Lexus IS 2013 - first official pictures

Keith Adams, former editor, Honest John Classics
Thu, 10 Jan 2013

Meet the 2013 Lexus IS - Japan's latest challenger in the hotly contested executive saloon market, typified by the top-10 selling BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class as well as the Audi A4. The new IS is expected to go on sale in the UK during summer 2013.

The third-generation Lexus IS is a visual leap forward from the outgoing model, launched in 2005. The IS will initially be offered in the UK with the 2.5-litre V6, shared with the GS250 and a hybrid, which is expected to replace the diesel model in the current line-up.

Thankfully, the 2013 IS will be more accommodating than the outgoing car - it will both be wider and have a longer wheelbase. Rear seat passengers will be grateful for the additional leg and knee-room that Lexus promises that IS will have. Up front, the high centre console and LFA inspired seats point to a more sporting environment for the driver. Lexus also promises a high quality analogue clock and Jaguar XF-style electrostatic touch sensitive switches.

The exterior design is striking, with the IS adopting the now corporate spindle-shaped grille and the sharper-edged styling, which is an updating of the L-finesse style first revealed in the second-generation Lexus IS. The company also says that it is inspired by last year's LF-CC concept. Expect more details - including pricing and specifications to emerge at the Detroit unveil.

Lexus IS 2013 (6)

Comments

Falkirk Bairn on 11 January 2013

no diesel and no estate!

Omission of these 2 could be it's downfall.
X-type jaguar was slow to produce diesels and estates and never made the success it might have had

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Fadyady on 11 January 2013

Calling this Lexus striking is an understatement. Its shocking. Its boyishly bold.
Lexus would need to slip one under the 100g/km to draw the company buyers.

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Avatar on 11 January 2013

Looks amazing !!

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The Informed on 13 January 2013

Well, what can I say? Is there a reason why the rear lamps point down to the back wheels? Is there a point to all those random swages and jagged lines? The over-application of wanton motif simply spoil what is fundamentally a sleek, no-nonsense form. The front of this car is a very mediocre rip-off the much cleaner and more mature Audi designs and the whole thing fails to deliver anything new, something that Toyota/Lexus could really call their own. If, as I suspect, the designer is 16 years old, then a hearty 'well done'; this is a good design study. I only wish for your sake that the target buyers were in your age group.

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Raul Gutierrez on 29 January 2013

Guauuuu,buenisimo,exelente,Raul de Argentina

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Mark on 31 January 2013

Front looks shocking!!!

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