Jalopnik
Let the Nürburgring mysteries continue! Today's super secret car out testing on the 'ring is clearly a Lexus IS, but the intel from our spies at BridgeToGantry is limited at the moment. Under that camo, there's some sort of faded paint job inspired by a '70s custom van which leads us to believe the car may be displayed to the public sans cladding at some point. But what would it be showing off? Well, there appears to be some strange lump in the hood, but the front bumper looks to be from a standard IS rather than the fire-breathing Lexus IS-F. We're being speculative, but we wonder if this is some sort of V6 hybrid and/or turbocharged model. The exhaust note does sound like a relatively quiet V6 to our ears, but you should have a listen for yourself. Make the jump for a quick video of action on the track.
Mystery Lexus at the Nurburgring Nordschleife from MrBTG on Vimeo.
[BridgeToGantry]
Comments
Hydrogen?
Shetland pony?
@wookie1901: That is a good guess if you go strictly off the paint job...
Mr. Fusion?
who cares?
@rognbrow: I do...
I like this body-style IS and I am interested in what they have in store for it down the road.
hybrid? Why would you take a hybrid on the track? Aside from the difference in curb weight and distribution, the electrical propulsion system wouldn't even kick in at high speeds and liberal throttle input.
Also, lay off the landscape fabric, guys.
There has been talk about how they need something in the middle of the weak 2.5L IS250's measly 197HP. and it's bigger brother IS350 with a potent 305 HP.
So possibly a small snail has been added to beef up a new engine choice to 240-250HP?
@reefer: I coulnd't see them adding a third engine option like that to the base IS, maybe doing away with the 2.5 and doing a 2.2L or 2.3L turbo instead but I can't see them having three engine options.
@philibuster: Why not? the GS400h is a hybrid that's designed more for power then fuel savings.
They need a manual transmission for the Big V-6. That's what they SHOULD be testing.
I might have heard a little whistle in there...
@Branden.Tang: As in "whistle tips"?
Mystery Lexus IS: Inspiration drawn from a Zebra?
@Atsumi:
Nah. The reverse black and white striping means that's an Okapi edition, not a Zebra.
I know I don't have a solid proof, but I have seen a convoy of Toyota cars before and one of them was an eerily silent IS whirring away. I'm surprised that a hybrid IS is still not on the market.
That does sound eerily quiet, and could quite possibly be a hybrid. If I remember correctly, I saw something about Toyota building a hybrid supra to race in some endurance series in Japan a few years back, so they've even done that before. The electric motor could potentially add a lot of acceleration to the vehicle, and regen (if it was dumped to something fast enough) could allow better breaking (because you have electric braking in addition to the discs).
Although it has the brakes of the IS350...this isnt the 3.5 from the IS350...doesn't sound like it at all. Maybe testing optional performance parts?
@Parkington: Wow I never thought I'd learn a new animal on Jalopnik!
ahhh... Lexus!
whatever comes out of it, shall welcome thei warm hearted!
Jumped up Toyota!
Comment on this post
Reply by EmailLogin with your username and password below. Or comment on this post via email.
Forgot your username or password? New User?