Lexus IS 350 Gets Fuzzy at U.S. Open

In the midst of early losses by tennis stars Andy Roddick and Venus Williams, 17-year-old Melanie Oudin of Georgia has shocked the tennis world by advancing to the quarterfinals of this year’s U.S. Open in Flushing Meadows, N.Y. Wait a minute… we’re not a sports blog. We’re here to cover cars.  

Lexus has designed another sports-themed car, much like it did with the golf-ball-dimpled LS 460 L at the U.S. Open of golf earlier this year. This IS 350, however, was covered in the yellow felt-like material of a tennis ball. Just how did I stumble upon this car? This past weekend I took a trip to New York City, and as part of my weekend expedition, I made a stop by the U.S Open. Once inside the gates, I noticed a bright yellow Lexus IS 350. This was no ordinary paint job. The car was completely covered in tennis-ball material. As a line of people waited to take a photo with the car, I stepped up and snapped a few photos of my own.

What’s next on Lexus’ list of sports-themed cars? A basketball-leather-covered RX 350 or a ES 350 wrapped in the rubber material of a hockey puck? We’ll be sure to keep our eyes open for these in the future. For now, check out more photos below.

2010 Lexus IS Convertible: First Drive

The 2010 Lexus IS C convertible is rolling into dealerships now, and we hope to bring you a full review as early as July, but I got to tool around in a few pre-production models, so here are some early impressions of the brand's first entry-level convertible, which is based on its IS compact sedan.

Car fans who saw the film "Three Kings," set in the first Gulf War, may remember yelling at the screen as soldiers played by Mark Wahlberg and Ice Cube argued over whether Lexus had a convertible. (It didn’t in 1991, when the film was set, and it still didn't when the movie came out in 1999.) It was 10 years after that war — and, coincidentally, just months before the U.S. stormed the Gulf again —  that Lexus introduced its SC 430 convertible as an early 2002 model. Replacing the tragically underrated SC coupe, the convertible's claim to fame was being one of the first retractable hardtops of the modern era — that and being priced above $60,000. Like the second Gulf war, the original SC 430 and its high price remain today ($66,805 for the 2009 model), but Lexus says a redesign is finally in the works. In the meantime, the retractable-hardtop IS 250C with a 2.5-liter V-6 opens its doors for a palatable $38,490. An IS 350C adds a 3.5-liter V-6 and stickers at $43,940.

Lexus Announces Pricing for 2010 RX 450h and 2010 IS Convertibles

Lexus released pricing information for the 2010 RX 450h, a hybrid SUV, as well as the 2010 IS 250C and 350C retractable-hardtop convertibles.

The RX 450h will retail for a base MSRP of $41,660 for the front-wheel-drive model and $43,250 for an all-wheel-drive RX 450h. There’s also a destination fee of $875. This compares favorably with the outgoing RX 400h, which had a starting MSRP between $42,080 and $43,480.

The IS 250C will start at $38,490 with a manual transmission, while the pricier IS 350C will start at $43,940. Again, these prices do not include a destination charge of $875.

The IS goes on sale in late May, while the RX 450h will go on sale later in the summer.

More Lexus RX News
More Lexus IS News

Recall Alert: 2006-08 Lexus IS, GS and LS

Lexus has issued a recall for 214,500 GS, IS and LS vehicles from model years 2006-08, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The recall is due to corrosion in fuel pipes that can lead to a leak.

Lexus has found that certain ethanol fuels with low moisture content can cause the pipes to rust. This may cause the dashboard indicator lamp to signal a malfunction, but that won't happen in every case, which is why it’s important to have your vehicle checked out. Lexus has contacted owners by email and will replace the affected parts free of charge at its dealerships.

For more information, you can contact Lexus at 800-255-3987 or the NHTSA hotline at 888-327-4236.

2008 Paris Auto Show: 2010 Lexus IS 250C Convertible

• Competes with: Infiniti G37 convertible, Volvo C70, BMW 3 Series convertible
• Looks like: Lexus destroyed all the cool lines of the IS sedan
• Drivetrain: Same 208-hp, 2.5-liter V-6 that’s found in the IS 250 sedan; six-speed automatic transmission
• Hits dealerships: Late 2009

Lexus has let its SC convertible wither on the vine, and now we know why. The company is going downscale with its next retractable-hardtop convertible, tapping its entry-level IS line of sedans to serve as the basis for the IS 250C retractable-hardtop convertible.

While the new IS 250C is decent-looking with the top down, we’re a bit taken aback that the distinct, somewhat masculine lines of the sedan are all but absent here. What we’re left with is more of an inheritor of the SC and a competitor with the Volvo C70 than it is something dramatic – like the early look we’ve seen of the Infiniti G37 convertible, which, by the way, will also pack a lot more power.

We do like the three-piece aluminum roof though … well, not the way it looks when up, but how it stows efficiently enough to pack a full-size golf bag into the trunk.

Check out the photos below and let us know if you think this new Lexus convertible will be a hit.

Cars.com Faceoff: Audi S5, BMW M3, Lexus IS-F

Our expert reviewers begin with the assumption that the BMW M3 is the reigning heavyweight champion, the king, the Michael Jordan of high-performance luxury cars. Then David Thomas, Mike Hanley and Joe Wiesenfelder weigh in on whether or not two challengers to the crown have what it takes to top the M3. They'll take into consideration a host of factors, including engine performance, handling prowess and overall value. Check out this Cars.comparison to see if either the 2008 Audi S5 or the 2008 Lexus IS-F can beat out the M3.

Cars.comparison: Luxury Sports Cars (Cars.com)

Lexus Prices AWD LS, Other 2009 Models

We talked about Lexus adding all-wheel drive to its flagship LS sedan the other day. Today, Lexus announced pricing for its entire 2009 lineup, including the LS. The rear-wheel-drive version gets a 1.2% price increase, to $63,675, with the LS 460L coming in at $73,585. The AWD versions of those two are $67,200 and $77,110.

The other big changes to the Lexus lineup — and “big” is subjective — revolve around the IS sport sedan, which gets revised suspension and steering, which we’re interested to check out. Prices change only slightly, up $300 each, to $31,155 for the IS 250 manual, $32,325 for the IS 250 automatic and $34,785 for the IS 250 AWD. The IS 350 will start at $36,605. More pricing is below.

Through Ian's Lens: 2008 Lexus IS-F

The Lexus IS-F is the first car off the assembly line to wear the new performance-signifying F Series badge from Lexus. The smooth lines of the current IS model are amplified by a ferocious front end that takes more than a couple of cues from the kind Germans over at BMW. For the IS-F, the hood creases are raised and the lines are made more prominent, while the grille and wheels get a considerable upgrade in materials and design. Other differences include a lower front spoiler, wider wheel wells that hide functional air outlets, a subdued rear spoiler and some nifty stacked quad-exhaust pipes. All in all, the machine looks fierce, and it sounds even fiercer. For those of you looking to find an expensively fast “sleeper,” the IS-F comes complete with a smattering of subtle “F” badges that cover the car without drawing an ounce of attention. Let me know what you think in the comments section. A full set of photos is below.

Cars.com Reviews the 2008 Lexus IS-F

Senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder likes to drive fast cars. Who doesn’t, right? That’s why his take on the all-new 2008 Lexus IS-F is so interesting. He really hammers the go-fast Lexus on its choice of transmission, holding it up to the reigning king of the class, the BMW M3 — as he should. See if its power and eerily beluga whale-like looks won Joe over in the end.

2008 Lexus IS-F Expert Review

2008 Lexus IS F Priced in Mid-50s

Lexus dives into the high-performance waters with its new sports sedan, the IS F. It’s the fastest model Lexus has ever produced, and it can be yours for $56,000. This, of course, does not include a delivery, processing and handling fee of $765.

With an eight-speed Sport Direct-Shift automatic transmission, we’re inclined to believe the IS F can make 0 to 60 in an impressive 4.6 seconds, as Lexus claims it does. This should put it hot on the tail of competitors like the BMW M3 and Audi RS 4. The IS F is slated to hit dealerships in February.