Stunning convertible joins the luxury Lexus IS stable

The stunning new Lexus IS300C builds on the acclaimed L-finesse styling of the IS sedan combining the muscular grace of a dynamic, sports coupe with the open-topped elegance of a stylish and comfortable luxury convertible.

Hugh Dickerson, General Manager, Sales and Marketing, Al-Futtaim Motors stated,

"Since the launch of the IS300 luxury sports sedan in 2006, the model has dominated the small luxury segment, maintaining consistently strong sales each month. Now with the addition of this stylish and sporty convertible coupe, the excitement of the IS range will further appeal to a wider range of young customers who wish to make the most of their leisure time."

Featuring a four seat configuration, the sports car takes its styling cues from the popular IS300 sedan, yet shares only a handful of body elements such as the bonnet, headlights, door handles and door mirrors. All other body panels have been redesigned exclusively to accommodate the folding roof and minimize wind turbulence during open-top driving.

The convertible's three-panel roof opens in just 20 seconds, the fastest time for this type of retractable roof system in the market. The compact packaging of the folding mechanism takes up minimal space in the boot providing class leading load space for two golf bags with the roof up and one golf bag with the roof down without compromising generous rear seat access or rear passenger accommodation.

Utilising the same power train as the IS300 sedan, the IS 300C features a smooth 3.0 litre V6 engine delivering 228 horsepower coupled with a six-speed automatic transmission. Revisions made to the body structure and suspension ensure ride comfort with the top down and class-leading Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) on par with the IS sedan when in coupe configuration.

True to Lexus's legendary quality and attention to detail, the new IS300C has been engineered to achieve excellent aerodynamics through the introduction of flush surfaces on the upper body and a flat under-floor profile. This dynamic styling found in the windscreen, cabin profile and rear permits the IS300C to achieve an extremely low drag coefficient of 0.29 Cd which compares favorably with the 0.27 Cd rating for the IS sedan.

Further sporty accents are found in the new combination tail-lamp clusters featuring LED lights alongside a new fog-lamp design in the revised lower front bumper. The steering wheel mounted gear shift paddles add to the engaging experience of driving a sports car.

The IS300C shares the IS sedan's high levels of interior luxury and practical innovation with a number of bespoke technical revisions to ensure the on-board comfort and entertainment systems work effectively when driving in convertible mode. Instrument gauges have been revised to help increase visibility during open-top driving and the climate control system has a speed sensitive control feature that automatically increases air flow when the top is down while also adjusting to vehicle speed. Equally, the 12 speaker Mark Levinson sound system provides consistent audio quality whether the roof is up or down by instinctively adapting to the loss of bass during open-top driving.

In addition to front doors that are 11.8 inches longer than those of the IS sedan, a new one touch automatic mechanism provides easier entry and exit to the rear seats through a speedy front seat fold-and-slide activation. The centre console enhances rear seat comfort with built-in cup holders and adjustable seat height positions provide improved headroom while the slender profile of the front seats facilitates ample legroom. Customers can specify the type of leather and colour of seats with the option of a sporty two tone colour combination offering high contrast or unified chic tones available in the top of the range model.

Where safety is concerned, the IS300C has been designed to achieve a maximum five-star rating in both Euro and US NCAP crash testing, offering world-class safety in both coupe and convertible configurations. Following the example of the IS300 sedan, the IS300C benefits from the highest content of active and passive safety technology in the segment including Lexus's Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM). This incorporates Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) specifically tuned for an open body car which ensures shorter stopping distances on split friction road surfaces and a revised Pre-Crash Safety (PCS) system available in the top range model.

During open-top driving, safety performance is further improved with a new larger side airbag that provides specific head protection in the event of a side impact. The body shell has also been equipped with extra energy absorbing side impact pads to further protect front and rear seat occupants.

The luxurious dual mode coupe convertible IS300C is available in the UAE in two model versions, the Premium Plus and Luxury.

Mr. Dickerson concluded: "The launch of the IS300C is a clear demonstration of the strong level of support we receive from Lexus in Japan, having continued their high level of product development investment despite the global economic downturn. The Al-Futtaim Motors Lexus partnership remains committed to offering even more choice for luxury car buyers in the UAE and simultaneously strengthening our Lexus market-share in the region."