Photo: X-Tomi Design
Last week, Lexus launched a small update for its IS lineup, adding two new engines and introducing a couple of new features as standard on all cars. The biggest news is the introduction of what we think will be the best selling model in the range.
That will be the 200t model that uses a new 2-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder mill making 241 HP and 258 lb-ft (350 Nm) of torque. That’s the most efficient choice and has plenty of grunt to get you up to speed fast.
This move also started a new trend over in Toyota and Lexus headquarters that are now looking to use more turbocharged engines on more models. Leaving that behind for a moment, let’s not forget why we’re here.
Seeing as Lexus is trying to be more efficient these days, the guys from X-Tomi Design thought that they might also start making more practical cars. Therefore, they imagined how a sport wagon version of the IS would look like and came up with this rendering.
At first it does strike you as odd but we must not forget that’s because we’re just not used to the IS looking.... like this! Traditionally, the car was built only in sedan guise, other body styles being the exception, like the Cabrio version of the previous model.
Furthermore, the styling of the car made up of a lot of straight lines that appear to ‘cut’ into the body doesn’t really seem to fit this body type.
Lexus did offer a sport wagon of its IS on the Mk1 versions, but it wasn’t all that popular. The reasons are still mainly unknown but as the tech evolved we think that it might attract a host of families interested in this bold design and some added practicality compared to the sedan.
Whether they will eventually build it or not, we couldn’t possibly say. After the flop that was the last sport wagon wearing the IS badge, it’s pretty hard to believe that the Japanese will give it another go. And then again, stranger things have happened and if Lexus is serious about rivaling the 3 Series, they need to offer a broader range of cars.
This move also started a new trend over in Toyota and Lexus headquarters that are now looking to use more turbocharged engines on more models. Leaving that behind for a moment, let’s not forget why we’re here.
Seeing as Lexus is trying to be more efficient these days, the guys from X-Tomi Design thought that they might also start making more practical cars. Therefore, they imagined how a sport wagon version of the IS would look like and came up with this rendering.
At first it does strike you as odd but we must not forget that’s because we’re just not used to the IS looking.... like this! Traditionally, the car was built only in sedan guise, other body styles being the exception, like the Cabrio version of the previous model.
Furthermore, the styling of the car made up of a lot of straight lines that appear to ‘cut’ into the body doesn’t really seem to fit this body type.
Lexus did offer a sport wagon of its IS on the Mk1 versions, but it wasn’t all that popular. The reasons are still mainly unknown but as the tech evolved we think that it might attract a host of families interested in this bold design and some added practicality compared to the sedan.
Whether they will eventually build it or not, we couldn’t possibly say. After the flop that was the last sport wagon wearing the IS badge, it’s pretty hard to believe that the Japanese will give it another go. And then again, stranger things have happened and if Lexus is serious about rivaling the 3 Series, they need to offer a broader range of cars.
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