What Toyota’s luxury brand Lexus is calling a “daring new styling direction” since the last IS redo in 2013, sees an enlarged front grille on a car unveiled today at the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition.
Lexus admits its recent front-end treatments are controversial and polarizing – critics call them snouts, and older Lexus customers are shopping elsewhere – but because the original styling of the current IS has proved popular it’s time to keep going more expressive/aggressive. Therefore some – but not all – changes grow bolder. The question is when bold grows into a parody?
The entire IS front fascia of the revised entry-level model has new headlamps, larger air intakes in the front bumper and an evolution of Lexus’ spindle grille. The reshaped headlamps are more pronounced than before and extend inward. The bumpers, with larger air intakes, flow from the fenders. Exec summary the new front end is even more aggressive. Happily, the rest of the exterior has just mild tweaks. Two new paint schemes – Deep Blue Mica and Graphite Black Glass Flake―are added to the IS’s color choices.
Really a Mild Mid-Cycle Freshening
The new IS model lineup remains unchanged with three engine offerings. The rear-wheel-drive IS 200t will be powered by the recently-added 2-liter twin-scroll turbocharged inline-4 with an intercooler, mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission.
This engine, first introduced on the NX crossover vehicle, has Variable Valve Timing-intelligent Wide that allows the engine to switch between Otto and Atkinson cycles by varying the intake-valve opening angles, and direct and port injection. It combines a high pressure fuel system for injection directly into the cylinders with a low pressure system for injection into the ports. Power is rated at 180kW at 5,800rpm; torque 350Nm at 1,650 to 4,400rpm.
The new IS’s safety equipment has been enhanced, combining Pre-Collision System, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Automatic High Beam control and Radar Cruise Control.
