25 October 2002: A 2-litre derivative of the Lexus IS300 SportCross introduced here some time ago has been launched in Ireland and is expected to increase seven-fold sales here of the SportCross.

The car retails for E40,600, only E800 more than the IS200 saloon responsible for more than half of all Lexus sales in this market.

The SportCross has a coupe-style rear, and incorporates all the improvements made to the IS range this year, including improved low-end torque in the engine and some detail improvements to the interior finish.

The IS200 SportCross comes with a 6-speed manual gearbox mated to its 155bhp 6-cylinder inline engine. Lexus Ireland’s MD Mark Teevan said yesterday that there are no plans to provide an automatic option.

A number of option packs are available. The ‘Visibility Pack’ adds a windshield de-icer, HID auto-levelling headlamps, headlamp washers and electrochromic mirrors, for E1,610. An ‘Executive Pack’ adds full leather upholstery, leather gearshift knob, heated seats, electrically adjustable front seats, walnut wood inserts on the doors, and a premium 9-speaker audio system for E4,225. An electric tilt-and-slide moonroof costs an extra E1,705.

With a 51/49 front/rear weight ratio, the car has almost perfect balance, and the creation of a complete new rear end, with an aluminium tailgate, has added on;y 3.5 per cent to the weight over the original saloon.

The new construction also required reinforcement of the A-pillar of the car, at scuttle level, and the provision of a resin block in the structure behind the front wheel at floor level has also reduced the potential for lower limb injuries in a crash.

Other safety improvements include a fuel pump cutoff system which operates when an airbag is deployed.

Describing Lexus as ‘the young premium brand’, Mark Teevan noted that just five years ago there were only two Lexus models, but today there are five distinct ‘families’ of cars in the range.

He said that the rapid expansion of the brand over those five years had been largely due to the arrival of the new models, and he told IrishCar.Com that the strategy over the next few years would now build on that to broaden the customer base.

Meanwhile, on the company’s ‘icon model’ SC430 (below), introduced last year, he said all 49 owners here have been invited to have modifications to their cars to improve the suspension and handling characteristics, in line with a world-wide revision of the car. The modifications include replacement of the original ‘run-flat’ tyres, the provision of a spare wheel, and the installation of new suspension components.

The changes have been made on the company’s demonstrator vehicle here and each owner will be given a chance to drive it and see if they want the modifications carried out.

“One of the things that has distinguished Lexus since the brand was established is customer service,” Teevan said. “This is an example of the care we have for our customers.”