The all-new Lexus IS has made its global debut at the Detroit Auto Show ahead of local launch in a few months. Lexus Australia has confirmed the new range will include the new IS 300h hybrid as well as the IS 250 and IS 350 models.
All will be available in the popular F Sport guise which currently accounts for 30 per-cent of all IS sales and 50 per-cent of IS 350 sales. For the new model, F Sport variants gain great differentiation with more aggressive styling enhancements and unique suspension and steering calibration.
The IS 300h goes down the usual Lexus/Toyota route – a 2.5-litre, four-cyclinder Atkinson cycle petrol engine and an electric motor which combine to deliver 162kW of power. Lexus says the aim is to provide fuel consumption below 4.3l/100kms and exhaust C02 emissions under 100g/km.
Headlining smart new looks inside and out, Lexus says the all-new IS will deliver best-in-class rear seat leg-room and enhanced luggage capacity.
And the all-new IS lineup debuts no less than 12 new features and technologies for Toyota’s premium brand.
On the outside the all-new Lexus IS boasts a more athletic look, highlighted by the new corporate spindle grille front-end. Inside is more luxury and driver focus with some technologies (such as the steering wheel) coming straight form the Lexus LFA supercar.
With a 70mm longer wheelbase and 10mm extra width, Lexus has delivered 85mm more rear-seat knee-room and a 60/40 split-fold rear seat for load-carrying versatility.
Underneath, the chassis is much stiffer and the rear suspension switches to the new multi-link system first seen in the new Lexus GS range.
IS 350 models add the F Sport’s eight-speed automatic transmission with manual mode and down-shift throttle blipping.
