2005 Lexus IS200 SE

Lexus IS200 from halloween action day at castle combe race circuit 29th October 2022 The Lexus IS is a compact executive car sold by Lexus, a luxury division of Toyota since 1999. The IS was originally sold under the Toyota Altezza nameplate in Japan from 1998. The IS was introduced as an entry-level sport model positioned below the ES in the Lexus lineup 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 models were powered by a straight-six engine and available in sedan and wagon variants. The second-generation IS (codename XE20) was launched globally in 2005 with V6-powered IS 250 (GSE20) and IS 350 (GSE21) sedan models, followed by a high-performance V8 sedan version, the IS F, in 2007, and coupé convertible versions, the IS 250 C and IS 350 C, in 2008. The third-generation Lexus IS premiered in January 2013 and includes the V6-powered IS 350 and IS 250, turbocharged IS 200t/300, hybrid IS 300h and performance-tuned F Sport variants. The IS designation stands for "Intelligent Sport" Overview : Also called - Toyota Altezza (Japan) Production - October 1998 – August 2005 (Altezza) January 1999 – August 2005 (IS) Assembly - Japan: Kanegasaki, Iwate (Kanto Auto Works) Designer - Tomoyasu Nishi (exterior: 1995) 2003 facelift: Hiroyuki Tada (2002) Body and chassis : Body style - 4-door sedan 5-door hatchback/station wagon Powertrain : Engine - Petrol: 2.0 L 3S-GE I4 (SXE10; RS200) 2.0 L 1G-FE I6 (GXE10/15; IS 200/AS200) 3.0 L 2JZ-GE I6 (JCE10/15; IS 300/AS300) Transmission - 5-speed W55 manual 6-speed J160 manual 4-speed A47DE/A340H automatic 5-speed A650E automatic Dimensions : Wheelbase - 2,670 mm (105.1 in) Length - Sedan: 4,400 mm (173.2 in) SportCross/Gita: 4,415 mm (173.8 in) Width - Sedan: 1,720 mm (67.7 in) SportCross/Gita: 1,725 mm (67.9 in) Height - 1,410–1,440 mm (55.5–56.7 in) Kerb weight - IS 200: 1,360 kg (2,998 lb) IS 200 SportCross: 1,430 kg (3,153 lb) IS 300 5-Speed: 1,476 kg (3,255 lb) IS 300 E-Shift: 1,490 kg (3,285 lb) IS 300 SportCross: 1,547 kg (3,410 lb) Produced as a direct competitor to the luxury sports sedans of the leading European luxury marques, the XE10 series Toyota Altezza and Lexus IS was designed with a greater performance emphasis than typically seen on prior Japanese luxury vehicles. The engineering work was led by Nobuaki Katayama from 1994 to 1998 under the 038T program code, who was responsible for the AE86 project. Design work by Tomoyasu Nishi was frozen in 1996 and filed under patent number 1030135 on 5 December 1996, at the Japan Patent Office. At its introduction to Japan, it was exclusive to Japanese dealerships called Toyota Netz Store, until Lexus was introduced to Japan in 2006. The Japan-sold AS200 Altezza sedan and AS300 Altezza Gita correspond to the Lexus IS 200 and IS 300 models respectively, as sold in markets outside of Japan. The Lexus IS' primary markets were North America, Australia, and Europe. The Altezza Gita was a hatchback-station wagon version sold in Japan and was known in the US and Europe as the Lexus IS SportCross. The AS300 Altezza Gita was the only Altezza with the 2JZ-GE engine; in export markets this engine was available in the sedan models as well as the Lexus IS300 Sedan 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 engine displacement (but not exterior dimensions, as the car was 20 mm wider than the 1,700 mm standard), and adapted parts from the larger second-generation Aristo/GS. The 2.0-litre 1G-FE straight-six powered AS200 (GXE10, sedan) was equipped with a six-speed manual transmission as standard, while a four-speed automatic was optional. The 2.0-litre 3S-GE straight-four-powered RS200 (SXE10, sedan) was equipped a six-speed manual transmission, while a five-speed automatic was optional. The different size engine choices gave Japanese buyers a choice of which annual road tax obligation they wanted to pay, and the larger engine offered more standard equipment as compensation. The design received critical acclaim at its 1998 launch and was awarded Japan's "Car of the Year" honor for 1998–1999. A few months later, Lexus began marketing the IS 200 equivalent models in Europe. The IS 200 in Europe was rated at 153 hp (114 kW), with a top speed of 216 km/h (134 mph), and 0 to 100 km/h (0–62 mph) acceleration time of 9.3 seconds. The styling cues of the rear lamp clusters on the first-generation models were copied by a number of after-market accessory manufacturers for applications on other vehicles

Added 19 Jun 2026