MK1 Lexus IS engine choices

[Xerces]

Quick question chaps.

My mate has just bought a 52 plate IS 2.0 Sport. He is certain that the Sport model comes with a V6 engine from the Toyota Camry as apposed to an I6 like the rest of the range.

I thought he was talking BS so had a look under the bonnet, my plan was to see if the engine has 6 exhaust ports in a row but due to heat sheilding everywhere it was hard to say for sure.

I could be wrong myself, his logbook says V6 on it and the engine doesnt look particularly long if it is a I6 (compared to the one in my BMW for example) but im sure they didnt even make one in this country.

Havent had a drive in it yet so cant comment on the engine sound.

Any thoughts?

[nottyash]

I thought it was a straight 6 2.0 in the UK with a boring 150bhp, and later there was a 3.0 version, but I think it was auto only and about 200bhp.
If I remember right in Japan they had a Turbo version, 4WD etc called an Altezza? Someone will be along to correct me Im sure.

[GravelBen]

Lexus IS200 = 2.0 straight-6
Lexus IS300 = 3.0 straight 6, iirc only available in auto wagon form. Some were 4wd too from memory.
Toyota Altezza RS200 = 2.0 BEAMS 3S-GE 4-pot, revvy 200bhp
Toyota Altezza AS200 = 2.0 straight-6

Edited by GravelBen on Monday 10th August 07:03

[Xerces]

Thats what i thought! I just wondered if they had made a special edition, cant see the logic when it has the same power as the rest of the range.

Hes very touchy about the suggestion he has a I6 rather than a V6 - now how to a prove it to him without any doubt?

Edited by Xerces on Sunday 9th August 21:58

[gareth_r]

GravelBen said:

Lexus IS300 = 3.0 straight 6, iirc only available in auto wagon form. Some were 4wd too from memory.

Saloon and "Sportcross" (estate). Don't think any were 4WD.
I always found it odd that Toyota sold a manual IS300 in the US, but not over here.

Edited by gareth_r on Monday 10th August 00:07

[Alfa_75_Steve]

Xerces said:

Thats what i thought! I just wondered if they had made a special edition, cant see the logic when it has the same power as the rest of the range.

Hes very touchy about the suggestion he has a I6 rather than a V6 - now how to a prove it to him without any doubt?

Pop open the bonnet and show him the inline 6...

[fluffnik]

GravelBen said:

Toyota Altezza = 2.0 BEAMS 3S-GE 4-pot, revvy 200bhp

210 revvy bhp, 6speed manual or 5-speed tiptronic...

I'd say the Altezza RS200 with the BEAMS 4-pot is the only variant with the go to match the show.

[Xerces]

Alfa_75_Steve said:

Xerces said:

Thats what i thought! I just wondered if they had made a special edition, cant see the logic when it has the same power as the rest of the range.

Hes very touchy about the suggestion he has a I6 rather than a V6 - now how to a prove it to him without any doubt?

Pop open the bonnet and show him the inline 6...

How do i prove its an inline six though?

[GravelBen]

gareth_r said:

GravelBen said:

Lexus IS300 = 3.0 straight 6, iirc only available in auto wagon form. Some were 4wd too from memory.

Saloon and "Sportcross" (estate). Don't think any were 4WD.
I always found it odd that Toyota sold a manual IS300 in the US, but not over here.

The Altezza wagon (estate to you ) was available with 4wd for some models:

http://english.auto.vl.ru/catalog/toyota/altezza_w...

The JDM Altezza sedan never had a 3L option, the wagon version was auto only - that is odd if the USA got a manual version and 3L sedan when the Japanese market didn't.

FWIW even the RS200 isn't that quick as standard - they go ok once the revs are up but aren't that torquey low down for the weight of the car. A mate has recently applied some boost to his, 280bhp at the wheels should prove more entertaining.

Edited by GravelBen on Monday 10th August 07:00

[CrisW]

Xerces said:

Alfa_75_Steve said:

Xerces said:

Thats what i thought! I just wondered if they had made a special edition, cant see the logic when it has the same power as the rest of the range.

Hes very touchy about the suggestion he has a I6 rather than a V6 - now how to a prove it to him without any doubt?

Pop open the bonnet and show him the inline 6...

How do i prove its an inline six though?

If it's covered in cladding then remove the cladding. v6 will have two banks of cylinders, inline six will have only one.

Simples!

[gareth_r]

GravelBen said:

... that is odd if the USA got a manual version and 3L sedan when the Japanese market didn't....

They did the same thing with the SC/Soarer. The US-market SC300 was available in manual form as well as auto, but the equivalent JDM Soarer was auto only.

Edited by gareth_r on Tuesday 11th August 00:15

[gareth_r]

Xerces said:

...He's very touchy about the suggestion he has a I6 rather than a V6...

Explain that a straight 6 is inherently better balanced than a V6 and is a much classier engine.

"Proper" cars have straight sixes or V12s.

Edited by gareth_r on Tuesday 11th August 00:23