2010 Lexus IS C Convertibles

Al fresco allure

Mac Demere / autoMedia.com

Convertibles, like the two-door 2010 Lexus IS C, are sexy. According to Lexus research, convertible owners hope their car’s sexy toplessness will lead them to getting lucky. Often. And in interesting places. IS C buyers are expected to be split fairly evenly among genders. As they say in New Orleans, laissez les bons temps rouler—let the good times roll!

Sultry Styling

It’s unlikely owners of the 2010 Lexus IS 250C or Lexus IS 350C will fulfill their sexual dreams. But that’s only because potential buyers of these cars have Penthouse Forum-style fantasies. Lexus shared some of the ways open-top-car owners—both male and female—want to use their convertibles. All we can say is: What an intriguing, provocative bunch.

The Lexus IS 250C and IS 350C are two very good looking and alluring cars. While neither will turn you into a GQ model or Cosmo cover babe (unless that’s who you already are) anyone will look a whole lot better behind the wheel of either the Lexus IS 250C or the IS 350C convertibles.

Having the top down on a convertible is similar to being intimate: There are just times when you’re just not in the mood. (Maybe not with all convertible owners.) For that reason, the IS C has an automatically opening and closing, aluminum and steel hardtop. The Lexus IS C takes but 20 seconds to change from top-down look at (and do) me convertible into a metal-roof coupe. If you change your mind, you can be back on display in another 20 seconds. The top is all metal and includes a glass rear window. It is electrically operated and requires nothing more than the vehicle to be in park with the doors closed. The owner pushes a single button and holds it down for 20 seconds. No levers need be operated, and there’s no fabric top to be sliced open by bad guys.

Lexus calls the IS C a “hard-top convertible.” We won’t touch that line, except to say that the cars are also available with a hard-disc drive navigation system.

Captivating Convertible

The IS C is based heavily on the four-door IS sedan. However, the two-door convertible shares almost no body parts with its four-door sibling. The convertible is a bit more than two inches longer than the sedan, partially to accommodate the roof. Even with the roof stowed, there’s room for one golf bag, though golf, according to Lexus research, may not be on the owners’ minds. Perhaps it would better to say: It could accommodate a sleeping bag or large blanket.

With extensive under-chassis bracing, the IS C is solid feeling, top up or down. We charged into a freeway on-ramp marked for 25 mph while going 70 mph and noticed none of the chassis flex common with convertibles. The young lady in the front seat squealed in excitement through the turn. Maybe there is something to the convertible’s aphrodisiac properties. Could there be a pheromone associated with top-down motoring?

There’s room for four adults in the IS C. However if the passengers are tall, knee room will be at a premium.