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The Altezza (known in some markets as the Lexus IS 200 and Lexus IS 300) is a compact luxury car from Toyota.
The Altezza comes in 2 variants: the AS200, powered by the Toyota 1G-FE inline-6 engine (generating 160 bhp) and mated to a 5-speed manual transmission; and the RS200 powered by the 3S-GE inline-4 engine (generating 210 bhp) and mated to a 6-speed transmission. European and North American-market Lexus IS vehicles, as well as the Japanese hatchback version called the Gita are available with an optional 2JZ-GE 6-cylinder inline engine also found in the naturally-aspirated fourth-generation Toyota Supra. The 2JZ-GE powered IS series are popular amongst tuners because of this.
US-market sales of the Lexus IS300 have been disappointing. After hitting a high of 22,486 units in 2001, IS sales dropped below the 10,000-unit mark in 2004.
The MillenWorks-built Lexus IS 430 was unveiled at the 2003 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. The IS 430 prototype is an IS 300 fitted with a 4.3 L V8 from the Lexus GS 430. Lexus dubs the IS 430 a one-off with no plans for production.
2006
The Altezza will be redesigned for the 2006 model year and will be introduced in the Fall of 2005.
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