These are the first official images of the Lexus IS 250C Coupe-Convertible that is making its world premiere in production form at the Paris Motor Show. The first ever drop-top IS features a three-part roof constructed entirely in lightweight aluminum and according to the Japanese firm, it’s the fastest of its kind with an opening time of just 20 seconds. The Paris show car is equipped with the IS 250’s 204 HP 2.5-liter V6 engine hooked up with a 6-speed manual gearbox, but expect to see more powertrain options when the IS C goes on sale on both sides of the Atlantic in the summer of 2009.
The four-seater drop-top’s design language is of course carried over from the IS sedan but Lexus redid the rear end of the car which is suspiciously reminiscent of BMW’s 1-Series Convertible. Lexus says that only the IS 250C’s bonnet, headlamps, door handles and mirrors are common to the IS sedan and we have no reason not to believe them. Judging by the pictures, we’d say that overall, the IS 250 C looks neat regardless of the position of the roof.
Inside, apart from the four-seat arrangement and the roll bars behind the rear passengers’ headrests, the only significant difference between the sedan and the coupe-convertible is the driver’s instrument binnacle which has been revised to increase visibility.
Stay tuned on Carscoop as we’ll have more information and pictures on the IS 250 C straight from Lexus’ Paris Motor Show booth.
