexus in the form of the 2009 IS250C. This new derivative of the IS250 sedan sports a three-piece aluminum roof that retracts in a "world's fastest" 20 seconds. Video proof of the event taking place has been released and we've embedded it after the break. The new 250C's most logical competitor comes from BMW, whose 3 Series convertible features a folding hard top of its very own. When the new Lexus goes on sale next summer in Europe, followed shortly thereafter in the United States, it will offer buyers a replacement for the expensive SC 430, which is set to make a graceful exit from the marketplace in short order.
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Lexus has chopped off two doors and the roof from the IS250 to create the IS250C, due to arrive in Europe in the summer of 2009, and the U.S. shortly thereafter. The 2009 Lexus IS250C features a three-piece aluminum roof that retracts in a "world's fastest" 20 seconds, and features revised overhangs 15mm (front) and 55mm (rear) longer than the sedan, a new fog lamp design and a rising beltline that integrates into the revised haunches. The IS250C's rear end leaves a lot to be desired, with an odd assortment of angles terminating into a set of awkwardly placed LED taillights. With the top up, nothing seems to seamlessly blend together, looking like an ill-advised amalgamation of the outgoing SC430 and BMW 335i. Inside, thing get mildly better – in typical staid Lexus tradition – with a set of rollover hoops for the rear seat passengers, a 12-speaker Mark Levinson sound system and a speed sensitive climate control system that will boost the heat during open air jaunts. And naturally, you can fit a golf bag in the trunk with the top down.
It's been rumored for months, but now it's confirmed: Lexus will unveil the IS 250 convertible in Paris this October. The Lexus IS 250 C will be the third derivative of the IS range and will go into production early next year. IS 250 and 350 variants are planned, but in order to capitalize on the gotta-have-it crowd's penchant for The New – and the demise of the SC 430 – Lexus will likely roll out the 350 variant further down the line. Expect an IS F version to follow sometime in late 2009 or early 2010.
We've been hearing about a possible Lexus IS coupe for what seems like eons, and by most accounts, it's likely to hit the streets sometime around the turn of the decade. A convertible is supposedly in the works too, but until now, there's been limited proof that Lexus was planning to offer the two-door version of its entry-level sedan. However, the crew at my.is has been scouring U.S. and Canadian trademark applications and has come up with three new filings from Toyota's luxury division that could mean Lexus is at least considering bringing the IS coupe to market.
The trademarks include alphanumeric names with a "C" affixed to the end, including the IS250C, IS300C and IS350C. "C" could mean a couple of things, but the smart money is on "Coupe." It's also telling that Lexus' lawyers have trademarked the IS300C designation, since there's nothing to slot in between the current entry-level IS250 and the markedly more powerful IS350. There's no filing for an IS-FC, but if Lexus finally decides to provide the coupe people crave and do serious battle with the BMW M3, it's just a matter of time before we see some derivation of that name pop up in the trademark office.
