Nobody gets topless faster

Well, Lexus is finally back in the game.

Like its luxury rivals, Toyota's premium brand has a new hardtop convertible and the least-expensive version, the IS 250C ($52,100), undercuts the new 2009 Infiniti G37 Sport ($57,400) by $5,300. That's not chump change, my friends.

Of course, Lexus also sells the more powerful and better equipped IS 350C. Price-wise ($60,400), it lands right on top of the premium version of the G37 convertible Infiniti at $60,700. The 350C convertible has a 304-horsepower V-6, while all the G37s have a 325-hp V-6. The IS 250C comes with a 204-hp V-6.

The point here, really, is that Lexus is taking another run at what has become de rigueur in the car game. If you don't have a convertible with a lid that tucks into the trunk, you're just so five years ago. BMW has a 3-Series version, for instance, and Volvo's C70 hardtop convertible is another direct competitor.

This is a good solution in terms of convenience of operation and year-round usefulness. Hardtop convertibles seal out weather and noise very well these days.

Inevitably, though, owners give up trunk space with the lid down. Also, the back end on most of these cars looks a little plump.

The Lexus version is a two-door, open-air version of the IS four-door, also sold with the same two engine choices and all-wheel-drive in the 250. No AWD for the convertible, which in truth is a kind of Lexus IS coupe with a lid that peels away and hides.

It's easy to do, too. Just trigger a switch on the instrument panel to the left of the steering wheel and watch as the windows start retracting and panels start flipping as 15 electric motors work in harmony with 37 sensors, and the three-piece top, engineered in-house at Lexus, does its thing. From start to finish: 20 seconds. Whew!

Yes, it's complicated, but Lexus is known for its quality and this one, like all the others, comes with a 48-month/80,000-km warranty. Besides, Lexus can now brag about its convertible top having the quickest “down time” in the segment. Nobody gets topless faster.

This is a lovely car in every way, but nothing is more important than the structural work Lexus did to compensate for the compromises that come when you slice the roof off any car. The door sill rockers in the platform are much larger and there's an elaborate network of braces and struts beneath the floor.

Alas, all this plus the top mechanism means the IS 250C weighs 175 kg more than a comparable IS 250 sedan ($33,050). Despite the added heft – and a less sleek design – the convertible gets better fuel economy than the sedan: 9.8 litres/100 km city/6.7 highway, versus the sedan's 11.4 city/7.5 highway. Premium fuel in both cases.

Lexus says the IS sedan and convertible share only their hoods; all the other body panels are unique to each. The front of the IS C has been restyled with standard high intensity discharge (HID) headlights and a zippier front air dam. The entire rear of the car has been resculpted, largely to accommodate the roof. It's a nice-looking car.

The fun comes when the top is down. Driving with the sun flooding the cabin above and the air all around is always delightful and here in this Lexus it's also a pretty luxurious experience. The cockpit is well-crafted and looks expensive. Lexus has created space only for four, though. The top mechanism squeezes shoulder room in the rear, too.

The eight-way-adjustable power front seats offer adequate support and there's a one-touch electronic trigger that moves them aside for rear-seat access. A pop-up rollover bar behind the rear seats is for safety, but you never want to see it in serious action.

One little bit of attention to detail that matters: The ventilation system is tailored to the position of the top. That is, the volume and distribution of heated or cooled air changes when the top is down. Very slick.

The IS 250 has a standard eight-speaker audio system with six-disc CD changer and amplifier, too.

As for cargo space at the rear, this is why Lexus built its own top rather than farm it out to some supplier, as is often the case. The engineers wanted a useful trunk.

When the top is up, there is space for two golf bags; down, there is room for one. This is more than a BMW 3-Series convertible. Oh, and the IS C has a full-size spare tire, while the 3-Series has no spare tire at all; it uses run-flat tires.

In driving, well, when the hardtop is snugged down, the IS C feels tight – much like any coupe. When the three-piece top is down, the car has a solid and sporty feel to it.

A six-speed manual transmission is standard with the 250, while for $1,600 you can add a six-speed automatic that Lexus says delivers a 0-100 km/h time in the neighbourhood of 8.3 seconds.

This really is a fine ride, though obviously not inexpensive in absolute terms. Lexus is in the game, though, and with an entry that stacks up very well against the competition.

***** ***** ***** ***** *****

2010 LEXUS IS 250C

Type: Premium, two-door, hardtop convertible

Base price: $52,100

Engine: 2.5-litre V-6

Horsepower/Torque: 204 hp/185 lb-ft

Transmission: Six-speed manual

Drive: Rear-wheel-drive

Fuel economy (litres/100 km): 9.8 city/6.7 highway; premium gas

Alternatives: Infiniti G37 convertible, BMW 3-Series convertible, Volvo C70, Audi A4 Cabriolet, Saab 9-3 convertible, Mercedes-Benz CLK350 convertible

Like