Lexus Teases its Nipped and Tucked IS Ahead of Beijing Debut

Lexus IS Beijing Teaser (Credit: © Lexus)

The Lexus IS had an uphill battle when it entered the luxury sports sedan segment in 2002 as the IS 300. Not only was Lexus still trying to shake its upscale-Toyota image, but it also lacked the performance credentials that made the 3 Series and C-Class so great. As the IS moved through its three generations, it consistently got better and more refined, but the latest generation reached new height with the elimination of the useless IS 250 and the introduction of the IS 200t. According to a press release from Lexus, the restyled IS is set to make its debut at the 2016 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition.

Ahead of its debut, the Japanese luxury automaker has revealed a teaser image that gives us a sneak peek at the new sports sedan. Sadly, there is not too much information to go off of, but Lexus does mention that the new IS will “bring exciting breakthroughs based on the Lexus signature L-finesse design philosophy.” This is evident in the teaser image as it shows off a front quarter of more aggressive-looking, but still-familiar IS. Also noticeable in the image is the advanced, RC-influenced LED lighting underscored by the signature checkmark LED accent.

Given Lexus’ history with new-gen models, the IS’ look will be totally new, but its powertrains will be relatively unchanged. This means we’ll likely see the same three levels of IS, including the IS 200t, the IS 300 AWD, and the IS 350. These models may see mild power increases to keep them fresh, but the base mechanics should remain the same. We may also see Lexus’ eight-speed auto adapted for use on the IS 300 AWD.

The Beijing show kicks off on April 25th, so stay tuned to learn all about the new IS.