A sporty model that IS refined; Lexus have improvedon the well-known luxury look and feel of their saloon, reports MALCOLM ROBERTSHAW.Byline: MALCOLM ROBERTSHAW THE label "sports saloon"is considered by many to be a contradiction in terms Noun 1. contradiction in terms - (logic) a statement that is necessarily false; "the statement `he is brave and he is not brave' is a contradiction" contradiction logic - the branch of philosophy that analyzes inference - but there are a number of options for drivers looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. a comfortable yet sporty performer. One example is the Lexus IS “Altezza” redirects here. For the type of after-market vehicle lights, see Altezza lights. The Lexus IS is a series of entry-level luxury cars/compact executive cars produced by the Lexus marque of Toyota Motor Corporation. , which iswell-established as the Japanese executive car maker's top-selling model inEurope. It is acclaimed by pundits and owners alike for its superb driving dynamics, generous spec and fine quality materials. The IS was given a facelift at the start of the year that has further enhanced the legendaryLexus luxury look and feel. It not only looks sharper than before but also comes with additional kit and added safety provisions. Onthe outside, the IS gained a new front bumper, larger door mirrors with integrated indicator lamps, tweaked rear lighting clusters and new alloys. Changes to the inside have been limited to minor adjustments of switches on the centre console and a slight toning down of interior fabrics and trim finishes. Needless to say, build quality continues to be of the highest order. Even though it's the entry-level model, the SE features the likes of climate control, a 13-speaker sound system with six-disc CD autochanger See autoloader. and MP3 compatibility, steering wheel controls, cruise control See adaptive cruise control. , and electrically adjustable folding and heated door mirrors. It also has a keyless entry keyless entry: see lock and key. system and push-button (electronics) push-button - A roughly fingertip-sized plastic cover attached to a spring-loaded, normally-open switch, which, when pressed, closes the switch. Typical examples are the keys on a computer or calculator keyboard and mouse buttons. start. Safety, too, has been well taken care of, with 10 airbags fitted on all models. Driver aids include a full set of electronic control systems such as ABS braking with brake assist and electronic brake force distribution, vehicle stability control and traction control. Sharing the same luxury saloon platform as the Lexus GS, the IS offers generous space both front and rear. However, should you happen to be in the middle of the rear seat set-up, you may find the transmission tunnel something of a handicap. Mytest car came powered by a 2.2-litre diesel engine paired with a smoothslotting, six-speed manual gear change. This all-aluminium, four-cylinder unit delivers 175bhp at 3600rpm and enables the IS to cover the 0-62mph dash in less than nine seconds. The 2009 version also establishes the IS 220d as one of the cleanest premium oil burners on our roads by reducing CO2 emissions from 163 to 148g/km. Its combined fuel economy figure has also been improved from 46.3mpg to 50.4mpg. With a low centre of gravity centre of gravity Noun the point in an object around which its mass is evenly distributed Noun 1. centre of gravity combining well with the sophisticated suspension, anincrease in torsional tor·sion n. 1. a. The act of twisting or turning. b. The condition of being twisted or turned. 2. stiffness and informative electric power steering Electric power steering (EPS or EPAS) is designed to use an electric motor to reduce effort by providing assist to the driver of a vehicle. Most EPS systems have variable assist, which allows for more assistance as the speed of a vehicle decreases and less assistance , the Lexus IS produces a dynamically sporty performance. Handling is well balanced and there's plenty of grip. Overall, the IS is well versed in the legendary Lexus feeling of being quietly comfortable and refined when on the move. Factfile: Model: Lexus IS 220d SE Engine: 2.2-litre diesel Power: 175bhp Top speed: 135mph 0-62mph: 8.9 seconds Fuel economy: 50.4mpg CO2 emissions: 148g/km Warranty: Three years/60,000 miles Price: pounds 23,060 On sale: Now CAPTION(S): PREMIUM CLASS: The Lexus IS looks a lot sharper after its recent facelift while the build quality remains top-notch. A sat-nav pack, with a seven-inch display, touch-screenoperation, Bluetoothconnectivity and a rear parking monitor, is available as a pounds 1825 option on the SE model |
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