Futuristic Cruise Control Turns Heads For Lexus
Published: 22nd October 2002
The present-day IS200 SportCross, with a six-cylinder 153bhp engine, is designed to complement the IS300 SportCross launched last year.
Pitched against the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes C Class and Audi A4 a spokesman for Lexus said annual sales of 1000 are predicted. The model fits in well with the Lexus style of selling “niche, small volume” he added.
With a list price for the basic model of less than £22,000 some orders have already been taken. “The dealers have been taking orders for two weeks and we’ve received the first few already,” said the spokesman.
Lexus is showcasing its complete model range at the NEC, including the GS300 and GS430 and the convertible SC430. But Show-goers may have to wait until 2054 to get their hands on the Japanese manufacturer’s show-stopper: the Off-System Sports Car that was driven by Tom Cruise in the sci-fi blockbuster Minority Report.
The electric motored concept was tailor made for Cruise,
and is fully driveable, with only its futuristic instrument
panel added later by the movie’s special effects team.
