
Lexus IS500 Climax Edition launched in Japan as final V8 sedan, limited to 500 units
Priced at ¥9,500,000 (or around ₹51.2 lakh), this premium model brings a refined blend of performance enhancements and styling upgrades Notify me
Lexus has unveiled what is likely its last V8-powered sedan—the IS500 Climax Edition, a limited-production product for the JapanESe market. With just 500 units planned, this edition is a farewell to the brand's legendary naturally aspirated V8 engine during this time of global electrification. Priced at ¥9,500,000 (or around ₹ 51.2 lakh), this premium model brings a refined blend of performance enhancements and styling upgrades. Scheduled to arrive in Japanese showrooms in August 2025, the Climax Edition is for collectors and enthusiasts who want a part of Lexus' high-revving heritage.
Lexus IS500 Climax Edition: Design
Visually, the IS500 Climax Edition distinguishes itself through a distinctive Neutrino Grey exterior paint finish that integrates metallic flakes into a pale grey base, presenting the sedan with an understated but aggressive look. Lexus defines the color as a visual depiction of "sporty, speedy driving." Adding to its stance are 19-inch forged BBS alloy wheels in matte black, designed to combine lightweight construction with high structural stiffness.
Also Read : 2025 Lexus LX 500d launched with upgrades & new Overtrail variant; priced start at ₹ 3 crore
Inside, the cabin receives a radical facelift with two-tone red and black interior trim. L-tex faux leather and Ultrasuede are applied throughout the seats, door trim, and console by Lexus, with red seatbelts and red-trimmed Ultrasuede garnish adding to the sport-luxury ambiance. Textured leather is used for the steering wheel and gear knob to remind one of Lexus's trademark premium build quality. Subtle branding elements—like a dedicated Climax Edition startup animation, laser-etched analogue clock, and badged door sills—add to the exclusivity. Lexus IS500 Climax Edition: Features and Specs
Under the hood, the IS500 Climax Edition continues to be powered by the 5.0-litre naturally aspirated V8, delivering 472 bhp. While the powertrain remains the same, performance sees an upgrade with a high-spec Brembo brake package. The vehicle now comes with six-piston red calipers and bigger 380mm 'pillar fin' brake rotors instead of the standard 356mm brakes. Special-engineered rotors provide greater cooling, an important upgrade for ultra-high-performance driving.
Also Read : The 2026 Lexus ES goes all-electric. Check out 5 key highlights of the novel sedan
Beyond braking, the mechanical setup is identical to the IS500 F Performance variant. The 8.0-inch TFT instrument cluster remains, now with Climax-exclusive startup graphics. Despite the emotional name, the Climax Edition is about achieving peak refinement and driving purity—true to the model's name in the performance sedan segment.
Check out Upcoming Cars in India 2024, Best SUVs in India.
First Published Date: 22 Jun 2025, 13:30 PM IST
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Hindustan Times
9 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Lexus IS500 Climax Edition launched in Japan as final V8 sedan, limited to 500 units
Priced at ¥9,500,000 (or around ₹51.2 lakh), this premium model brings a refined blend of performance enhancements and styling upgrades Notify me Lexus has unveiled what is likely its last V8-powered sedan—the IS500 Climax Edition, a limited-production product for the JapanESe market. With just 500 units planned, this edition is a farewell to the brand's legendary naturally aspirated V8 engine during this time of global electrification. Priced at ¥9,500,000 (or around ₹ 51.2 lakh), this premium model brings a refined blend of performance enhancements and styling upgrades. Scheduled to arrive in Japanese showrooms in August 2025, the Climax Edition is for collectors and enthusiasts who want a part of Lexus' high-revving heritage. Lexus IS500 Climax Edition: Design Visually, the IS500 Climax Edition distinguishes itself through a distinctive Neutrino Grey exterior paint finish that integrates metallic flakes into a pale grey base, presenting the sedan with an understated but aggressive look. Lexus defines the color as a visual depiction of "sporty, speedy driving." Adding to its stance are 19-inch forged BBS alloy wheels in matte black, designed to combine lightweight construction with high structural stiffness. Also Read : 2025 Lexus LX 500d launched with upgrades & new Overtrail variant; priced start at ₹ 3 crore Inside, the cabin receives a radical facelift with two-tone red and black interior trim. L-tex faux leather and Ultrasuede are applied throughout the seats, door trim, and console by Lexus, with red seatbelts and red-trimmed Ultrasuede garnish adding to the sport-luxury ambiance. Textured leather is used for the steering wheel and gear knob to remind one of Lexus's trademark premium build quality. Subtle branding elements—like a dedicated Climax Edition startup animation, laser-etched analogue clock, and badged door sills—add to the exclusivity. Lexus IS500 Climax Edition: Features and Specs Under the hood, the IS500 Climax Edition continues to be powered by the 5.0-litre naturally aspirated V8, delivering 472 bhp. While the powertrain remains the same, performance sees an upgrade with a high-spec Brembo brake package. The vehicle now comes with six-piston red calipers and bigger 380mm 'pillar fin' brake rotors instead of the standard 356mm brakes. Special-engineered rotors provide greater cooling, an important upgrade for ultra-high-performance driving. Also Read : The 2026 Lexus ES goes all-electric. Check out 5 key highlights of the novel sedan Beyond braking, the mechanical setup is identical to the IS500 F Performance variant. The 8.0-inch TFT instrument cluster remains, now with Climax-exclusive startup graphics. Despite the emotional name, the Climax Edition is about achieving peak refinement and driving purity—true to the model's name in the performance sedan segment. Check out Upcoming Cars in India 2024, Best SUVs in India. First Published Date: 22 Jun 2025, 13:30 PM IST

Business Standard
12 hours ago
- Business Standard
Renault, Volkswagen, Skoda continue to struggle to boost sales in India
European mass market automotive brands Renault, Volkswagen, and Skoda continue to struggle to enhance presence in the Indian market, witnessing sales decline in the last three financial years, industry data showed. According to data by JATO Dynamics, a leading provider of data and analytics to the global automotive industry, Renault saw the biggest sales dip in India to 37,900 units in 2024-2025 from 45,439 units in 2023-2024, and 78,926 units in 2022-2023. Similarly, Skoda's sales in India in 2024-2025 were at 44,866 units, marginally higher from 44,522 units in 2023-2024, but down from 52,269 units in 2022-2023. On the other hand, the Volkswagen brand posted sales of 42,230 units in 2024-25, down from 43,197 units in 2023-2024. The brand had clocked sales of 41,263 units in 2022-2023. "Renault, Skoda, and Volkswagen faced several headwinds in India despite their tenure," JATO Dynamics India President Ravi G Bhatia told PTI. Explaining why these brands have struggled in India, he said, "Initially, these brands focused heavily on sedans -- Vento, Rapid, and Scala -- which limited their exposure to the fast-expanding SUV segment." Simultaneously, Bhatia said, "They were slower in refreshing product lines, with many models remaining unchanged over extended periods. Network reach has also remained narrow, particularly in Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets, restricting access to a broader audience." Adding to the woes of these brands is "India's unique tax structure, where sub-4-metre vehicles benefit from significantly lower levies". "This has favoured Japanese and Korean OEMs known for cost-effective compact cars. European brands, by contrast, traditionally build larger models and have struggled to deliver competitive offerings within this constraint," Bhatia noted. Under the current policy, passenger vehicles (petrol, CNG, LPG) up to 4 metres in length and up to 1200cc engine attract GST of 28 per cent and 1 per cent compensation cess. Passenger vehicles (diesel) up to 4 metres in length and up to 1500 cc engine is levied 28 per cent GST and 3 per cent compensation cess. Passenger vehicles of length above 4 metre and engine capacity 1500 cc attract 28 per cent GST and cess of 17 per cent, while those above 1500 cc engine size attract 28 per cent GST and cess of 17 per cent. On the other hand, passenger vehicles, popularly known as SUVs -- above 4 metres in length, above 1,500cc engine and more than 170 mm in ground clearance -- attract 28 per cent GST with 22 per cent compensation cess. Bhatia noted that while domestic OEMs like Tata and Mahindra lead by Japanese Maruti Suzuki have captured market share through high localisation, frequent product launches, and early adoption of alternative fuel engines including CNG, hybrids and BEVs, the European players have lagged in electric and hybrid offerings. However, he said, "There are signs of course correction. Skoda, for instance, recently launched the Kylaq, a subcompact SUV tailored for India." On the path forward for these European brands, he said it "may lie in leveraging India for exports and R&D while focusing on under-4-metre, cost-competitive platforms". With such realignments, sustainable growth is possible, he added.


Time of India
15 hours ago
- Time of India
European carmakers Renault, Volkswagen and Skoda struggle to boost sales in India
European mass market car manufacturers like Renault , Volkswagen and Skoda continue to find it hard to expand their presence in the India market, witnessing a decline in sales in the last three financial years, industry data showed. According to data released by JATO Dynamics, a leading provider of data and analytics to the global automotive industry, Renault saw the biggest sales dip in India to 37,900 units in 2024-2025 from 45,439 units in 2023-2024, and 78,926 units in 2022-2023. Skoda had a similar story with sales in 2024-2025 at 44,866 units, marginally higher from 44,522 units in 2023-2024, but down from 52,269 units in 2022-2023. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villa For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas in Dubai | Search ads Learn More Volkswagen reported sales of 42,230 units in 2024-25, down from 43,197 units in 2023-2024. The brand had reported sales of 41,263 units in 2022-2023. "Renault, Skoda, and Volkswagen faced several headwinds in India despite their tenure," JATO Dynamics India President Ravi G Bhatia told PTI. Live Events Explaining why these brands have struggled in India, he said, "Initially, these brands focused heavily on sedans like Vento, Rapid, and Scala, which limited their exposure to the fast-expanding SUV segment." Bhatia added, "They were slower in refreshing product lines, with many models remaining unchanged over extended periods. Network reach has also remained narrow, particularly in Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets, restricting access to a broader audience." Adding to the woes of these brands is "India's unique tax structure, where sub-4-metre vehicles benefit from significantly lower levies". "This has favoured Japanese and Korean OEMs known for cost-effective compact cars. European brands, by contrast, traditionally build larger models and have struggled to deliver competitive offerings within this constraint," Bhatia noted. Under the current GST policy, passenger vehicles (petrol, CNG, LPG) up to 4 metres in length and up to 1200cc engine attract GST of 28 per cent and 1 per cent compensation cess. Passenger vehicles (diesel) up to 4 metres in length and up to 1500 cc engine is levied 28 per cent GST and 3 per cent compensation cess. Passenger vehicles of length above 4 metre and engine capacity 1500 cc attract 28 per cent GST and cess of 17 per cent, while those above 1500 cc engine size attract a similar rate of 28 per cent GST and cess of 17 per cent. On the contrary, passenger vehicles, popularly known as SUVs above 4 metres in length, above 1,500cc engine and more than 170 mm in ground clearance attract 28 per cent GST with 22 per cent compensation cess. Bhatia noted that while domestic OEMs like Tata, Mahindra and market leader Maruti Suzuki have captured market share through high localisation, frequent product launches, and early adoption of alternative fuel engines including CNG, hybrids and BEVs, the European players have lagged in electric and hybrid offerings. However, he said, "There are signs of course correction. Skoda, for instance, recently launched the Kylaq, a subcompact SUV tailored for India." On the path forward for these European brands, he said it "may lie in leveraging India for exports and R&D while focusing on under-4-metre, cost-competitive platforms".