Quote:
Originally Posted by Inv4drZm
Are you saying the Mazda 3 series is in a different performance ballpark than the new Supra motor?
Got it, Tesla model 3, nevermind.
I don't see why an IS lexus needs to be ridiculous fast, they never have been.
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Model 3. M3. Mazda 3 and BMW M3 all gets kinda confusing. But I was meaning Model 3.
I agree that it doesn't need to be ridiculously fast. But the Model 3 isn't really a sports car either. The goal posts have moved. 5 seconds 0-60 just isn't "fast" anymore in sport sedans. For me at least the Model 3 is the benchmark for modern mid range performance sedan. Starts at $37k and the base model is around 5 seconds 0-60. For $55k you get an awd sedan that can do a 3 second 0-60 and 11.5 quarter mile. And they actually handle pretty well too.
If the next gen IS is going to be a competitive car - it will exist in the same market as the Model 3. The next generation of EVs are all going to offer similar performance. So if the IS is going to continue to exist, it needs to be a lot better than it is now. I had an 07 IS and really liked it. Dealer employee conveniently parked it outside of the fence for overnight service and I'm pretty sure the same employee who parked it outside also came back after hours and stripped the interior - like really stripped including taking the interior door panels, the entire center console all the way to the carpet plus the dash panels and parts. That's why we got rid of it, not because it wasn't a great car.
It's crazy to see that they're still sticking with the same engine though now that it's 13 years later. It's still got to be sporty by modern sport sedan standards. The ES is a better luxury sedan. The TLX is now 355hp. So - at least for me - a new N/A I6 isn't going to move the needle much on IS sales. A turbo I6 with 400hp? maybe. But BMW is struggling to move 3 series too as a result of Tesla's competition. A PHEV IS with 450hp? - that would sell a lot better in my view. It's the only way I'd probably take another look at one.