Lexus IS 200 "Caliente" [Australia] (XE10) '2002

RED HOT LEXUS STEAMS UP SYDNEY MOTOR SHOW

A futuristic concept car, a “tuned” luxury sedan and a “hot” version of the popular IS 200 sports sedan will be the stars of a new-look Lexus display at this year’s Sydney Motor Show.

Lexus has confirmed that its star of the show will be the sensational 2054 Red concept as featured in Tom Cruise’s recent Hollywood blockbuster, Minority Report.

The car was created by conceptual artist Harald Belker, whose film design credits also include Batman & Robin, Inspector Gadget, and Armageddon.

Belker met with director Stephen Spielberg and members of the Lexus design studio in California early in the development process to speculate on what the future in automotive travel might hold.

Lexus ultimately providing styling, luxury and performance cues for the car - resulting in a muscular two-seat sports coupe with an extreme cab-forward stance.

“Muscular” is also a good description of the Lexus GS 300 L-Tuned which will be previewed on the Lexus stand at the Sydney Motor Show.

The car is a prototype of a limited edition GS 300 planned for sale in Australia next year.

The prototype will feature stiffer sports suspension, wider 18-inch wheels and a free-flow sports exhaust system to enhance the sporting character of the standard model.

A unique sports grille and other body enhancements, including exclusive “L-tuned” badging, will further distinguish the prototype.

Another Lexus limited edition will go on sale from the date of the Sydney Motor Show.

Just 75 examples of the IS 200 Caliente sports sedan will be sold, all painted in a unique new shade of red in keeping with the model name (Caliente is Spanish for “hot”).

IS 200 Caliente features a body kit consisting of front skirt, side skirts, rear skirt, and boot lip rear spoiler with stop lamp.

The exterior feature list for IS 200 Caliente also includes unique 11-spoke alloy wheels with 45 aspect ratio premium quality tyres - the first time these wheels have been available in Australia.

It also has a moonroof, privacy glass and limited edition badging.

Interior appointments include full black leather interior (seat and door trim), leather steering wheel, heated power-adjustable driver and front passenger seats, metallic sports pedals, metallic scuff plates and number identification plaque and two 'Limited Edition' key rings.

Models with six-speed manual transmission will have the additional mechanical specification of a 4.100:1 limited slip differential to optimise acceleration, and sports stabiliser bars front and rear.

Sydney International Motor Show '2002

Lexus IS 200 "Caliente" Australia (XE10) '2002

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