Latest news with #IS500UltimateEdition
The Sun
23-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Lexus marks the finale of IS500 with limited-run 'Climax Edition'
HOLD onto your seats because Lexus is taking the IS500 Ultimate Edition to new... heights. Introducing the Climax Edition, a name that's either a bold JDM homage or proof that car marketers know exactly what they're doing. Yes, you read that right, your luxury sports sedan now comes with a badge that'll make you giggle like a teenager every time you glance at the centre console. Is it a cheeky nod to performance ecstasy? Or did someone at Lexus just have a really good day at work? Either way, this isn't just a car—it's a mood. And if you forget, don't worry: the name's plastered right in the digital cluster, because nothing says 'premium experience' like a not-so-subtle double entendre. With the model having remained largely unchanged for over a decade, the Climax Edition arrives as a right-hand-drive version of the previously released IS500 Ultimate Edition, aimed exclusively at the Japanese market. Despite its unusual name, the Climax Edition represents a celebration of what enthusiasts value most in the IS500—its raw, undiluted performance. The sedan retains its naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 engine, a rarity in today's era of downsized and turbocharged powertrains. The 2UR-GSE engine delivers 472hp and 535Nm of torque to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission, preserving the engaging driving dynamics that have defined the IS lineage. Performance enhancements include the fitment of Brembo front brakes, featuring six-piston calipers paired with 380-mm ventilated discs, mirroring the configuration found in the U.S. model. The Climax Edition also rides on 19-inch forged BBS wheels with a matte black finish, complementing its exclusive Neutrino Gray exterior. These features contribute to a poised and aggressive stance, underlining the car's motorsport-inspired character. Inside the cabin, Lexus has introduced a two-tone red and black theme that echoes the design language of its American counterpart. Dimpled leather accents cover the steering wheel and gear selector, while red laser-etched highlights are delicately integrated into the analogue clock. Specially branded front door scuff plates complete the interior enhancements, distinguishing this final edition both visually and symbolically. While the vehicle's underpinnings and mechanical package remain unchanged, the Climax Edition serves as a tribute to Lexus' unyielding commitment to high-performance sedans. Its continued use of a naturally aspirated V8 marks it as a standout in a segment that has largely moved on from such engines. Lexus will produce only 500 units of the IS500 Climax Edition, which will be sold exclusively in Japan. Priced at ¥9,500,000 (around RM281,000), the limited-run model will officially go on sale in August 2025.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
The Cadillac Celestiq in Photos
More from Robb Report First Drive: The $340,000 Cadillac Celestiq Is a Quiet Tour de Force With a Lot Riding on It Lexus's New IS 500 Ultimate Edition Might Be the Last of Its Kind The New Hummer EV Is the Fastest One Yet Best of Robb Report The 2024 Chevy C8 Corvette: Everything We Know About the Powerful Mid-Engine Beast The World's Best Superyacht Shipyards The ABCs of Chartering a Yacht Click here to read the full article. The all-electric Cadillac Celestiq, the marque's first hand-built production car since the 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham. The model is a four-door hatchback presenting a mid-century modern aesthetic. The Celestiq has a low-slung fastback profile, but its wheelbase exceeds that of a Cadillac Escalade. With 655 hp and 646 ft lbs of torque, the car is claimed to cover zero to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds on its way to a purported top speed of 130 mph. The interior features a 3-D-printed steering-wheel casing, hand-polished aluminum controls, and options that include leather floors and eucalyptus-fiber mats. A smart-glass roof features four quadrants for passengers to control opacity. The car embodies America's 'very optimistic, very strident view of the world' in the 1950s, '60s and '70s, according to Michael Simcoe, Cadillac's vice president of global design. The Celestiq is Cadillac's most technologically advanced production vehicle to date, which factors into the car's next-level pricing compared to others in the automaker's model line. Cadillac hopes the Celestiq will capitalize on the brand's legacy while catapulting the automaker into the future.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
This Might Be Your Last Chance to Buy a V-8-Powered Lexus Sedan
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Lexus has always been quiet about its sport sedan heritage, but the Japanese automaker has long been battling alongside BMW and Mercedes-Benz in the quest to perfect the four-door rocket. But that time is coming to an end, it seems. Lexus is being coy about what is next for the IS-series of sedans, but the phrasing of the name makes us fairly certain that the newly revealed IS 500 Ultimate Edition means something. Launched as a limited edition, special-production version of the V8-powered IS 500, the Ultimate Edition appears to commemorate the years of eight-cylinder sport sedans before it — and feels something like a final send-off. Mechanically, the IS 500 chassis and powerplant remains unchanged, sporting a 5.0-liter 2UR-GSE V-8 engine with 472 hp and 395-lb-ft of torque. Adaptive suspension, 6-piston Brembo brakes, and 19-inch forged alloy BBS wheels also remain. The majority of the changes for the Ultimate Edition are cosmetic; specifically, matte gray-black paint is applied to every body panel, adding the color of "Wind" to the sedan. Other new features of the IS 500 Ultimate Edition include a Circuit Red and Black interior, complete with NuLuxe and Ultrasuede seats, plus an LFA-inspired steering wheel and shift knob. Red seatbelts add another sporty touch to the cabin while an 8.0-inch infotainment display reminds everyone that this generation of IS is nearly 13 years old. We're not one to speculate too much here at Road & Track, but we can't help analyzing the phrasing associated with the IS 500 Ultimate Edition. Lexus is calling it "the culmination of greatness," suggesting that something will be finished with the Ultimate Edition model. Is that the IS 500 and its V8? Or is that the whole IS lineup? What does this mean for its RC coupe sibling? We're not exactly sure just yet. Total sales of the IS-series sedan top 1.3 million units since its inception with the IS 300 in 1999, but more modern sales figures paint a picture of a sedan in its twilight years. Lexus says it will only build 500 units of the Ultimate Edition sedan. Pricing and production details have yet to be announced, but we're sure this special edition IS 500 sedan will rise well above the regular model's $60,595 sticker price. Either way, be on the lookout for more news around the future of Lexus's middleweight rear-wheel-drive sedan. You Might Also Like You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners The Man Who Signs Every Car
