The wait for the new Lexus IS is almost
over as the Japanese automaker has announced the official debut date. The
fourth-generation Lexus IS compact luxury sedan will debut as part of a virtual
press conference scheduled for June 9 at 7:00 p.m. EST in the U.S. and June 10
at 8 a.m. JST in Japan. To sweeten the wait, Lexus has released a preview image
of the new Lexus IS which shows a striking lighting signature spanning the
entire width of the car.
While very dark, the image can be
brightened, revealing additional details. Those include the triangular
taillights united by a thin LED strip and a rear diffuser integrated into what
we can only guess is an aggressive-looking bumper. Overall, the 2021 Lexus IS
is expected to take inspiration from the LS flagship as far as the styling is
concerned.
Lexus did not reveal anything else about
the fourth-gen IS, which remains a bit of an enigma as far as its underpinnings
go. Some sources claim it will stick to the old platform instead of switching
to the latest TNGA-L architecture. Furthermore, most powertrains are expected
to carry over from today’s third-generation model as well. Don’t expect to see
a V8, though, which is now only offered on the RC F – essentially the coupe
version of the IS.
Still, Lexus is rumored to consider a
performance-oriented model called the IS 500, which could pack a twin-turbo
3.5-liter V6 making 416 hp and 599 Nm of torque. Stay
tuned, we’ll learn which of these tidbits of information are accurate and which
are not on June 9.
