Lexus: Wild child beneath sedate image

The IS250 brings a much-needed whiff of sexiness to Lexus. Photo / Supplied

Lexus cars may be beautifully built, lavished with detail, and backed by hard-to-beat levels of customer service, but they're automotive Mogadon otherwise.

All but some of the smallest of the breed that is, for the IS250 - and particularly its sporting ISF variant - introduce a whiff of sexiness to Lexus, albeit a well-masked whiff.

But think in terms of the suited businesswoman hiding a secret bad-boy habit and you'll get the ISF, with its too-Toyota looks, but that engine ...

Lexus needs this whiff of sex, especially at a time when even those with money are careful about spending it. Hence the IS250C convertible.

What's new
The IS250C is based on the sedan platform, and the bonnet and nose are identical, as is the engine and transmission. But then it all changes, with an exhaust rerouted around the extra bracing; a lower roof; a more raked windscreen; and longer doors that open more widely to admit passengers to the rear; plus that roof and altered boot - which adds 50mm to the rear overhang and the overall length of the car.

The company line
A wider range of variants, at a lower starting price, with the entry-level comparatively stripped-out (for a Lexus), leaving the customer to option up if required. Lexus hopes for a nudge under $70,000 to open the IS range, but is still negotiating.

Meanwhile, the IS250C is a hero car, priced from $93,000. Lexus only expects 20 to sell a year - after all only 3 per cent of luxury cars are convertibles - but hopes it will lure buyers into showrooms to be sold into other models.

What we say
A hard-top with the sleek lines that'll work as well in winter as summer. The three-piece metal roof opens or closes in 20 seconds, and although it radically compromises boot space when down - Lexus says you can fit a golf bag in the 136 litres remaining - this is effectively a coupe with it up.

That means flowing lines almost hiding the roof-mandated height of the rump, and luggage capacity that at 391 litres is just seven down on the sedan's.

On the road
Lexus has considerably stiffened this car, and altered the sedan's basic suspension equation by changing the bushes and fitting firmer springs and dampers.

The result is 125kg more weight and an attendant 0.6-second reduction in the 0-100km/h sprint, but the suspension appears to suit the extra heft.

Ride quality proved excellent on our launch drive, and handling as good as expected, given the rear drive sedan donating the basic set-up is a sweet-handling car.

Shame the freshly gritted roads of our South Island launch route meant we couldn't make the most of it.

Wind buffet in the cabin is well controlled, though you'll still be glad of the heated seats.

Why you'll buy one
Lexus build-quality, service - a bonus in gloomy times - and good looks.

Why you won't
You won't pay this much for a Japanese brand, no matter how well built; you don't want to make the performance compromises a heavier drop-top car demands.