Be it rear- or all-wheel drive, the Lexus IS is a genuinely good sedan. XE30 is how the third generation is called, produced since 2013 at the Tahara plant in Aichi, Japan. Come June 15th, the XE40 will be unveiled with great pomp and circumstance.
Toyota New Global Architecture – N replaces both the N and New N platforms with longitudinal engines, rear-, and all-wheel drive. However, some people claim that Lexus has actually upgraded the older platform instead of switching to the new one. Still, what is Lexus trying to say about the IS with the "Pure Sport" tagline?
The IS 350 isn’t exactly a sport sedan because the 2GR-FKS engine wasn’t designed to be a thriller in a straight line nor in terms of aural pleasure. The entry-level specification is the IS 300, featuring the 8AR-FTS turbocharged four-cylinder with 2.0 liters of displacement. An eight-cylinder option isn't likely to roll out, so don't get your hopes up for the revival of the IS F.
A hybrid option, probably named IS 500h, will feature the 8GR-FXS V6 and the Multi Stage Hybrid System automatic transmission while the only performance-oriented option will be the IS 500. As opposed to the V8-engined LC 500, we’re actually dealing with a twin-turbo V6 with 3.4 liters of displacement and a 10-speed auto.
The V35A-FTS is already used in the LS 500 full-size sedan, featuring a thermal efficiency of 37 percent. With 416 horsepower (421 PS) and 443 pound-feet (600 Nm) of torque from 1,600 to 4,800 rpm, this motor is pretty adequate for a compact executive sedan.
From the video teaser below, it’s obvious that Lexus went all out in terms of exterior design. Here’s hope the cabin won’t be as narrow as it is in the XE30, and let’s not forget that cargo capacity isn’t a strong point of the IS either. Still, what is that Pure Sport mumbo jumbo?
According to Lexus on social media, “the thrill of driving is back.” That's as ambiguous as marketing gets, more so if you remember about a brand called BMW and a model line known as the 3 Series. The plot twist, however, is that the IS has Hofmeister kinks while the G22 4 Series doesn’t.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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