Many people are shocked to learn that Lexus, known for making cars that make you feel like you’re driving a cushion, also makes a sporty station wagon. However, they did produce a station wagon in the early 2000s. It is known as the IS300 SportCross, and only about 14 people purchased one.
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A IS300 SportCross is quite uncommon.
Although it is an incredibly uncommon and exciting vehicle, it drives just as well as the IS sedan and, more importantly, is just as dependable.
As automotive enthusiasts, we often remember vintage vehicles long after the general public has moved on. We enjoy going back in time to uncover all the unusual and fascinating information and learn more about old cars that have all but disappeared with the passage of time.
The challenge with this passion is finding one of these vintage cars to actually buy and own. The cars we want are frequently hard to find, difficult to find components for, unfixable by mechanics, or too expensive due to rarity. Regardless of the motivation, searching for automotive unicorns may be time-consuming. Let me take some of the strain off of you.
Contrary to popular belief, the first-generation Lexus IS (20012005) is a far better vehicle. It was Toyota’s first sincere effort to provide a rival to the long-standing German custom for entry-level sports sedans. It was a rival to the 3-series and C-Class, and in many ways, it was on par with or perhaps superior to both cars in terms of driving dynamics. It had rear-wheel drive, six-cylinder engines, and was available in a variety of body styles, just like the Germans. Regrettably, only one specification was ever a commercial success.
Unfortunately, wagons have struggled to gain traction in North America, Lexus’s largest market, over the past three decades. As a result, there won’t be many wagons available as new cars in 2021. With the “SportCross long-roofed variant of the IS 300, of which less than 4,000 units were ever produced, Lexus discovered this the hard way. To put that into perspective, for the course of the Gallardo’s production cycle, Lamborghini produced and sold around 14,000 units, which means that there are now about four times as many Gallardos on the road as there are Lexus IS SportCrosses. Although it is an incredibly uncommon and exciting vehicle, it drives just as well as the IS sedan and, more importantly, is just as dependable.
Do you need to buy one? Should you even try to look for one? And why does it appear like a Mazda Proteg 5 and a Toyota Matrix had a hot date? Find out by reading on.
The IS300 SportCross: What Is It?
The Lexus wagon, known as the IS 300 SportCross, was based on the Lexus IS sedan from 2001 to 2005, which many aficionados believe to be the greatest one because of its compact size, agile handling, and adjustable 6-cylinder engine.
Was the IS300 SportCross a manual vehicle?
In the US and Europe, the only five-speed automatic transmission option was initially offered on all Lexus IS 300 vehicles. But in the US, a five-speed manual was introduced in 2001 for the 2002 model year (not available on the SportCross wagon).
IS a SportCross engine a 300?
The sophisticated, 3.0-liter, inline six-cylinder engine, famous for its smoothness, is used in the Lexus IS 300. With the advised 91 octane fuel, it generates 215 horsepower.
Is there a station wagon made by Lexus?
No, Lexus does not currently offer any station wagons in its model lineup. The Lexus IS300 SportCross, which was built from 2002 to 2005, was the only Lexus station wagon ever made.
Whats the difference between a station wagon and a hatchback?
How precisely can a hatchback and a station wagon be distinguished? One strategy is to search for the recognizable indicators you can see on any station wagon:
Three-box sedans have independent engines, passenger seating, and storage spaces. On the other hand, hatchbacks and station wagons have a two-box layout where storage and seating are merged.
While station wagons tend to have a boxy back end with greater room for storage and occasionally a third row of seating, hatchbacks often favor style over storage with a smoother rear slope and a shorter body.
Does Lexus produce estate vehicles?
Want to purchase a new Lexus estate vehicle? To learn which model will best suit you and your way of life, browse through our estate car reviews.
The major selling point of an estate car is its trunk; if you need a lot of space in your vehicle but don’t want an SUV, an estate is the best option. You can read how much boot room you’ll receive in each of our estate car reviews.
You’ll get a large boot as well as space for the dog, the kids, and even granny with an estate car.
A 300 is it a 2JZ?
Given the possibilities of the inline-six, it is not surprise that Alberth seemed to adore the 2JZ engine. The Lexus IS300 has a 2JZ engine as standard equipment, but it’s the naturally aspirated model, which has unique pistons and a unique head. Even more astonishing is Alberth’s continued usage of the stock 2JZ GE head, despite Porting Solutions’ porting work on it.
As far as other high-horsepower 2JZ builds go, the majority of the other parts are very common. Similar to Alberth’s 204SX, which in his opinion, has a redesigned intake, a 105 mm throttle body, 12 injectors (two per cylinder), and an 86-85 Precision turbo, the IS300 had these features as well “appears to be the preferred turbo for this engine. In contrast to the Nissan, the IS300’s engine has been expanded to 3.2 liters. All of it is controlled by a Haltec Elite 2500 ECU. The crucial information is shown on a Haltec IC7 instrument cluster.
Alberth notes that it’s interesting that the Manley pistons and connecting rods are Honda-spec, not Toyota-spec. The entire configuration is beneficial to “A 4L80 automatic transmission with the option for manual changing at the steering wheel transmits more than 1,200 horsepower to all four wheels. Eventually, Alberth divulges certain performance data, such as the 2.89-second sprint from 60 to 130 mph (97 to 210 km/h).
What Lexus model has a 1JZ?
This 2002 Lexus IS300 had mismatched bodywork, some off-road scars, and an ambitious new owner with a head full of ideas before it was powered by Toyota’s venerable workhorse 1JZ and before it appeared tidy enough to win a few awards at a local car show.
When did the Lexus IS300 get a 2JZ?
Every IS300 produced between 1998 and 2003 has a 2JZ motor. This engine is a 2JZ-GE, which is the same as the one in a Toyota Supra. The IS300 has become a favorite among those who enjoy customizing Japanese automobiles because they are renowned for producing a lot of power when modified.
In the IS300, the 2JZ standard engine developed 217 horsepower and 218 pound-feet of torque. Depending on the arrangement, this was mated to either a 5-speed automatic or 5-speed manual transmission. The SportCross wagon was initially solely offered with the automatic, but over time, third-party retailers have started to replace them with the manual.
Due to its Supra-like engine, available manual transmission, and rear-wheel drive, the first generation IS300 is a renowned little sports sedan. These elements work together to make the IS300 a fantastic, entertaining sports sedan.
Are IS300s quick?
But goodness, those powertrainssome of which have remained in use since the late 2000sneed to schedule an appointment with the great bench dyno in the sky. The 3.5-liter V-6 engine in the 2021 IS300 AWD we drove sends power through a six-speed automatic transmission and onto an all-wheel-drive system, making it one of the strangest and most antiquated options available within the IS line. In an effort to match the regular rear-wheel-drive IS300’s 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4’s 241 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, the engine’s output has been drastically reduced from the IS350’s 311 horsepower and 280 lb-ft to a lower 260 horsepower and 236 lb-ft.
Crazy, huh? According to Lexus, it was more economical to simply reduce the 3.5-liter’s output than to change the AWD system to match the 2.0-liter. Even worse, the IS300 AWD’s performance was barely slowed by the removal of 51 horsepower and 34 lb-ft of torque from the eight-speed IS350, which has greater power. The IS300 AWD matched the rear-wheel-drive 2021 IS350 F Sport to 60 mph but lost the dragstrip sprint by 0.1 second, zipping from 0 to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds and covering the quarter-mile in 14.3 seconds. Say what?
How many HP can an IS300 produce?
a 300 horsepower Lexus IS The 3.5L, V6 engine that the Lexus IS 300 offers as an option produces 260 horsepower. Drivers can choose between AWD and RWD, depending on which suits them best.
Are Lexus IS 300 vehicles good?
Although the IS 300 isn’t at the top of the list of small luxury sedans, it does come with a ton of standard amenities, such as a number of cutting-edge driver assistance systems, and a reasonably cheap starting price. The IS 300 is incredibly comfortable, as with the majority of Lexus goods, but it also drives well when spirited.