Turbocharged Lexus IS SportCross

Speedhunters is featuring a turbocharged Lexus IS 300 SportCross complete with a manual transmission lifted from a MK3 Supra.
Kevin · January 22nd, 2013

Lexus IS Sportcross & Lexus CT 200h Together

Here’s the unique sight of a Lexus CT 200h together with a first-generation IS Sportcross, as taken by automotive author Basem Wasef: Even though the IS Sportcross was released before Lexus’ L-Finesse design language, you can still see a ton of similarities between the models, particularly in the rear. Great photo! [Source: Basem Wasef]
Kevin · May 10th, 2011

The Wild Ukrainian Lexus IS

Take a look at this mental Toyota Altezza/Lexus IS from the Ukraine that’s been featured on Stance Nation: The blue SSR Koenig wheels with the fresh white exterior is an unbelievable combo — I’m a traditionalist for the most part, but when I see something like this IS, it really gets my imagination going. What …

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Kevin · March 1st, 2011

Hiromu Naruse on the First-Gen Lexus IS Development

Stumbled on an insightful speech given by the late Hiromu Naruse, Master Test Driver of Toyota, at a Toyota Altezza/Lexus IS 300 owners event at the Fuji Speedway in 2007 — here are some direct quotes that detail his part in the car’s development: After enhancing the rigidity, I test drove 2,000 km for two …

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Kevin · November 16th, 2010

My.IS TO2kX Meet in Toronto

Members of My.IS & Club Lexus gathered last weekend in Toronto, Ontario for some time at the track and a highway cruise: There’s plenty of photos to look through in the My.IS thread — this one caught my eye with the red: Looks like a fun event, I’m hoping to attend myself next year. (Thanks …

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Kevin · July 14th, 2010

Next-Gen Lexus IS to be offered as a Wagon?

Autocar is reporting that the next-generation Lexus IS will be offered as a wagon—and will be hybrid-only: …while the original model did offer an estate variant, called SportCross, the current car – introduced in 2005 – has never been available in a wagon. Lexus insiders now admit that this policy has hurt sales of the …

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Kevin · March 12th, 2010

Classic Top Gear: 1999 Lexus IS 200 Review

In keeping with the IS theme from yesterday, here’s a throwback Top Gear segment from 1999, with James May test-driving the first-generation Lexus IS 200: James May certainly looks quite young—but still exhibits that special “Captain Slow” driving style. It does sound like IS 200 suffered the same sort of low-band power deficiency that I …

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Kevin · April 13th, 2009

Flickr Find: Lexus IS 300, Museum Style

Ken Brown, who spends his days photographing coachbuilt classics for the Blackhawk Museum in California, managed to squeeze in a shoot with a coworker’s IS 300: Just wonderful, makes the car look like a diecast model, but it doesn’t even touch the other photos in Ken’s Flickr Stream. The ‘57 Mercedes SL300 is fantastic, but …

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Kevin · October 5th, 2007

An Argument for Painted Brake Calipers

Painted brake calipers are a nice enough touch, but they take on new significance when you see a photo like this: Taken from a feature on the G2 website, makers of caliper paint, this indigo ink Lexus IS 300 belongs to Brian Torak. The wheels are 18″ Katana ZR5’s, you can get a better look …

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Kevin · July 29th, 2007