By FRANK A. AUKOFER
Scripps Howard News Service The 2010 Lexus IS C is at once both familiar and strange.
It is familiar as the entry-level car in the lineup of the Japanese luxury manufacturer, which is part of Toyota.
It is strange because it is a hardtop convertible that shares almost nothing visually with its sedan counterpart, although they have common mechanical components.
Like the sedan, the new rear-wheel drive IS convertible comes with two power trains: the IS 250C, with a 204-horsepower, 2.5-liter V6 engine, and the IS 350C, with a 300-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6.
The former can be ordered with a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed automatic transmission with a manual-shift mode that includes steering-wheel paddles. It has a starting price of $40,535, and with popular options the test car had a sticker price of $46,430.
The 350 comes only with the automatic and paddle shifters because the manual could not handle the bigger engine's power. Also, of course, very few buyers will order the manual, and they are likely to have more of a low-budget enthusiast's outlook.
The 250 with the stick shift is a nice package, although it is saddled with the worst fuel economy of the three models. Its EPA city/highway rating is 18/26 miles to the gallon, while the 250 automatic is rated at 21/29 and the more powerful 350 manages 18/25.
Still, the 250 stick adds a dollop of involvement and fun despite a shift linkage that is vaguely sloppy and a clutch that is borderline grabby. But it gives Lexus a competitor to the BMW 3-Series hardtop convertible, which also offers a manual.
Of the two automatic versions, the 350 likely would be the vehicle of choice for people who just have to have the most powerful model available. It scoots to 60 miles an hour in 5.8 seconds, according to Lexus test figures, with a top speed of 141.
The 250, which is nearly 400 pounds heavier than its sedan counterpart, is way slower at 8.4 seconds and a top speed of 131. On steep hills, it sometimes struggles as the transmission downshifts to maintain momentum. If you must have the more powerful 350, it will cost you an additional $4,280 and you can easily run the price up to nearly $55,000.
But the appeal of cars in this category lies more in leisurely beach-area cruising than all-out stoplight acceleration runs. Where they shine is on twisting, traffic-free two lane roads on a sunny day that is not too hot.
The IS C is the latest in a growing group of convertibles that feature metal folding tops. They include Lexus's own SC, Cadillac XLR, BMW 3-Series and Z4 sports car, Infiniti G37, Volkswagen Eos, Mazda MX-5, Chrysler Sebring, Mercedes-Benz SL and SLK, and Volvo C70.
They have the obvious advantage of providing a snug, coupe-like driving environment with the top up, with an open car just seconds away at the push of a button. The downside is that they are complicated -- the IS C's top, for example, uses 15 electric motors and 37 sensors. And no matter how you tuck them away, trunk space is severely restricted.
However, the IS C is somewhat better than most. With the top up, it has a generous 11 cubic feet of space in the trunk, or about what you find in compact cars. With the top folded away, there's a little more than two cubic feet. But that space is accessible and it can hold a couple of small bags. On some other hard top convertibles, there's no space at all with the top folded.
Up front inside, the seating position is relatively low, with a high belt line so you can't drive with your left elbow hanging over the top of the door. Wind buffeting is negligible unless it's a windy day, and there's an optional wind blocker if you want to cut the turbulence even further.
Cowl shake -- that dreaded wiggling of the steering wheel on rough surfaces that has been the common bane of many a convertible -- is virtually non-existent on the SC. Even that slight amount goes away with the top up.
It takes about 20 seconds to raise or lower the top. With the top up, the ambiance is like that of a secure sedan or coupe with little wind, road or mechanical noise.
The front seats offer support and comfort, and if you have the memory seat option they move forward at the touch of a button to provide access to the back seat. But getting there, especially with the top up, still requires the athletic moves of a contortionist. However, once there, the two seats can accommodate smaller adults as long as the folks up front are willing to move their seats forward a bit.
As befits a luxury vehicle the IS C models have full safety equipment, though no side-curtain airbags, and are available with an array of pricey options like navigation, radar cruise control and an over-achieving Mark Levinson audio system with satellite radio.
Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service. For more columns, go to scrippsnews.com
