Lexus is allegedly moving forward with development
of a next-generation IS sedan, and these renderings provide a glimpse of what
the car could look like. Almuraba says that these renderings were recently created by Japanese
artists who’d been given a look at the vehicle’s design by Lexus. The
speculative renderings, sourced from a Japanese car magazine, depict the IS
receiving an overhauled exterior design radically different than the one we’re
familiar with.
Take a look at the front, for example. While the
company’s spindle grille has been retained, it has been enlarged for the new IS
and incorporates a new mesh design. Additionally, a pair of overhauled
headlights are found on either side of the grille, drastically altering the
look of the sports sedan.
Viewed from the rear, the new IS looks even more
intriguing. The taillights are new but just as dramatic as those of the current
model. Elsewhere, there’s a bulging decklid, an extended bumper with dual
exhaust tips, and new horizontal reflectors.
As recently as June this year, the Japanese
automaker admitted that it was taking a “strategic look” at the IS and GS and
had yet to decide if the two would be updated or killed off entirely. If it’s
true that preliminary designs of a next-generation IS have already been shown
to select individuals outside of Lexus, it seems likely that the automaker has
decided that the premium compact sedan will live on.
