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Lexus IS 200t gets a 245 hp turbo four-cylinder, comes here in 2016

Mon, Jun 29 2015 The exact timing isn't clear, but now that we have the good news we're ok with a little wait: in Europe Lexus just replaced the 2.5-liter V6 in the IS 250 with its 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder, and we'll get it. The 2.0-liter currently serves in the NX 200t, putting out 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet. Car and Driver says it will be tuned differently for what will become the IS 200t, with an output of 241 hp and 258 lb-ft.

Those numbers whoop the 2.5-liter V6 by 37 hp and 73 lb-ft, and they're just 65 hp and 19 lb-ft under the 3.5-liter V6 in the much more popular IS 350. Improvements continue in the transmission, the IS 200t getting eight cogs - there won't be a manual option - instead of the six-speed 'box mated to the 2.5-liter now. That means buyers can expect a car that's not only more powerful and more responsive, addressing the two fundamental omissions in the IS 250's list of talents, it will also get better fuel economy than the 21 city, 30 highway miles per gallon the old six-cylinder musters.

What they can't expect according to CD is all-wheel drive. We're told the engine swap should come "in the early part of the 2016 model year," and it will only come with rear-wheel drive. C/D says that Lexus will bring a third engine to the range that will power an all-wheel entry, which seems a tad complex to us, but if true it wouldn't be the first time the words "Lexus" and "complex" have cozied up together. A press release from Lexus Europe is below.

LEXUS TO LAUNCH IS 200t WITH INNOVATIVE 2.0l TURBO PETROL ENGINE

• New turbo engine offers superior smoothness and responsiveness,
with no turbo-lag and high fuel efficiency
• Engine mated to 8-speed Sport Direct Shift transmission
• IS 200t on sale in Europe as from September 2015


Brussels, Belgium, 26 Jun 2015 - Lexus is expanding the range of vehicle equipped with its new 2.0-litre turbo engine. Following the launch of NX 200t in early 2015 and the announced arrival of RX 200t by the end of the year, IS is the third Lexus model to be fitted with this new engine.

Powered by a new 2.0-litre petrol turbo engine – with innovative D-4ST fuel injection technology for both fuel economy and instantaneous torque – the Lexus IS 200t sports sedan delivers 245 DIN hp (180kW) with a maximum torque of 350 Nm. Capable of rapid acceleration up to a top speed of 230 km/h, its 8-speed Sport Direct Shift transmission was developed for the high-performance RC F.

Featuring a breakthrough combination of water-cooled cylinder head, integrated exhaust manifold and twin scroll turbocharger, this all-new Lexus 2.0-litre turbo engine delivers fast throttle response, performance and high torque at low engine revs. For enhanced fuel economy, innovative valve timing (VVT-iW: Variable Valve Timing intelligent - Wide) allows the engine to switch between the Otto and Atkinson cycles.

The IS 200t returns a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 7.0 seconds and an average fuel consumption of 7.0l/100 km.

Cylinder Head with Integral 4-into-2 Exhaust Manifold and Twin-Scroll Turbo
This innovative, combination of engine technologies has been designed to provide a high level of responsiveness with minimal turbo lag and enhanced low speed torque, and yet return an improved fuel economy.

The four-into-two exhaust manifold system pairs cylinders according to their expansion or compression stroke. Acting in conjunction with the highly-efficient, twin-scroll turbocharger, this innovative manifold structure prevents interference between the exhaust gasses from each cylinder, generating high torque across the widest possible rev range.

The engine further employs an air to liquid intercooler mounted directly to the engine to significantly reduce the intake volume downstream of the turbocharger, minimising turbo lag for a highly responsive performance.
The twin-scroll turbocharger itself features variable waste gate valve control. This minimises pumping losses by reducing back pressure during low engine loads when the turbo is not required realising good fuel economy.
In addition, the integration of the exhaust manifold within the cylinder head enhances exhaust gas cooling without sacrificing catalyst warm-up performance. This not only helps to suppress catalyst deterioration, but also expands driving range at the optimum, stoichiometric air-fuel ratio.

D-4ST Fuel Injection System
D-4ST (Direct injection 4 stroke gasoline engine Superior version with Turbo) combines a high pressure fuel system for injection directly into the cylinders with a low pressure system for injection into the ports. Injection is split between the direct and port injectors according to the engine load, optimising fuel combustion in all driving situations to enhance both low speed torque and fuel economy.

This advanced fuel injection system works in combination with turbocharging technology to create a high level of compatibility between the 'high tumble ratio' achieved by optimising the shape of the cylinder head intake ports and the piston tops, and turbo 'boost control'.

Innovative Dual VVT-iW Technology
Optimising torque throughout the engine rev range and allowing the engine to start in the Otto cycle and yet run in the more fuel efficient Atkinson cycle, the new Lexus turbo features innovative dual variable valve timing technology which adopts VVT-i to the exhaust valves and VVT-iW to the intake valves, but also delivers wide open throttle performance.

The late intake valve closing of the Atkinson cycle reduces pumping losses and boosts fuel economy. VVT-iW incorporates a mid-position lock which not only enables the Atkinson cycle to be maintained without sacrificing starting performance in cold weather.

Further Advanced Features
The new 2.0 litre turbo engine is remarkably light and compact. Cast with low nickel content heat resistant steel, and featuring a resin cylinder head cover, intake manifold and intake pipes, it weighs just 160 kg. The unit was bench-tested for more than 10,000 hours before extensive on-road testing began, during which it then covering more than one million kilometres.

Several measures have been adopted to reduce friction losses within various parts of the engine, enhancing fuel economy. The adoption of an offset crankshaft lowers the piston thrust load to reduce friction losses. Cylinder bore machining has been improved and a piston surface treatment applied to the piston skirts, reducing sliding resistance. Low tension piston rings have been used, and the weight of reciprocating parts reduced.

A lightweight roller rocker valve train and a low friction timing chain have been adopted, and the sliding parts of the chain fabricated in a low friction material. Low friction materials have also been used for the crankshaft oil seals, and the flow of lubricating oil optimised, with oil pump flow reduced through the adoption of a variable discharge mechanism.

Careful heat management within the engine further improves fuel efficiency. To that end, a cylinder block rapid warm-up system suppresses the flow of coolant into the block when the engine is cold, and a piston cooling oil jet control system cuts the supply of oil to the pistons to improve warm-up speeds.

Smoothness, Quietness and a Better Turbo Sound
With the rigidity of the main structural components already optimised to suppress vibration, the new engine is further equipped with a balance shaft featuring resin gears for even greater smoothness.

Newly developed lubricating calcium free oil removes the chance of engine knock at low engine revolutions, and the piston cooling oil jet system further improves anti-knock performance.
The water-cooled intercooler provides strong advantages in starting off acceleration and a 0.3-second reduction in 0–100km/h acceleration time over an air-to-air type alternative. The acceleration curve prioritises torque delivery at low speeds.

Turbo engines tend to be noisy when the throttle is closed (referred to as the 'turbo sigh'). An electric air bypass valve and resonator have been adopted to greatly reduce characteristic turbocharger noise. As a turbocharged engine requires smooth intake flow for performance, Lexus engineers focused on creating special duct shapes which deliver power without noise.

Eight-speed transmission with paddle shifts
The IS 200t also received the 8-Speed Sport Direct Shift transmission with paddle shifts, originally developed for the RC F high-performance coupe. The rear wheel drive IS 200t is the first Lexus sedan to vary gear shifting in accordance to G-forces.

The transmission automatically downshifts during hard braking before a corner then holds a lower gear through the corner for best control and then selects the most suitable gear on corner exit to give the driver greater throttle response.

The IS 200t will be available as from September 2015.


IS 200t - TECHNICAL DATA
ENGINE
Maximum Output DIN hp / kW 245 / 180
Capacity (cm) / Cylinders / Valves 1998 / L4 / 16
Valve mechanism Dual VVT-i
Fuel type / Octane rating Petrol / 95 or +
Max. power (DIN hp / kW @ rpm) 245 / 180 @ 5800
Max. torque (Nm @ rpm) 350 @ 1650-4400

TRANSMISSION
Driven wheels Rear-wheel drive
Transmission 8-speed Sport Direct Shift automatic

PERFORMANCE
Max. speed (km/h) 230
0-100 km/h (s) 7.0

EMISSIONS* (g/km)
Emissions level Euro 6
CO2Combined 162 (with 17"wheels) / 167 (with 18"wheels)

FUEL CONSUMPTION* (l/100 km)
Combined 7.0 (with 17"wheels) / 7.2 (with 18"wheels)

BRAKES
Front and rear Ventilated discs

SUSPENSION
Front Double wishbone
Rear Multi-link

STEERING
Type Rack and pinion
Turns (lock to lock) 2.84
Min. turning radius (m) 5.2

WEIGHTS (kg)
Gross vehicle 2125
Kerb (min. – max.) 1590-1680
Towing (max. with / without brakes) 1500 / 750

DRAG COEFFICIENT
Cd value 0.28

CAPACITIES (l)
Fuel tank 66
Luggage compartment 480
Featured Gallery 2015 Lexus IS200t
View 10 Photos
  • News Source: Lexus Europe, Car and Driver
  • Lexus
  • Luxury
  • Sedan
  • lexus is

By Jonathon Ramsey


See also: Lexus resurrecting SC name for big, expensive coupe, Lexus builds an actual hoverboard [w/video], Lexus takes to Pikes Peak in RC F GT Concept.