check it out...

Lexus

350 - 360 hp out of a 4.3 liter N/A v8, in a 3,300 lb car....can just see the new form of drag racing IS430 Vs. Caddy CTS-V, the luxury division

 

CVTv vs Lexus IS 430!

Wonder how the guys at Lincoln feel now that Ford gutted their LS performance entry which would have been out for 2004 (not to mention gutting the rest of their division's excellent development programs).

 

Yep, the IS430 has been rumored for over a year now, and now it's sounds like it's definitely on its way out.

I hope they keep pricing reasonable: as in under 40k nicely equipped. That'd be pretty damned nice. A car with muscle-car performance, 4 doors, and Lexus' reputation for both a smooth quiet ride and quality/reliability.

The 4.3 (3UZ-FE) is as close to bullet-proof as exists in this day and age too, so with a manual tranny I honestly think that's a 350-400k mile muscle/luxury car right there!

Cool stuff!

FWIW, CarTest 2000 says with an average driver and average conditions:
IS300: 0-60: 6.95 , 1/4-mile 15.54 @ 90.69 , Top Speed: 141 MPH
IS430: 0-60: 4.72 , 1/4-mile 13.44 @ 104.57 , Top Speed: 168 MPH
CTS: 0-60: 7.49 , 1/4-mile 15.95 @ 87.90 , Top Speed: 136 MPH
CTS-V: 0-60: 4.98 , 1/4-mile 13.52 @ 104.84 , Top Speed: 170 MPH

Looks like they'll be a pretty good match up!

(For comparison's sake CarTest2000 lists a 2002 Z06 at 12.84 @ 111.28 and Top Speed of 178 MPH. So obviously if there are people that make Z06s hit low 12s stock, then there are people and conditions that could probably get the IS430 and CTS-V in the high 12s stock.

 

Pretty cool... but are we ever going to get a more affordable muscle car again?

I heard someone argue that there is no market for a relatively inexpensive no frills V8 car.. The people that want the big V8's want the car also the be fully optioned and lux'd out... Or perhaps thats what the car manufacturs want us to buy, to help their CAFE avg's (less people buy the V8's) and charge alot extra $ for all the options and lux..

 

Is this the basis for the new Supra but with only 2 doors?

 

I am wondering why they used the words "muscle car" for this vehicle? I guess they are using the logic of taking an existing not-so-big car and putting a bigger engine in it.
I am thinking that these cars will not be that close in performance if the weight is similar. The 430 is supposed to have "350-360" so it is still behind by a lot and that is without throwing TQ into the mix. Also, there will be considerable added weight from the new hardware just as there was with the CTSv.

 

It seems so. The new Supra will be built on the IS300 platform and will have a V8. I hear rumors of a high output V6 model for the 350Z market. But that car is basically the new Supra.

 

So Toyota is definately making another Supra now? Its confirmed?

 

Yeah, but it's just not the same without the 2JZGTE.

 

The IS300 is built on a modified GS300/400 platform. I've yet to hear anything about the Supra being built on the same platform, but I guess it could be true.

One thing does seem to be factual, though... there will be a new Supra by the 2005 model year.