The Lexus IS (XE20) is the second generation of the Lexus IS line of compact executive cars and sport sedans. Sold by Lexus since 2005, the line includes multiple V6 gasoline-powered models, in four-door sedan and two-door convertible body styles. Additional sedan models also feature inline-four diesel powertrains, and an F marque version, the IS F, features a V8 engine. A pre-production car of the second generation IS model was first shown at the 2005 Geneva Auto Show, with the production version debuting at the 2005 New York Auto Show. The second generation was only available as a sedan until the two-door convertible variants debuted in 2008.

The IS is built on a shortened version of the midsize platform introduced for the third generation Lexus GS. The chief engineer of the second generation IS was Suguya Fukusato, a rally driver. The second generation IS is produced in Tahara, Aichi, and Miyawaka, Fukuoka, Japan. Unlike its predecessor, there is no equivalent Toyota-branded model sold in Japan. In most markets sold, the IS has served as the compact member of the Lexus lineup, and it was the smallest Lexus model until the CT 200h.

Contents

* 1 History of development

o 1.1 Exterior and interior

o 1.2 Safety systems

o 1.3 Technical features

o 1.4 Updates

* 2 Standard models

o 2.1 GSE20 / GSE21 (2005)

o 2.2 ALE20 / GSE22 (2006)

o 2.3 GSE20 / GSE21 (2008)

o 2.4 ALE20 (2010)

* 3 F marque models

o 3.1 USE20 (2007)

o 3.2 IS F concepts

o 3.3 IS F-Sport

* 4 Limited editions

o 4.1 IS 250 SR

o 4.2 IS 250 X

o 4.3 IS 350 C F-Sport

o 4.4 Japanese market

o 4.5 Neiman Marcus IS F

* 5 Motorsport

* 6 Technical specifications

o 6.1 Transmissions

* 7 Performance data

o 7.1 IS F

o 7.2 IS 250/IS 350

* 8 Awards

* 9 Gaming

* 10 References

o 10.1 Notes

o 10.2 Designations

* 11 External links

History of development

Exterior and interior

2008 Lexus IS 250 (GSE20; U.S.)

The second generation Lexus IS was the second debut of Lexus' new L-finesse design philosophy on a production vehicle, following the premiere of the 2006 Lexus GS performance sedan.The new IS design featured sleeker, coupe-like contours, a fastback profile, and a repeated arrowhead motif in the front fascia and side windows based on the Japanese concept of kirikaeshi, referring to angular movements. The forward design was reminiscent of the earlier Lexus LF-C coupe concept. Compared to its predecessor, the second generation IS was 3.5 inches (89 mm) longer and nearly 3 inches (76 mm) wider, largely due to a 2.3 inches (58 mm) wheelbase stretch. The grille was set at a lower level than the headlights. The new IS body resulted in a 0.28 Cd figure.

2007 Lexus IS 350 interior (GSE21; Japan)

The second generation IS interior features leather seats, lightsaber-like electroluminescent instrument display lighting and LED interior lighting accents, 10-way (including lumbar) driver and front passenger power seats, and the choice of faux-metallic or optional Bird's Eye Maple wood grain trim made by Yamaha piano craftsmen from sustainable plantations. The interior design also derived elements from Japanese concepts, including hazushi, where an object retains individuality while being part of a large whole, as typified in side air vents. Other available interior features include perforated leather seats, heated and ventilated front seats, power tilt/telescoping steering wheel, moonroof, electrochromic side view mirrors, power rear sunshade, and aluminum scuff plates.

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Aston Martin Rapide, one of the most anticipated cars in 2009, was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show 63rd. The elegant Aston Martin Rapide, functional and luxurious, offering space for up to four adults, combined with an engaging driving experience synonymous with all Aston Martin.

As the first production four-door sports brand, Aston Martin Rapide embodies the core values ​​of power, beauty and soul of four doors 'swan wing' to provide access to padded sports seats, front and rear, offering passengers with plenty of accommodation. 301 liters of luggage compartment offers plenty of room for all four passengers whether they are sports bags, or actually a set of skis, an Aston Martin, which can be enjoyed at any occasion, anytime, anywhere.
The environment in the back Aston Martin Rapide has been cleverly packaged to create a space where passengers feel part of the driving experience with a clear view to the front and sides. Comfort and support is provided as two individual seats trimmed by hand and the level of staff against a heating and air conditioning. Practical help for everyday use, the trunk has a movable partition to allow access to the cabin, while the rear seats fold at the touch of a button to create a flat cargo area increased from 301 liters luggage 750 liters.
At the heart of every Aston Martin is the evocative engine delivers power and torque evenly: Aston Martin Rapide is equipped with an engine hand-built 6.0-liter V12, 470 hp (477 hp / 350 kW) peak power delivered to 6000 rpm and 600 Nm (443 lbft) Most of torque at 5000 rpm. Just tuned six-speed Touchtronic 2 automatic transmission as standard, allowing the driver to change gear automatically or manually via steering column-mounted magnesium paddles.

The Honda Civic Type R already has a formidable reputation but the tuning experts at Mugen still think it could be improved. Sources in Japan divulged that Mugen has started development of a package for the model. Actually, the next Honda Civic Type R is believed to be its fastest version ever and is expected to be Honda’s first-ever turbo road car. The Type R is famous in the UK for its high-revving naturally aspirated engine and aggressive styling. To be able to comply with strict emissions standards, there will be some modifications.

A 2.0-litre turbo meant to comply with Euro V emissions regulations will be used instead of the 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine, according to AutoExpress. Honda’s 2012 British Touring Car Championship challenger will also be tweaked and will use a similar engine. Because of the turbo, there will be more torque lower in the rev range. This means that a higher gear can be used more frequently to improve efficiency. It’s also expected to have stop-start.

The Type R’s output will increase slightly to 210bhp, enabling the vehicle to accelerate from zero to 62mph in less than 6.5 seconds and to reach a top speed nearing 150mph. The Type R will feature the standard car’s front grille, slim headlights and LED daytime running lights. However, most of the bodywork will be uprated. It will appear more stunning with a front end with large mesh air intakes, a lower chin spoiler and chunky side skirts. It will be more stable at high speeds due to its rear diffuser and extended spoiler. To improve the balance in corners, it will have the standard Civic’s longer, wider chassis. As a result, ride comfort and grip are improved as well.

Source;

http://www.4wheelsnews.com/next-honda-civic-type-r-will-be-firms-first-ever-turbo-road-car/

Honda plans to reduce exports from Japan to as little as 10% of domestic production as the strong yen erodes earnings from overseas shipments.

Honda aims to sell 80% to 90% of Japan-made vehicles in its home market, spokeswoman Tomoko Uchida said. Last year, the carmaker shipped 310,254 vehicles, or 34% of its Japanese production, overseas.

Japanese carmakers including Honda, Toyota and Nissan are moving more production out of Japan to counter the effect of the strong yen. Honda plans to maintain domestic production of about 1 million vehicles a year, Uchida said, reiterating a previous statement by the company.

Source;
http://www.freep.com/article/20111006/BUSINESS01/110060539/Honda-cut-exports-from-Japan

Appetizers: Life in the automotive B-segment can be piquant, almost zesty. Choose wrong, however, and you’re in for beans on toast.
BY JOHN PHILLIPS, PHOTOGRAPHY BY CJ BENNINGER September 2011

In the automotive time/space continuum, life first pokes its head out of the primordial pea soup in the B-segment. Some of its denizens are slowpoke slugs with nubs for legs. Others are beginning to sprout wings and dazzling plumage. It’s a mixed bag, with the brightest of its Darwinian candidates evolving at light speed and with the dullest apparently content to linger listlessly in dodo-dom. Selection of the fittest, here, means that shoppers do the selecting, and—as we found out—they’d better do it pretty damned carefully.

We’ve spent time aplenty sampling the bargain Bs. In 2006 (“$15,000 Cheap Skates”), we droned around Ohio celebrating the Buckeye state’s seven dead and oft-maligned presidents. On that trip, the Honda Fit easily won. We revisited the segment in 2010 (“Ego Shrinkers”), only to elect the Fit again to the segment’s highest office, nudging out the Mazda 2 Touring and Ford Fiesta SES. As a result, those two weren’t included in this competition. Yeah, we know, maybe they should have been. We’ll confess that neither would have finished anywhere near last in this face-off. But we gotta draw the line somewhere. Have you seen our restaurant tabs? There’s the food, the alcohol, the pre-arraignment hearings, the occasional small hotel fire.

Our destination was Drummond Island offMichigan’s Upper Peninsula, 700 miles there and back. The island is usually a sleepy place with largely deserted humpy roads that kink through forests inhabited by malevolent-looking pileated woodpeckers. But the island is also home to Drummond Island Resort’s Bayside Dining, renowned for its artful and aromatic appetizers, woodpecker under glass not on offer.

“You spent $135 on lamb hors d’oeuvres?” asked our T&E minder.

“Well, sort of. At first we ordered just one, but a fight broke out.”

When the resort’s executive chef, Frank Jones, heard we’d be touring the environs in econoboxes, he vowed to enliven our travels by fashioning six tasteful and photogenic appetizers, one per car, supplying some gusto where, for instance, the Nissan Versa offered none. Jones promised two appetizers of his own contrivance, with sous-chefs Scott Bousson and Zachary Schroeder contributing likewise, no doubt hoping we’d decree their creations superior to their boss’s. We did not. Chef Jones runs a disciplined kitchen—no hijinks, no insubordination, and, unlike us, no fires.

Folks who buy these B-segment cars usually do so because they can’t afford the entrée. That’s okay. These are apps that will satisfy on their own.

6th Place: 2012 Nissan Versa SL

Highs: A back seat that actually accommodates three adults—briefly.
Lows: You want us to start alphabetically?
The Verdict: Here, again, is that age-old argument for buying used.
Full write up;
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparisons/11q3/chevy_sonic_vs._honda_fit_hyundai_accent_kia_rio5_nissan_versa_toyota_yaris-comparison_tests/2012_nissan_versa_sl_page_2

5th Place: 2012 Kia Rio5 SX

Highs: Laden with features and amenities, above-its-station interior styling.
Lows: Imprecise handling, automatic trans sucks the life out of the twin-cam.
The Verdict: A value-packed ’round-town scooter that looks the part more than it plays the part.
For the full write up;
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparisons/11q3/chevy_sonic_vs._honda_fit_hyundai_accent_kia_rio5_nissan_versa_toyota_yaris-comparison_tests/2012_kia_rio5_sx_page_3

4th Place: 2012 Hyundai Accent SE

Highs: Silky idle, an accelerative standout, useful long-distance cruiser.
Lows: Mystery Hill steering, obscured rear sightlines, pogo-stick body motions.
The Verdict: A terrific value that, dynamically, remains too fair-to-middling in all of its moves.
For the rest of the write up;
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparisons/11q3/chevy_sonic_vs._honda_fit_hyundai_accent_kia_rio5_nissan_versa_toyota_yaris-comparison_tests/2012_hyundai_accent_se_page_4

3rd Place: 2012 Toyota Yaris SE

Highs: Enthusiastic styling inside and out, light, agile, willing.
Lows: Needs a sixth gear, driver’s seating position is seriously compromised.
The Verdict: Stick with the SE’s sport-tuned suspension, and the Yaris finally leaks some fun.
For the rest of the write up;
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparisons/11q3/chevy_sonic_vs._honda_fit_hyundai_accent_kia_rio5_nissan_versa_toyota_yaris-comparison_tests/2012_toyota_yaris_se_page_5

2nd Place: 2012 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ Turbo

Highs: Pugnacious styling, 138 turbocharged horses, serious grip, satisfying ergonomics.
Lows: Could already go on a diet—both for its weight and for its price.
The Verdict: Elegantly and easily relegates the awful Aveo to distant-memory status.
For the rest of the write up;
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparisons/11q3/chevy_sonic_vs._honda_fit_hyundai_accent_kia_rio5_nissan_versa_toyota_yaris-comparison_tests/2012_chevrolet_sonic_ltz_turbo_page_6

1st Place: 2011 Honda Fit Sport

Highs: No-secrets steering, amazing cargo capacity, fun shifter, airy cockpit.
Lows: Wants a sixth gear, buzzy at freeway speeds, could do with some interior texture upgrades.
The Verdict: Since 2006, Honda’s been the judge, jury, and prosecutor in this segment.

A trifecta of goodness, the Fit still owns the B-segment. As mobile appetizers go, this one's a corker. Buy two, and you'll have a full entrée.

Like bruschetta, the Fit is a familiar favorite, returning to its third B-segment comparo and again strutting off with trophies and attaboys. Climbing into the Fit is like strapping on a greenhouse. This is the tallest car in the group, and its minivansized windshield (aided by big portholes under the A-pillars) delivers 180 degrees of glorious worldview. When you can see way, way down the road, driving like a madman takes far less concentration.

With its informative steering, quick shifter, and stern roll control, the Fit devoured our slalom at the highest speed, and when it came time to whoa, its brake pedal was the easiest to modulate. That the Honda won fun-to-drive kudos surprised no one. Of course, fun is often the enemy of usefulness, but with its folding rear seat dropped to the load floor, the Fit also managed to swallow the most cargo in this group.

The chief fault, here, is that, like the Yaris, the Fit needs a sixth gear. At freeway speeds, the engine isn’t exactly screaming, but it’s definitely calling urgently at 3500 to 4000 revs. It’s a shame because the engine is otherwise an angel—quietest at idle, quietest at full throttle. Of course, our test car was a 2011 model. The 2012 Sport promises additional sound insulation, thicker front quarter-windows, new upholstery, and a few classier cabin surfaces.

Best fit and finish, tied for best ergonomics, tied for the quickest to 30 mph... well, we’ve listed all these character proficiencies before. The Fit is a spicy and tasteful little runabout that knows exactly what it needs to be, then delivers the pesto, presto.

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Pure gold....
A would-be car thief in Prince George, B.C., has learned a powerful lesson from a powerless car.
He now knows that the Corvette he tried to steal on Sunday afternoon becomes nothing more than a four-wheeled holding cell when the battery dies.

RCMP Sgt. Jason Keays told the Prince George Citizen the 21-year-old (Brent Jameson Morgan) jumped into the idling Corvette just as the owner was putting away a charger used to revive the sports car's dead battery.

The owner watched in disbelief as the thief rolled up the power windows, locked the power doors — and promptly stalled the vehicle while trying to back out of the driveway.

Without enough juice in the battery to restart the car, the suspect was trapped inside as the Corvette withstood his efforts to smash a window or pry one open with a screwdriver.

As police arrived, Keays says the man was trying to bash his way out with a hatchet stored in his backpack, but instead was arrested and charged with various theft and weapons offences.

Source;
http://www.cbc.ca/news/Canada/British-Columbia/story/2011/10/24/bc-corvette-thief-stall.html

 Amidst the beauty and history of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, Cadillac car enthusiasts is a world premiere of his latest design of cars. 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon makes its debut on the Monterey Peninsula, with a dramatic design that elevates and updates the classic wagon body.





Not unlike many historic Cadillac designs, the new Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon is an undeniable presence and dynamic. Finely cut the car in the rear profile syringes avant-garde design in the world once utilitarian cars. Charrette next Cadillac offers ample interior space and includes a series of choices of six-cylinder engines, making it a compelling alternative to larger utility vehicles.
Based on the hot-selling CTS sport sedan, and a sister vehicle Cadillac CTS Coupe Concept extends Sportwagon design-driven renaissance of Cadillac. This first special Pebble Beach, the Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon moves to the world circuit of the Motor Show in autumn - and Cadillac dealerships in spring 2009.
"The addition of the Sport Wagon is designed dramatically synchronized with the changing tastes of consumers today as an alternative to SUVs and other larger vehicles," said Jim Taylor, Cadillac general manager. "This is an important step in Cadillac's global expansion in progress, and of course in international markets like Europe, wagons have been and remain very important."

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