| A Lexus IS300 SportCross
has completed the annual Cape-to-Cape Challenge in a new record time.
The standard, road-going car covered the 5,540 km (3,463 miles_ from Nordkapp
in Arctic Norway to Cape Tarifa in southern Spain in 55 hours 24 minutes,
averaging 100.00km/h (62.51mp)h and beating the previous best by 31 minutes.
The three-man crew that successfully completed the cross-continental challenge in record time |
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The grille of the successful Lexus IS300 that completed the Cape-to-Cape Challenge |
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The challenge is not a race, but a carefully
regulated competition in which the teams must adhere to all national speed
limits and plan their route entirely on public highways between continental
Europe’s northern and southernmost points.
" We couldn’t have had a better car for the challenge
than the Lexus with its combination of superb engine and gearbox, wonderful
comfort and a navigation system that was invaluable in helping us plot
and keep to the most time-efficient route. Throughout the event, we didn’t
incur a single penalty point," said Brain Laban, one of the three dirvers.
"On our return to the UK we had spent nine days in the car and covered
more than 8,000 miles without it missing a beat, it was superb. Apart
from filling the fuel tank, we didn’t have to touch it."
Although renowned as a performance car, the Lexus IS300 SportCross returned
excellent fuel economy for its class. Achieving 760 km (475 miles) on
a full tank, the team recorded a best average consumption of 8.88 l/100
km (31.8mpg)..
The IS300 SportCross is Lexus’s innovative "crossover" car that
combines the poise, performance and luxury of the IS300 saloon with the
convenience and versatility of a compact five-door estate. Its 213 ps
(157 kW) 3.0-litre straight-six engine is matched to a five-speed automatic
transmission, driving the rear wheels. This configuration, combined with
a near 50:50 front-to-rear weight ratio and double wishbone suspension
all round, delivers exceptional handling performance.
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