Trademarks are often worth just about as much as the paper the company filed them on, but some stand out more than others. Two recent trademarks that stand out are the IS 300 and RC 300 by Lexus.
While it isn’t odd to see a “300” trailing the letters in a Lexus name, what is odd is the lack of an “h” after the “300.” This “h” is a signal that the model is a hybrid, and it follows the only other “300” model in Lexus’s lineup, the 2013 Lexys ES 300h. So what is Lexus doing here?
In all of Lexus’ non-hybrid models, the numbers in the name indicate the engine size; for example, the RC 350, ES 350, IS 350, and GS 350 all have a 3.5-liter V-6, while the GX 460 has a 4.6-liter V-8, and the LX 570 has a 5.7-liter V-8. Logic says that Lexus is working on a new 3.0-liter V-6 engine, right?
This may not be the case, as some reports are indicating that the IS 300 and RC 300 will use an updated version of the current 3.5-liter V-6. While I appreciate the report, I cannot find any logical reason for Lexus to completely mess up its naming scheme by installing a 3.5-liter V-6 engine in an IS 300 or RC 300. It simply doesn’t make sense.
I think the more obvious answer, and the correct one, is the initial thought that Lexus is working on a new 3.0-liter V-6 engine. This makes me wonder if a turbocharger or two may be in order too, helping the IS 300 and RC 300 better match up with the 340i and the 440i (if Bimmer releases one), which produce 320 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque. This is 14 horsepower and 53 pound-feet more torque than the RC 350 and IS 350. Adding in a potent V-6 with a turbocharger seems like the logical move in the near future.
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