Altezza

Do you like this car? I love it.

this car looks great, ive only seen a few video clips of it doin burnouts and doin dounuts, other than that i really dont know to much about the altezza

the altezza is VERY good in all aspects - price, performance, styling, reliability [of course, it's Toyota] and everything else that you can think of.
http://www.club4ag.com/Altezza/neosports.gif
http://www.club4ag.com/Altezza/elegant.gif

It's essentially the same car as the Lexus IS series, but it didn't come to the states.

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"Ferrari isn't a car, it's a lifestyle"
-Enzo Ferrari.

it *is* exactly the same car as the lexus is300, the only difference is the engine/tranny options.. here in the USA, we only get one engine/tranny option, which is the 3.0 liter I6 ( same engine as gs300 and NA MKIVTT ) with a automatic tranny.. in japan and europe, they have a few different engines and at least 3 different tranny options..

i love the car though, i want one badly.. but ill wait till the manual version comes out later this year.

I like the car...i mean if u like the IS300 then why not this car?? Anyways i think the car looks tight

I was juss wonderin how much the Toyota Altezza Costs? Cause the Lexus IS300, same car, just here in North America costs around $35,000 American and it's like $48,000 Canadian

if it's cheaper in japan or europe, couldn't you just import it to North America, than change the symbols, to Lexus IS300? :confused:

I love this car . . . and I for one am glad it finally made it to the states.

Not sure why, it's not as if I'm going to run out and buy one . . . nice to know I can see them on the road I guess . . .

I think it will be a long time before we start seeing Altezzas like these in the States:
http://www6.shizuokanet.ne.jp/fujimi/html/ctl/grp/mn/21_40/186580.jpg
http://www6.shizuokanet.ne.jp/fujimi/html/ctl/grp/id/21_40/034676.jpg

The sooner, the better, though. :flash:

Those Altezza's are awesome!!
Next year we will be getting the 6-speed for the IS. We didn't get one originally because the I6 would fry it, too much power.
Without a manual, I wouldn't even consider this car. With a manual, well it makes it good. The segement they are aiming at requires a manual, at least in my mind.

ARE THERE ANY DIFFERENCES (other than powertrain) BETWEEN THE ALTEZZA AND IS300??

is anybody gunna answer my question or just ignore me?

From what I can find at www.Lexus-Europe.com (and please prove me wrong if you can find better ;) ), Europe only has the IS200 so far, but with AT or 6 speed MT. The engine is only two liters, but it's still an inline six. It makes 155 bhp at 6200 rpms and 195 Nm / 4400 rpm. (metric conversions welcome)

They get the IS300 in the SportCross [wagon] form later this year, I think. It didn't mention the IS300 sedan. Maybe they'll just make the three-liter engine an option there.

There is no mention of price on the website, even on the "Equipment and Prices" page. :confused:

In England, according to www.Lexus.co.uk, the top-trim IS200 is listed at £20,970.00. That makes it about US$29,500. Slightly less, but for 2/3 of the engine.

I can't pull up the Japanese page tonight, sorry.

AutoTrader.com lists the IS300's MSRP as $30,805. Where'd you get $35K?

Odds are, the differences in price on the other continents won't make up for the shipping/importing costs. The picture of the IS I saw on the German page was left-hand drive, so that's no big deal, but who knows when it comes to emissions equipment?

190 NM is 140.144 lb-ft of torque.

coo, thanks for the input

No problem:)

nicely modded altezza from Versus

these guys really know what they're doing!!!

another one from Versus... evil!

I want one of those Altezza's! I just love the way they look when you put a kit on them.

Cant wait for the manual!

yeah IS300s are so ill

DVSNCYNIKL get an IS300 when it comes out with stick shift

It would be tight if Lexus would pop a turbo on the I-6 and mate it to a 6 speed. The only problem is mounting an intercooler. Maybe they could have a special air dam for the Turbo models.

The fours have a turbo. A I-6 with turbo and water-to-air intercooloer would be good. Maybe with 15 psi. MUHAHAHAHAHAH:D

altezza with turbo anyone??

with supra driveline maybe??



if you haven't seen it, check this then!!!

http://movies.taner.net/Tuned_Toyota_Altezza.asf

the driver got some mad skills!!

aarrrggggg!!!! Your link isn't working man!!! I wanna see the car!!:mad: :D

try "rightclick>save target as" ...

eventually it will work! it did for me on my first try...

The car in that movie is tight. The driver is Mr. Oversteer, though. But, I'll bet he knows more than me.

I'd like to see Altezzas/ISs entered into some Touring Car series... :flash:

Nice!! That guy is good at oversteer. Lifes more fun with driving like that.

why don't they make it a 2 door?

In Gran Turismo 2, the Altezza LM was converted to a 2-door. I don't know if it has a real life counterpart.

Altezza RS200 are known to be underpowered. That's why Lexus decide to use the 3.0L engine. Lexus is only putting a 5 speed manual on IS300 for now. I have heard 6 speed and 18 inch wheels will be put on the M3 fighter.

M3 fighter? ya right!! they don't actually think they're competing with the M3... i'm pretty sure it's just competing with the 330i... since it's got close specs and close price

how would it compete with an M3? they'd have to make a tuned IS300.... does lexus even have a tuner? like AMG and ///M?

Originally posted by gang$tarr
how would it compete with an M3? they'd have to make a tuned IS300.... does lexus even have a tuner? like AMG and ///M?
TRD - Toyota Racing Development
Tom's
HKS
(etc... remember it's a JDM car, too)

there should be a Lexus ///M300 that'd be cool :D

The M3 fighter was call IS360 I remember. It feature some of Toyota's latest techonology. Lexus cars can be equiped with Toyota's in house TRD parts.

Originally posted by F20C
The M3 fighter was call IS360 I remember. It feature some of Toyota's latest techonology. Lexus cars can be equiped with Toyota's in house TRD parts. True, but they're still working on it. TRD and Kazuma parts are available through American Toyota dealerships now, but it's not the full range that's available in Japan. Lexus offers "L Tuned" parts, but so far they only have goodies for the GS. I expect them to come out with parts for the IS and SC sooner or later, but until then, you better keep friendly with your contacts in Japan.

BTW, I'd love to see/read more about the IS360, if you can point me to any links... ;)

TRD have supercharger kits for a lot of applications. I remember TRD president was quote of saying he was interested in seeing a turbocharger kit for IS300. Anyway I lost the IS360 link. It was supposing come equiped with Toyota's latest Twin VVTL-i. Also the technology that reduce the amount of power loss from flywheel to the wheels. It made it less than 10% instead of the average 15-20%.

Toyota could do anything if they put their mind to it!
A 3.6 Litre I-6, at, say, 8000rpm, and 350+hp would be good. A light flywheel and driveline with very low friction so it wouldnt lose a lot of power would be good.

PS they should start showing hp as rear wheel hp, it is much more accurate (they already went from gross to net in 72', and that is a 1/3 difference down in power).

yeah i agree about makin it rwhp.... cause that way you know for sure how much of your power is gettin to the ground

Originally posted by Chris
PS they should start showing hp as rear wheel hp, it is much more accurate (they already went from gross to net in 72', and that is a 1/3 difference down in power).
AMEN!!!

Originally posted by enzo@af
It's essentially the same car as the Lexus IS series, but it didn't come to the states.

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"Ferrari isn't a car, it's a lifestyle"
-Enzo Ferrari.

The Altezza is the Jap Version of the IS300.

It will never come to the states as an altezza, it's here as the IS.

Personally, i dont care which version comes to the US, they both look phat.

Originally posted by Raveen69


The Altezza is the Jap Version of the IS300.

It will never come to the states as an altezza, it's here as the IS.

Personally, i dont care which version comes to the US, they both look phat.


that's what he meant

i love the altezza especially the back lights now they look nice.:D

i thought the m3 fighter is the is430? i never heard of an is360

Originally posted by fortyoz2eric
i thought the m3 fighter is the is430? i never heard of an is360

it is the is430
i guess the it was the is360 before? :confused:

yeah the IS430 has almost 400hp too

i remember a couple years ago when toyota japan introduced the altezza. a couple month later toyota made limited edition altezza. i think they only made a couple hundred. it was called Altezza T280. it was slightly tuned with turbocharged 180 horsepower. it still cant compete with a m3, but for an altezza it is a very fast production car.

if you want it to be a m3 fighter. then just tune it more. more boost in turbo, better exhaust. everything. its really easy if you have a turbocharger.

Originally posted by gang$tarr


it is the is430
i guess the it was the is360 before? :confused:

yeah the IS430 has almost 400hp too

The IS 360? There was never a Lexus named that. The IS430 is LS430. It has 300hp, not 400.
Lexus doesn't have an M3 fighter, the closest is the IS300 L-tuned. It is a dealer installed body kit and wheels, and some suspension mods. It doesn't compare to the M3.

Yeah i read that the IS430 is supposed to have 396hp, that's almost 400. It's going to use the 4.3 V8. and a 0-60 time of 4.5s

Originally posted by F20C
The M3 fighter was call IS360 I remember. It feature some of Toyota's latest techonology. Lexus cars can be equiped with Toyota's in house TRD parts.

apparently there was a lexus named that at one point, i'm guessing the name has been changed to is430

i wonder if lexus can fit LS430's V8 in the front of IS300, if they can, i would buy one :devil:

i want one :-)

Originally posted by jay@af

I'd like to see Altezzas/ISs entered into some Touring Car series... :flash:

Well I am pretty sure that there is an IS200 team in the British Touring Car Championship (not too sure)


BUT there are two Aleetzas that Toyota NZ entered into teh NZ touring cars, they cleaned up

1st Aleetza
2nd Aleetza
3rd E46 3 Series

:D

Originally posted by kelvinchan84
i wonder if lexus can fit LS430's V8 in the front of IS300, if they can, i would buy one :devil:

yea iknow some aftermarket company did that, i saw the picture awhile back. my one friend said that lexus was thinking about selling it but i wouldn't take him too seriously

Altezza and IS is very very different.... for example... Altezza offers 6-Speed Manual Transmission with 3S-GE engine (same engine used by Celica GT-Four, though smaller [I4] it can produce well over 500hp easily) where as the new IS only offers 5-Speed with 215 Inline 6, i am not sure what the engine model name is

To be correct the Lexus IS300 is the American version of the Japanese Toyota Altezza. The Altezza first debuted all the way back in 1998. It came out in two versions, with 3 levels of trim:

Prices are for 2003 Model (Much cheaper than the IS300!)

Altezza AS200 (2.0L inline 6, 160 HP @ 6200rpm)
- base model = Yen 2,230,000 or about $18,700
- Z edition (sport edition) = Yen 2,400,000 or about $20,000
- L edition (leather edition) = Yen 2,800,000 or about $23,500

Altezza RS200 (2.0L inline 4, 215 HP @ 7000rpm)
- base model = yen 2,100,000
- Z edition (sport edition) = yen 2,400,00
- L edition (leather edition) = yen 2,600,00

The 6 speed manual and 5-speed autostick were both available starting at the beginning in 1998. So far there are only 2 engines and 2 trannys avail. The 3.0 L I-6 avail in the USA is not an option in Japan.

Interestingly the sport model has the I-4 engine and not the I-6. The engine makes 215HP, however it doesn't feel as strong as any of the 210HP Mustangs I have owned. However it handles and drives much better than the stangs. Not to mention it's just a nicer car inside. Besides it's got Toyota quality! ;)

AL

ALTEZZA for DRIFT