Torquey new 2016 Lexus IS 200t – Tuner's dream or nightmare? - Torque News
The 2016 IS 200t is a go, and even better, the car is not going to be saddled with all-wheel drive like all the IS 250s above the Mason-Dixon line have been for years, but will have rear-wheel drive. Not being experts in tuning ourselves, Torque News reached out to one of the most respected tuners and shops in the country, Vlad Yevtushenko at National Speed in Wilmington, NC (not far from Torque News headquarters). Vlad has tuned an uncountable number of customers’ cars, and the results are posted for everyone to see at the National Speed’s Facebook page (pending the owner’s approval). Vlad has also created two Toyota Supras tuned to over 1,000 hp. We expected Vlad to tell us the IS 200t would be a car that begged to be tuned. Before we went very far, Vlad stopped me and said “I can't honestly say I agree that this new Lexus will be a tuner’s dream. Lexus/Toyota has always been a challenge when it comes to tuning unless you go the full standalone route. This however isn't a very easy option for this new car because EVERYTHING is controlled by the ecu. Remove the Lexus ECU and you can't even open your doors or roll down windows. ” I asked if that ruled out the IS for tuning and Vlad said, “If the car is a. Source: www.torquenews.com
