LEXUS LAUNCHES ALL-NEW IS250

After a protracted unveiling including display at last month's Australian International Motor Show in Sydney, the all-new Lexus IS250 has been officially released Down Under.

Priced from $53,890, the IS250 is powered by 2.5-litre DOHC V6 which develops a claimed 153kW of power and 252Nm of torque. Two transmission options are offered, either manual or sequential automatic. Both are six-speeders.

The compact four-door sedan is aimed four square at the likes of Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Audi A4 and BMW's class creator, 3 Series...

The new Lexus replaces the popular IS200 and IS300 models and will be available in three configurations: IS250, IS250 Sports and IS250 Sports Luxury, each with increasing levels of specification.

Lexus says its global sales targets for the new IS series are well in excess of the average 23,000 per annum production currently driven by the outgoing IS200/300 series.

"IS250 enters the prestige and luxury market at a time of intense change," Lexus Australia divisional manager Scott Grant said. "Two of its major rivals have launched new vehicles this year."

Lexus says pre-launch clinics with potential buyers globally had been positive.

"The first-generation IS line did a lot to establish Lexus and to provide a springboard for owners to move up through the Lexus range," Mr Grant said.

"The new IS series will both be a springboard and a destination in its own right," he said.

Lexus has also announced the ES300 will be discontinued. The front-wheel-drive ES was once (perhaps unkindly) christened the world's most expensive Camry.

Look for CarPoint's launch coverage of the all-new Lexus IS250 next week.