XE10 AS200 2.0 (1G-FE)

STORY

The Altezza went on sale in Japan in October 1998 as a rear-drive sports sedan. Outside Japan the same car was the first Lexus IS. Engines were a 2.0-litre straight-six (1G-FE, 160 PS) and a 2.0-litre four (3S-GE, 210 PS with the six-speed manual, 200 PS with the automatic). It was named Japan Car of the Year for 1998 to 1999. The Altezza Gita wagon followed in July 2001 with a 3.0-litre straight-six. When Lexus began selling cars in Japan in 2005 the second-generation IS took over, and the Altezza name ended after one generation.