In the process of creating a convertible out of the IS sedan, the engineers at Lexus had to create almost an entirely new car. The only exterior body panel carried over from the four door is the hood. Everything else has been reworked to create a two door, open top body. Since the IS is a unit-body car cutting off the roof removes a significant part of the structure. That means the structure has to be added back somewhere else.



In this case Lexus beefed up the structure around the front of the doors, the windshield frame along the rocker panels. Large new cross-members were added under the rear seat cushion and behind the seat head rests. That rear beam features a pair of fixed steel roll-bars in the unlikely event that the IS goes wheels up.



In spite of the new body work, the IS convertible is still immediately recognizable as part of the IS and Lexus families. The air intake under the front bumper is now narrower and more rectangular while the fog-lamp pockets are wider and deeper. At the back end of the car, the tail-lights and rear bumper are also re-shaped. Along the flanks the most noticeable difference below the belt-line is obviously the number of doors.

Besides cutting the number in half, the lower edge of the door is significantly higher on the convertible. This is the result of the strengthened rocker panels which means a bit more step-over with the taller, wider sill. In open air mode, the top stows completely below the ridged rear deck. Like many other contemporary luxury convertibles, the IS uses a rigid roof the splits into two main segments plus the rear window glass.



This setup has advantages and drawbacks. On the plus side when it's up the interior of the IS as quiet as any other Lexus with no flapping fabric at higher speeds. Splitting the top in three segments means that the individual parts aren't as long those of the two piece top on the Lexus SC430 and thus require less space to store. That provides a huge aesthetic advantage compared to the SC and many other four seat convertibles. Instead of the awkward looking long rear deck and short cabin, the look is much more conventional.



While the SC has rear "seats" they are really nothing more than a leather clad package shelf with zero leg room. The rear compartment of the IS is actually usable at least for shorter trips. A pair of adults can sit in reasonable comfort as long as they don't stretch much more than 6 feet tall. The seats have been shifted a bit toward the center of the car which helps give head clearance when the top is up.

No matter how many pieces you split the top into, it still doesn't fold as compactly as a soft top. Thus it consumes almost all of the space in trunk. With the top down, a mere 2.3 cubic feet remains which could theoretically hold a single golf bag as long as it isn't too bulky. The top goes through its motions quickly and quietly. Rather than the usual mess of hydraulics, the IS roof is completely operated by electric motors.



Our test car had the optional blue and white leather seating surfaces with dark gray and white covering the rest of the interior. In typical Lexus fashion, the interior fit and finish is immaculate. The front seats are comfortable and supportive and leather is soft to the touch.

The IS-C is available with one of two V6 engines in either 2.5-liter or 3.5-liter displacements and all models get 6-speed transmissions. The IS250 is available with either a manual or automatic while the IS350 is automatic only. The automatic transmission models get standard paddle shifters on the back side of the thick rimmed steering wheel. The 204 hp 2.5-liter accelerates the IS convertible to 60 mph in a modest 8.4 seconds while the stronger 3.5-liter gets there in a much more brisk feeling 5.8 seconds.



Regardless of the engine choice, the IS is a smooth running cruiser. The steering is moderately weighted but doesn't give a great deal of feedback. That's actually not much of a problem since the IS isn't tuned as a sports car nor does it feel like one. In spite of all the chassis reinforcements the IS still exhibits noticeable shake in the windshield frame when traversing some of the larger bumps, heaves and potholes that mark Michigan roads. While the IS isn't as solid as some convertibles, it doesn't flex as much as some others.



The IS is a good way to cruise down to the beach or out to dinner. It also comes with a fairly reasonable price tag with the IS250 manual starting at $38,490 while the more powerful IS350 goes for $43,940. Lexus hopes to sell about 1,000 IS convertibles per month when it goes on sale this summer.



Photos Copyright ©2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.