When it comes to cars with comfortable and luxurious designs, Lexus is among the leading auto manufacturers. Lexus being a luxury division of Toyota offers excellent build quality, efficient performance, advanced technology, and reliability. While Lexus LS and ES are among the top sedans by this brand, the IS model was introduced in the auto brand’s sedan lineup in 1998.
‘IS’ stands for ‘Intelligent Sports’. That said, Lexus stays true to its naming convention as this compact executive sedan features a sporty exterior and delivers performance with great responsiveness. Lexus IS history spans over three generations featuring innovative technology and high performance.
Let’s revisit the journey of Lexus IS and how it has evolved over the years.
Evolution of Lexus IS
Introduced specifically for the European market, the Lexus lS 200 model is a compact sports sedan. Featuring Lexus innovation and state-of-the-art engineering, the IS model featured new and advanced technology.
Let’s go through the history of Lexus IS Series and rewind its journey to becoming one of the most popular sports sedans.
FIRST-GENERATION LEXUS IS (1998-2005)
It is an interesting fact about Lexus that it is Toyota’s luxury division. Speaking of that, before the introduction of the first generation Lexus IS, it was known as Toyota Altezza in Japan. Later, the IS 200 model debuted in 1999. It was powered by a 2.0-litre engine generating 153 horsepower.
Innovation included the LED tail lights and the sports chronograph instrument panel. The front fascia featured a trapezoidal grille with four slats and the logo in between.
In 2001, Lexus launched the IS Sports Cross model that featured a station wagon car body type. This car model in the Lexus IS history was specifically launched in the USA with 3.0-litre engine generating 215 hp. It came with rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive options paired with 5-speed and 4-speed automatic transmissions, respectively.
While the front fascia of Sports Cross was similar to the IS 200 model, there were slight design changes on the rear and sides. There was a roof spoiler mounted on the rear windscreen and the roof extended behind the C-pillars. Besides, there was an additional side window on the rear side of this 5-door Sports Cross model.
SECOND-GENERATION LEXUS IS (2005-2013)
As a luxury division in the Toyota group brands, the second generation of Lexus IS was built on Toyota N-platform. As a sports sedan, this Lexus IS generation featured the following engine lineup:
- IS 250 came with a 2.5-litre V6 engine producing 208 hp.
- IS 350 provided a 3.5-litre V6 engine generating 310 hp.
The engine was paired with the 6-speed manual transmission whereas the 6-speed automatic transmission was available as an option for the buyers. The exterior and interior remained similar with a slight change on the rear side. As for the sedan’s rear side, it featured an ascending beltline on the tail lights.
In 2008, another sedan model was added to the Lexus IS lineup. Lexus IS-F featured a powerful 5.0-litre V8 engine generating 418 hp. Moreover, it was equipped with the following features:
- Brembo brakes
- Heated and sport seats with leather upholstery
- Xenon headlights type
- Dual-zone automatic climate control
- Keyless ignition system and entry
- A moonroof
- Modern active and passive safety features
A convertible model was also added to the lineup in the Lexus IS history. Lexus IS-C featured the same 2.5-litre and 3.5-litre V6 engines. This Lexus IS model featured a chrome grille and the sharp design with curved panels and rounded lines made the sedan more sleek and sporty.
THIRD-GENERATION LEXUS IS (2013 TO PRESENT)
With improved quality and enhanced driveability, the third generation of Lexus IS made its way in 2013. This IS generation was the first one to feature a hybrid car model in the Lexus IS history. The IS 300h model used a 2.5-litre engine paired with an electric motor. Whereas, the other two engines remained the same as the previous Lexus IS models.
Lexus IS-F was also introduced in 2014. It was different from the other IS models. Speaking of that, it featured a larger air intake and side exhaust vents on the front because it was a performance sedan model.
Moreover, the IS-F model was powered by a 5.0-litre V8 engine producing 422 hp and paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Alongside, it allowed drivers to change gears using two paddle shifters behind the steering wheel.
THIRD GENERATION FACELIFT (2016-2020)
The facelifted version of the third-generation Lexus IS was introduced in 2016. It included a modern infotainment system with Apple CarPlay. The grille was updated and this version featured a mesh grille replacing the horizontal slats. The engine lineup remained the same.
LATEST UPDATE IN THE THIRD GENERATION LEXUS IS (2020 TO PRESENT)
The latest upgrade featured Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Besides, the design was more sleek and sporty. Speaking of that, it included new headlights, and a spindle grille and the sedan was lower and wider than its predecessors.
The engine line-up included the following:
- Turbocharged 2.0-litre engine producing 241 hp (Available with rear-wheel drive)
- 3.5-litre V6 engine producing 260 hp (Available with AWD system)
- Turbocharged 3.5-litre engine generating 311 hp (Available with AWD and RWD system)
- IS-F Sport model came with 5.0-litre V8 engine producing 472 hp
All engines were paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Besides, this upgrade in the Lexus IS history offered sports seats, leather upholstery, or seats with high-quality cloth depending on the trim.
That wraps the complete Lexus IS history, one of the most popular used Japanese sedans in the UAE. You can look for a used Lexus IS in the UAE that offers the latest safety and tech features.
Besides, you can find other luxury and non-luxury used cars in the UAE and find the one according to your requirements.
Stay tuned to the UAE’s leading auto blog to find more facts about popular car makes and their top car models.
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