The Lexus IS Thread

Fresh-faced (rear-driven) Lexus IS sedan confirmed for South Africa

Lexus South Africa has confirmed the new Lexus IS sedan is scheduled to touch down early in 2021, with the local range set to comprise three derivatives at launch.

The Toyota-backed firm has also confirmed a seven-year warranty and maintenance plan will ship standard in South Africa.

 
Hotter sedan coming? Toyota files to trademark Lexus ‘IS500’ badge

Toyota has filed an application to trademark the Lexus “IS500” badge in North America, leading to speculation a hotter version of the sedan is in the works.

A member of gr86.org was seemingly the first to spot the application (covering “automobiles and structural parts thereof”), dated 25 June 2020 and filed with both the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the Canadian Intellectual Property Office.

Of course, Lexus already uses the “500” suffix on its LS sedan and LC coupé and convertible. Interestingly, though, while the LS500 employs the company’s turbocharged 3,5-litre V6 petrol engine (generating 310 kW and 600 N.m), the LC500 uses a 351 kW naturally aspirated 5,0-litre V8 unit shared with the RC F.

 
New Lexus IS F coming after all (with 354 kW V8 engine), claims report

A fresh report out of Japan claims Lexus will soon unwrap a new high-performance IS F model conceived to compete with the likes of the new BMW M3 and Mercedes-AMG C63.

According to Best Car, the recently revised IS sedan range will gain a full-fat F variant as early as November 2020, powered by the Toyota-backed firm’s naturally aspirated 5,0-litre V8 petrol engine.

The publication says the V8 will deliver 354 kW and 535 N.m in IS F form (interestingly, a touch more power and torque than it makes in the RC F) and be complemented by choice chassis updates.

The news follows Toyota’s July 2020 application to trademark the Lexus “IS500” badge in North America. At the time, rumours suggested it would feature either a turbocharged 3,5-litre V6 or the aforementioned free-breathing V8.

 
Due in SA 'early 2021' - Lexus shares info on its SA-bound IS sports sedan

• Lexus new IS sedan will arrive in South Africa early next year.

• The launch is scheduled to take place during the first quarter of 2021.

• The new range will comprise three models.

Lexus South Africa announced that its new IS will arrive on local soil in early 2021. The new car, according to Lexus, will push the limits of dynamic performance, coupled with the application of state-of-the-art technologies.

Lexus SA says that the first allocation for our market will arrive and launch in the first quarter of next year. The local line-up will comprise three models, featuring, as standard, 18-inch alloy wheels, while the top model will boast 19-inchers.

Other features will include an electric park brake (replacing foot-operated unit), new 10.3-inch touch-display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, all-speed active cruise control for two of the model grades, as well as lane-tracing assist amongst others.

 
Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance

The reimagined front-engine rear-wheel-drive IS struck the perfect balance of sportiness and sophistication, making it the best IS to date. However, Chief Engineer Naoki Kobayashi and his team at Lexus International have been working on something truly special exclusively for the North American market. Enter the first-ever Lexus IS 500 F SPORT Performance, which dials up the sports sedan formula to eleven with the addition of a powerful 472-horsepower naturally aspirated V8 engine and ferocious quad exhaust system. It expands the IS family and ushers in a new era of F SPORT Performance models that will appeal to passionate driving enthusiasts that crave higher levels of performance over the standard F SPORT models.

A Rare Breed: Lexus F SPORT Performance Line

As the first model in the new Lexus F SPORT Performance line, the IS 500 engine provides a boost in displacement and performance over the IS 350's 3.5-liter V6. With a push of the engine start button, its naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 engine roars to life, providing a not-so-subtle reminder that something special lies beneath its raised hood. The Lexus IS 500 has a maximum output of 472 hp at 7,100 rpm and 395 lb.-ft. of peak torque at 4,800 rpm. Despite the drastically more powerful engine, the vehicle tips the scales at 3,891 pounds, gaining only 143 pounds of additional curb weight over the standard IS 350 F SPORT. The IS 500 is capable of delivering a 0-to-60 mph time of 4.5 seconds and has a manufacturer-estimated 24 mpg highway rating. Other Lexus IS 500 performance enhancements include a throaty quad exhaust system with dual stacked tail pipes that perfectly amplify the new V8 engine. This exhaust not only sounds ferocious, but is inspired by F models, like the RC F.


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New Lexus IS500 F Sport Performance debuts with 352 kW V8 engine!

Lexus in North America has whipped the covers off its new IS500 F Sport Performance model, which upgrades to V8 power.

Based on the latest version of the rear-driven sedan, the IS500 adopts the Japanese firm’s naturally aspirated 5,0-litre V8 engine, which delivers 352 kW at 7 100 r/min and 536 N.m at 4 800 r/min. The IS500 employs the same eight-speed automatic transmission as the IS300 and IS350.

Lexus claims the newcomer will hit 100 km/h from standstill in a shade over 4,5 seconds, while benefiting from “performance enhancements” such as a “throaty” quad exhaust system with dual stacked tailpipes.

Billed as the first model in the new Lexus F Sport Performance line, the IS500 is technically not a full-fat “F” derivative (is a more extreme IS F on the way?). Interestingly, the new model appears to have been conceived exclusively for the North American market.

 
New Lexus IS F coming with M3-eclipsing 400 kW V8 engine – report

A fresh report out of Australia claims the long-rumoured new Lexus IS F will take on the new BMW M3 Competition with a twin-turbo V8 engine offering around 400 kW.

Of course, Toyota’s luxury arm recently revealed the new IS500 F Sport for North America, with that model employing the brand’s 352 kW/536 N.m naturally aspirated 5,0-litre V8 engine and eight-speed automatic transmission.

According to motoring.com.au, this leaves space for the new IS F, which it expects will be powered by the automaker’s new twin-turbo 4,0-litre V8 petrol engine. This doesn’t quite line up with earlier reports out of Japan claiming the turbocharged V8 would be reserved for the LC F and LS F.

 

2021 Lexus IS Specs and Pricing

The new 2021 Lexus IS has landed in South Africa and here's what you can expect to pay for the sedan.

The new Japanese sedan will be available to order from the first week of April 2021 from Lexus dealerships. Pitched against the established German opposition like the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, BMW 3 Series and Audi A4, the new Lexus IS comes to market in three levels of trim with one engine across the range.

Sadly for the performance fans, Lexus South Africa has changed its strategy and will be launching the newcomer as a hybrid-only range. To justify this decision, the hybrid market has shown immense growth in the last few years and we're seeing a shift to alternative-propulsion vehicles.

How much does the Lexus IS cost in South Africa?

The 2021 Lexus IS is sold with a 7-year/105 000km Warranty and Full Maintenance Plan. The vehicle service intervals are pegged at every 15 000km, alternatively once a year.

Lexus IS300h EX R841 300
Lexus IS300h SE R899 800
Lexus IS300h F Sport R916 100

 
2021 Lexus IS sedan range priced for South Africa … but in hybrid form only

The heavily revised Lexus IS has touched down in South Africa, with the local range comprising only hybrid models.

While the outgoing line-up featured a turbocharged 2,0-litre engine, a naturally aspirated V6 unit and a hybrid powertrain option, the refreshed (likewise three-strong) range offers only the latter.

The IS300h arrangement again comprises a 133 kW/221 N.m naturally aspirated 2,5-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine mated with a 650 V permanent-magnet synchronous electric motor (producing 105 kW). An electronically controlled continuously variable transmission drives the rear wheels.

The result is a combined total output of 164 kW, a claimed 5,2 L/100 km combined fuel figure and a claimed 0-100 km/h time of 8,7 seconds. Billed as a “self-charging” (rather than plug-in) hybrid, the IS300h can be driven in petrol-electric or pure electric modes.

Pricing:

Lexus IS300h EX: R841 300
Lexus IS300h SE: R899 800
Lexus IS300h F Sport: R916 900


IS 1.jpgIS 2.jpgIS 3.jpgIS 4.jpgIS 5.jpgIS 6.jpg
 
2021 Lexus IS sedan range priced for South Africa … but in hybrid form only

The heavily revised Lexus IS has touched down in South Africa, with the local range comprising only hybrid models.

While the outgoing line-up featured a turbocharged 2,0-litre engine, a naturally aspirated V6 unit and a hybrid powertrain option, the refreshed (likewise three-strong) range offers only the latter.

The IS300h arrangement again comprises a 133 kW/221 N.m naturally aspirated 2,5-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine mated with a 650 V permanent-magnet synchronous electric motor (producing 105 kW). An electronically controlled continuously variable transmission drives the rear wheels.

The result is a combined total output of 164 kW, a claimed 5,2 L/100 km combined fuel figure and a claimed 0-100 km/h time of 8,7 seconds. Billed as a “self-charging” (rather than plug-in) hybrid, the IS300h can be driven in petrol-electric or pure electric modes.

Pricing:

Lexus IS300h EX: R841 300
Lexus IS300h SE: R899 800
Lexus IS300h F Sport: R916 900


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IMO extremely dumb move by Lexus SA. Bin the 4-pot turbo & the N/A V6 & only have the 1 hybrid option in SA? Do they actually want to sell this vehicle?
 
IMO extremely dumb move by Lexus SA. Bin the 4-pot turbo & the N/A V6 & only have the 1 hybrid option in SA? Do they actually want to sell this vehicle?
As far as I'm aware their entire model line is now hybrid or electric, with the only exception being the LC and RC F using the V8.

So I don't think Lexus SA would have had a choice in the matter.
 
As far as I'm aware their entire model line is now hybrid or electric, with the only exception being the LC and RC F using the V8.

So I don't think Lexus SA would have had a choice in the matter.
In Murica & Euro-land yes, but places like Aussie-land (which also just got this updated model a few weeks ago) they still have the boosted 4-pot & the N/A V6:


IS.JPG
Major missed opportunity.
 
Striking new Lexus IS sedan in SA soon, with a steep price tag

The new-generation Lexus IS, and latest attempt to take on the BMW 3 Series, is set to hit South African showrooms soon sporting a striking new design, modernised cabin tech and a hybrid powertrain.

Whereas previous IS generations were available with six-cylinder power, the only powertrain offered in the new line-up is a hybrid, which pairs a 2.5-litre normally aspirated petrol engine to an electric motor for a system output of 164kW. This, says Lexus, is enough to enable an 8.7 second 0-100km/h sprint, but there will no doubt be potential buyers hoping for more in the way of performance, particularly at the prices Lexus is charging for the new IS...

Customers will be able to pre-order their IS from the first week of April, with Lexus offering a choice of three derivatives - an IS 300h EX priced at R841 300, an SE version for R899 800 and an F-Sport for R916 300.

That is a significant premium over its rivals from Germany, and the new Lexus could be a hard sell against BMW’s 330i, which offers 190kW of power at R776 876, and the 150kW Mercedes C200 that retails from R757 200. However, these rivals don’t offer hybrid drivetrains, which will give the Lexus a unique selling point among those buyers seeking to lower their carbon footprint.

 
In Murica & Euro-land yes, but places like Aussie-land (which also just got this updated model a few weeks ago) they still have the boosted 4-pot & the N/A V6:


View attachment 1038942
Major missed opportunity.
OK, fair enough.
 
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