[mjmonjure]

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Lexus IS Chief Engineer admits that BMW is the one to beat.

Motor Trend magazine interviewed Junichi Furuyama, the new Chief Engineer of the Lexus IS about the new IS.

"My mission is to overtake the BMW 3-Series as number one in the compact sedan category," says Furuyama. "That is the way I see it. That is the task we are assigned."

Furuyama admits that the previous IS fell short in the performance department.

"As soon as I was assigned to be IS chief engineers of the IS, I drove all the rival cars and studies all the differences," he says. "Unfortunately, while I thought the IS was one of the sportier and more enjoyable cars in this segment, I found out that the BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class were actually a few steps ahead of us. That was my initial feeling."

Also see: Just Revealed 2014 Lexus IS F-Sport Compared to BMW F30 3 Series M Sport

Not really surprising..

[JoeyO]

I viewed it and didn't get anything out of it. Much like Lexus cars.

He didn't really reveal anything different that every other car company already knows.

[ducatiboy72]

To beat BMW they have to come up with something that looks better than this. This must be a candidate for the worlds most ugly car!

[clarence]

More of the same, lots of carried over tech.

[DrivenByE30]

Great video...

a compliment to BMW, done by Lexus

[pkim1079]

This car actually is starting to look pretty good. Wonder what the isf would look.

[newbmwuser]

white looks ugly, black actually looks decent.

but I love Lexus, their quality, company ethics, pretty much everything (except that damn steering), good job lexus.

[Ron Scott]

Yeah, black looks pretty good; it hides the dopey open-mouth Audi look on the front-end.

Give it time and Lexus or Caddy has the best shot at taking the top spot from BMW. I'm not sure they'll do it, but compared to Audi, Infinity or MB they'll be the contendas...

[discoboy1]

to it looks like somebody designed the front, someone else the back and an other guy blended everything together... there is no flow in this car....not for me.
The engineer tells how much they analysed what is fun to drive but never said they succeeded to make that car fun....

[SCBimmerKid]

I didn't like the press pictures at all but it seems to look much better in real life driving. I'm liking the LEDs in the front on the black. Very stealth.

[bthuss]

i said this before, but the interior of that car is dated about 20 years back in design. not only that, nothing flows. just the angles of the nav to center stack and then curved vents jutting out.

now, it might drive great, but i for one could not live with looking at the inside of this car.

i say the same thing when i get in my old neighbors RX350.

[robbieracer]

My wife love's her 2006 IS250; bought it in late 2005. We're looking for replacement cars. We test drove the 328 a couple times last year and she liked it but really wanted to hold out and see the new IS. Well, she's very disappointed and crossed the IS off her list. It looks horrible, too aggressive for her taste, probably geared toward male drivers. We'll most likely go with a 3 series (hopefully diesel), or the new MB CLA.

[300hp]

The new IS350 weighs 3700lbs. That's as much as my x drive and the AH3. On paper it's already failed.

[wai2sexy]

anyone else think the front looks like an electric shaver?

[ATX78703]

Originally Posted by mjmonjure

Lexus IS Chief Engineer admits that BMW is the one to beat.

Motor Trend magazine interviewed Junichi Furuyama, the new Chief Engineer of the Lexus IS about the new IS.

"My mission is to overtake the BMW 3-Series as number one in the compact sedan category," says Furuyama. "That is the way I see it. That is the task we are assigned."

Furuyama admits that the previous IS fell short in the performance department.

which is why we are carrying over the same engines from the last generation IS, which is probably #3 or #4 at best in the compact luxury/sport sedan category.

[Teemo Panda]

Sigh, I like how other car companies are gunning for the 3-series instead of doing something original.

[kevlartoronto]

to beat bmw they need to provide transmission options and competitive engine options. that 2.5 v6 is a real, dog in every regard.

[catherinelam]

i dont think this goal is realistic, but they can try!

[phillyboy328]

Originally Posted by kevlartoronto

to beat bmw they need to provide transmission options and competitive engine options. that 2.5 v6 is a real, dog in every regard.

It's god awful ugly at very angle...the interior is perhaps the ugliest part of this car! It reminds me of the 80's Toyota Cressida. the 2nd generation IS wasn't a half bad car for a first attempt to TRY and rival the 3 series, this thing makes the Acura TL look gorgeous. no thanks Lexus I will stick the BMW

[Vinsanity12]

Originally Posted by discoboy1

to it looks like somebody designed the front, someone else the back and an other guy blended everything together... there is no flow in this car....not for me.
The engineer tells how much they analysed what is fun to drive but never said they succeeded to make that car fun....

I agree 100% the only angle of the car I like is the front. The rest of it looks terrible. The sides look unchanged and the tail lights are too anime for me. I owned the previous IS 350 and it was a nice car but this is just not enough positive change to come close to the 3 series. If anything they have fallen further behind.

[alex2364]

I didn't view the video, but did he really use the words, "once again to try to overtake BMW 3 Series"? They have never overtook the 3 Series to begin with.

[Carnook]

That video is soooooo boring. Was it meant to put me to sleep? I hope the IS is more exciting in person.