YOU can say that almost every major manufacturer has at least a convertible model in its line-up.
While not destined to be main offerings to the masses, these cars remind us that driving is not just about getting from point A to B. It's also got to do with fun and attitude.
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| The Lexus IS Convertible is gorgeous with the top down. |
Convertibles can elevate the driver from mundane cruising.
But with our hot and wet weather, it's quite understandable that a car with a solid roof is the more sensible choice.
Unlike the conventional two-seaters, a new generation of four-seater hardtop convertibles, like the Volvo C70, Renault Megane CC, Volkswagen Eos and BMW 325i, are making their presence felt.
Why? Perhaps two may be company but four makes for a nice game of bridge.
Recently, we got an invitation from Toyota Motor Asia-Pacific to test the latest convertible Lexus IS variant in Singapore.
Developed from the four-door Lexus IS sedan, the convertible has only a few carry-over body parts, namely the headlights, wing mirrors, bonnet and door handles.
The parts under the body had been reworked and strengthened for higher rigidity and to cater to a two-door layout.
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| Once you open up the top, things get very much clearer . |
With its top up, the convertible looks pretty much like the sleek IS sedan, except that its roof line looks curvier and the trunk, a bit longer.
Using a single-switch operation, you can get a three-piece hard top stowed inside the trunk in 21 seconds.
Stowing away the top gives you a better view of your surroundings, and enables you to focus on the fine details on the IS's dual-tone interior and dashboard.
While the dashboard is similar to that of the sedan, its convex surface combines with the concave interior and the high belt-line to project a cosy and cocooned feel.
Passengers at the back who want to get out just have to press a button on the front seat and electric motors will whirl quietly to slide the seats and tilt the backrests forward.
Driving off from Singapore's new swanky Capella Hotel on Sentosa Island, we noticed other drivers slowing down to look at the IS Convertible.
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| With the top up, the IS Convertible looks pretty much like the IS sedan except its roof line appears curvier. |
A guy in a BMW 5-Series tailed us for some distance along Holland Road, trying to catch more than a glimpse of who were soaking up the sunshine.
With the top down, the belt-line draws up around the rear deck lid, giving the car a muscular look.
Our test vehicle had a 2.5-litre V6 direct fuel injection engine and a six-speed automatic transmission similar to that of the IS 250 sedan's.
Lexus claims that acceleration from 0 to 100kph is 8.4 seconds for the convertible, just 0.6 second slower than the sedan.
That's impressive, bearing in mind that the sunshiner is 130kg heavier, with its additional body reinforcement and folding top mechanism.
The IS Convertible's electric powered steering is precise and its suspension well-tuned, giving it a good blend of comfortable ride and sure-footed handling, even when taking sharp corners fast.
With the top stowed away, we got to sample the freedom of open air driving. But putting the top up re-acquainted us with another typical Lexus feature — a super quiet interior.
Kei-ichi Yoneda, the chief engineer of the IS Convertible, says one of the main challenges was to make the car as quiet as possible because Lexus owners look forward to that.
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| Yoneda. |
''With a foldable hardtop, the challenge was even much harder,'' he adds.
Features include six airbags, paddle shifters, Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management, hill-start assist control, a SmartAccess keyless system, 17-inch wheels, and high intensity discharge headlamps with an adaptive front lighting system.
The standard Lexus Premium Audio System features a six-disc, in-dash CD changer and eight speakers. It has an equaliser system that maintains the same acoustic field whether the top is open or closed, compensating for the natural loss of bass sounds when open.
As for when Lexus Malaysia will launch this sexy thang here, we'll just have to wait and keep our fingers crossed.