Lexus IS250C - Paris motor show - 2008

Over on the Lexus stand, the wraps have just come off the IS250C convertible - the posh Toyota with the folding hard-top that'll be gunning straight for the 3-Series convertible when it reaches Europe next summer.

In the flesh, it's not good-looking, exactly, but certainly a lot better than the monstrosity that is the SC430.

The IS250C gets a three-piece hard-top that folds down in just 20 seconds - the quickest of its type in the world (yes, the Mazda MX-5 will retract quicker, but that's a two-piece, innit?).

Naturally, the convertible shares the IS250's 2.5-litre V6 and automatic transmission, so you're not looking at a rival to the M3 convertible just yet. Well, not until Lexus wedges the five-litre V8 from the IS-F under the bonnet, anyhow.

No, the really important news here is that, even with the roof down, there's still space in the boot of the IS250C for a golf bag. Because there's nothing that ruins the suavity of rocking up to the local 18-hole course in your premium Japanese chop-top quicker than having to play your round with a ping pong bat and a bicycle pump.