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Car Of The Day: September 25, 2010; Maisto '00 Lexus IS300
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Topic Started: Sep 25 2010, 01:13 AM (661 Views)
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NoirGuru
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Sep 25 2010, 01:13 AM
Post #1
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The All Original Gentleman
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Today's car of the day is Maisto's 2000 Lexus IS300.

- Wikipedia
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The Lexus IS is a series of small family cars / compact executive cars sold by Lexus since 1999. The IS was introduced as an entry-level sport model slotted below the ES in the Lexus lineup (and outside of North America, the Lexus GS). The IS was originally sold under the Toyota Altezza nameplate in Japan (the word "altezza" is Italian for "highness") until the introduction of the Lexus brand and the second generation Lexus IS design in 2006. The Altezza name is still used at times to refer to chromed car taillights like those fitted to the first generation model, known as 'Altezza lights' or 'Lexus-style' lights.
The first generation Altezza (codename XE10) was launched in Japan in October 1998, while the Lexus IS 200 (GXE10) made its debut in Europe in 1999 and in North America as the IS 300 (JCE10) in 2000. The first generation, inline-6-powered IS featured sedan and wagon variants. The second generation IS was launched globally in 2006 with V6-powered IS 250 (GSE20) and IS 350 (GSE21) sedan models. A high-performance V8 sedan version, the IS F, premiered in 2007. Hardtop convertible versions, the IS 250 C and IS 350 C, debuted in 2008. According to Lexus, the IS designation stands for Intelligent Sport.

For more information and pictures of the real car please visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexus_IS

A fairly generic cast with an awkward shade of yellow. This one didn't have any details before, and looked like a yellow blob for the most part...

- Wikipedia
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Produced as a direct competitor to the luxury sport sedans of the leading European luxury marques, the Altezza/IS was designed with a greater performance emphasis than typically seen on prior Japanese luxury vehicles. The engineering work was led by Nobuaki Katayama, who was responsible for the AE86 project. The AS200 and AS300 Altezza sedans formed the basis for the Lexus IS 200 and IS 300 models sold in markets outside Japan, primarily North America and Europe. A hatchback/station wagon version was sold in Japan as the Altezza Gita, and in the U.S. and Europe as the Lexus IS SportCross. Overall, the Altezza/IS came in 3 variants:
* AS200 (sedan or Gita wagon) – 2.0 liter 1G-FE inline-6, 160 hp JIS (118 kW) or 155 PS (114 kW), rear-wheel drive or 4WD; sold by Lexus as the IS 200 * RS200 (sedan) – 2.0 liter Yamaha-tuned 3S-GE inline-4, 220 hp JIS (162 kW), rear-wheel drive, not sold outside Japan by Lexus * AS300 (Gita wagon) – 3.0 liter 2JZ-GE inline-6, 220 hp JIS (162 kW) or 215 hp SAE (160 kW), rear-wheel drive or 4WD; sold by Lexus (sedan or wagon) as the IS 300
Introduced in 1998 with the AS200 (chassis code GXE10) and RS200 (chassis code SXE10) sedans, the compact vehicle was produced using a shortened front-engine, rear-wheel drive midsize platform, allowing Japanese buyers to take advantage of tax savings imposed by Japanese government regulations concerning vehicle exterior dimensions and engine displacement, and adapted parts from the larger second generation Aristo/GS. The 2.0 L 1G-FE inline-6 powered AS200 (TA-GXE-10, sedan) featured a 6-speed manual transmission as standard, while a 4-speed automatic was optional. The 2.0 L 3S-GE inline-4 powered RS200 (GH-SXE-10, sedan) featured a 6-speed transmission, while a 5-speed automatic was optional.
The design received critical acclaim at its 1998 launch, and was awarded Japan's "Car of the Year" honor for 1998–1999. A year later, Lexus began marketing the IS 200 equivalent models in Europe. The IS 200 in Europe was listed as producing 153 brake horsepower (114 kW), with a top speed of 216 kilometres per hour (134 mph), and 0–100 kilometres per hour (62 mph) acceleration in 9.3 seconds. The styling cues of the rear light clusters on the first generation models were copied by a number of after-market accessory manufacturers for applications on other vehicles. This iconic style of one or more internal lamp units, covered with a clear (or tinted) perspex cover made popular by Lexus, became known in many circles as 'Lexus-style' or 'Altezza lights'.
Edited by NoirGuru, Sep 25 2010, 06:50 PM.
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Swifty
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Sep 25 2010, 11:00 AM
Post #2
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The Mustang II is a Mustang too!
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Yes, I remember the yellow blob quite well. I think they did a beige color too.
On a side note, wouldn't this be a 2000 model year as the IS300 only debuted as such in 2000, not 1998 like the Altezza it's based on?
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NoirGuru
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Sep 25 2010, 06:51 PM
Post #3
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The All Original Gentleman
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- Swifty
- Sep 25 2010, 11:00 AM
Yes, I remember the yellow blob quite well. I think they did a beige color too.
On a side note, wouldn't this be a 2000 model year as the IS300 only debuted as such in 2000, not 1998 like the Altezza it's based on? You're right.
I keep confusing the IS for the AS, because it like everything else takes forever to come to North America.
*Above post edited*
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ivantt
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Sep 26 2010, 12:21 PM
Post #4
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New casting? Quick! Take it apart!
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Like a lot of the simple Maisto's, this one would look great with some better than factory paint jobs and detailing. The window edges and pillars could use a good filing before painting, and that rear door window pillar...it's a "bit" thick, wouldn't you say? An interior would be nice, but a wheel change would be easier. The only problem I have with this casting is the subject is pablum, a very boring car that has no distinctive design. At a quick glance it looks like dozens of other generic 4 door cars.
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