Lexus IS
Encyclopedia
The Lexus IS is a series of entry-level luxury cars / compact executive car
s sold by Lexus
since 1998. The IS was introduced as an entry-level sport model slotted below the ES
in the Lexus lineup (and outside of North America, the Lexus GS
). The IS was originally sold under the Toyota Altezza nameplate in Japan (the word "altezza" is Italian
for "highness") until the introduction of the Lexus brand and the second generation Lexus IS design in 2006. The Altezza name is still used at times to refer to chromed
car taillights like those fitted to the first generation model, known as 'Altezza lights' or 'Lexus-style' lights.
The first-generation Altezza (codename XE10) was launched in Japan in October 1998, while the Lexus IS 200 (GXE10) made its debut in Europe in 1999 and in North America as the IS 300 (JCE10) in 2000. The first-generation, inline-6
-powered IS featured sedan and wagon variants. The second-generation IS (codename XE20
) was launched globally in 2006 with V6-powered IS 250 (GSE20) and IS 350 (GSE21) sedan models. A high-performance V8 sedan version, the IS F
, premiered in 2007. Hardtop convertible
versions, the IS 250 C and IS 350 C, debuted in 2008. According to Lexus, the IS designation stands for Intelligent Sport.
, who was responsible for the AE86 project. The AS200 and AS300 Altezza sedans formed the basis for the Lexus IS 200 and IS 300 models sold in markets outside Japan, primarily North America and Europe. A hatchback
-station wagon
version was sold in Japan as the "Altezza Gita", and in the US and Europe
as the Lexus IS SportCross. Overall, the XE10 came in three variants:
as standard, while a four-speed automatic was optional. The 2.0-liter 3S-GE inline-four powered RS200 (SXE10, sedan) featured a six-speed transmission, while a five-speed automatic was optional.
The design received critical acclaim at its 1998 launch, and was awarded Japan's "Car of the Year
" honor for 1998–1999. A year later, Lexus began marketing the IS 200 equivalent models in Europe. The IS 200 in Europe was listed as producing 153 bhp, with a top speed of 216 kilometres per hour (134.2 mph), and 0 to- acceleration in 9.3 seconds. The styling cues of the rear light clusters on the first generation models were copied by a number of after-market accessory manufacturers for applications on other vehicles. This iconic style of one or more internal lamp units, covered with a clear (or tinted) perspex cover made popular by Lexus, became known in many circles as 'Lexus-style' or 'Altezza lights
'.
The first generation IS interior featured unique elements not typically found in other Lexus models. These included a chrome metal ball shifter, pop-up navigation screen, and chronograph
-styled instrument panel (with mini gauges for temperature, fuel economy, and volts). For the European market, the IS 300 gained full leather seats rather than the leather/ecsaine of the 200, plus auto-dimming rear view and side mirrors, and HID headlamps. In the US, the Environmental Protection Agency
listed the IS 300 as a subcompact car
; although it technically had enough overall volume to be called a compact, rear seat room exhibited subcompact dimensions.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) crash test results in 2001 gave the IS 300 the maximum five stars in the Side Driver and Side Rear Passenger categories, and four stars in the Frontal Driver and Frontal Passenger categories. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
(IIHS) rated the IS "Good" overall for frontal collisions and "Good" in all six measured front impact categories.
For the first generation IS in the US market, sales hit a high of 22,486 units in 2001; subsequent sales years were less than forecast, and below the 10,000-unit mark in 2004. The IS 200 fared better relative to sales targets in Europe and Asia, while still well short of the sales volume achieved by the Mercedes-Benz C-Class
and other, mostly German-made competitors. This trend was indicative of Lexus' smaller global status; while Lexus' range of cars was very successful in North America, the marque's sales lagged behind its German rivals in Europe. In Europe, the lack of a manual gearbox option for the IS 300 may have limited sales in contrast to its rivals, the BMW 3-Series and the Mercedes C-Class.
An official concept model, the MillenWorks
-built Lexus IS 430 was unveiled at the SEMA
Show in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2003. The IS 430 prototype was an IS 300 fitted with a 4.3-liter V8 from the Lexus GS
. Lexus dubbed the IS 430 a one-off with no plans for production. In Europe, Toyota Team Europe (TTE) shoehorned a supercharged
4.3-liter V8 into an IS 300 bodyshell, the result was a 405 PS ECE sedan. In 2000, TTE also released a compressor kit for the IS 200 on the European market. An Eaton supercharger at 0.3-bar pressure boosted the power to 205 hp without sacrificing fuel consumption (+3.3 percent). The kit was initially available as an aftermarket fitment, but could also be obtained as OEM Lexus accessory on new cars through the official Lexus dealer network and was fully covered by the standard warranty. This model variant was discontinued when the IS 300 was released on the European market.
version was dropped from the lineup altogether.
Second generation IS models sold by Lexus in various markets have included:
The IS 250, IS 350 and IS F feature a D-4S direct injection
system with both port and direct fuel injectors. Certain Asian markets feature the IS 300 (GSE22) without direct injection.
Safety features on the IS models ranged from multiple airbags to stability control systems. A Pre-Collision System (PCS) was the first offered in the entry-luxury performance sedan market segment. NHTSA crash test results rated the second generation IS the maximum five stars in the Side Driver and Rollover categories, and four stars in the Frontal Driver, Frontal Passenger, and Side Rear Passenger categories; Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
scores were "Good" overall score for all fourteen measured categories in the front and side impact crash tests.
The second generation IS marked the next introduction of Lexus' new L-finesse design philosophy on a production vehicle, following the premiere of the 2006 Lexus GS
performance sedan. The sedan's exterior design featured sleeker, coupe-like contours, a fastback
profile, and a repeated arrowhead motif in the front fascia and side windows. The IS sedans carried a 0.28 Cd figure. The forward design was reminiscent of the earlier Lexus LF-C convertible coupe concept.
, the IS models sold by Lexus included the IS 250 and IS 220d sedans. The IS 250 was also available in Australia
, New Zealand
, Thailand
, Singapore
, Hong Kong
, Chile
(automatic only), Taiwan
, South Africa
and South Korea
.
On 6 December 2006, Lexus officially confirmed the existence of a high-performance variant of the second generation IS called the IS F. The Lexus IS F sedan (USE20) premiered at the 2007 North American International Auto Show
on January 8, 2007 as the launch product of Lexus' F marque lineup of performance-focused vehicles. The IS F went on sale several months later in North America and Europe. The IS F was capable of 0–60 mph (0–96.6 km/h) in 4.6 seconds, and had a top speed of 170 mph (273.6 km/h) (electronically limited).
The introduction of the second generation IS model marked a resurgence in sales for the IS line, with a 332 percent increase overall in 2006 compared to the previous year. In its first year of sales, the IS sold over 49,000 units, making it one of the ten best-selling luxury cars in the U.S. The IS line later took a median position in the entry-luxury market; in 2008 it sold behind the variants of the BMW 3 Series, new Mercedes-Benz C-Class
, and Cadillac CTS
, and ahead of the Acura TL
, Audi A4
, and Infiniti G35 sedan. Outside the U.S., the Lexus IS spearheaded Lexus' growing sales efforts in Europe, Australia, and South Africa, becoming the best-selling model in Lexus' lineup in many of the aforementioned markets.
All second generation IS models offered a more typical Lexus interior compared to the previous generation with a focus on luxurious accouterments. The interior featured memory leather seats, lightsaber-like electroluminescent instrument display lighting and LED interior lighting accents, the choice of faux-metallic or optional Bird's Eye Maple wood trim (aluminum composite on the IS F), and SmartAccess keyless entry with push-button start. Options ranged from touchscreen navigation with backup camera
to a Mark Levinson
premium sound system and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control.
. A more powerful IS 350 C also became available, with engine specifications analogous to those on the sedan models. The IS convertible went on sale in Europe in 2009, in North America in May 2009, and an IS 300 C was also produced for certain regions. The mid-cycle refresh in 2009 saw slight styling revisions to the interior.
In 2010, coinciding with the second IS line refresh, the diesel IS 220d was detuned with improved fuel consumption figures but lower power output by 27 bhp. The addition was called the IS 200d Building on its "F-Sport" line of parts and accessories for the IS 250/350, Lexus added factory-produced F-Sport IS models in 2010. The second refresh also include further interior updates for the IS line.
series across Asia. In Europe, the Lexus IS 200 was raced in the British Touring Car Championship
(through organizations such as BTC Racing), and the IS 300 was raced in the U.S. via the Motorola Cup North American Street Stock Championship touring car
series (with the manufacturer-sanctioned Team Lexus).
In 2001, Team Lexus entered three IS 300s in the third race of the 2001 Grand-Am Cup season at Phoenix, Arizona
, and won their first IS 300 victory that year at the Virginia International Raceway
. In 2002, Team Lexus raced the IS 300 in the Grand-Am Cup ST1 (Street Tuner) class, winning both the Drivers' and Team Championships, as well as a sweep of the top three finishes at Circuit Mont-Tremblant in Quebec
, Canada.
In 2008, the second generation IS 350 was entered in the Super GT
race series in the GT300 class (cars with approximately 300 horsepower
). The #19 Team Racing Project Bandoh IS 350 driven by Manabu Orido
and Tsubasa Abe achieved its first victory in its fifth race at the Motegi GT300 race. In 2009, The Project Bandoh WedsSport IS 350, driven by Manabu Orido and Tatsuya Kataoka, won both driver and team title in the GT300 class that season.
In April 2009, a Lexus IS F entered by Gazoo Racing finished second to the team's Lexus LF-A
in the SP8 class in the ADAC-Westfalenfahrt VLN 4h endurance race. A IS F was also entered in the 2009 24 Hours Nürburgring
race and finished third in the SP8 class. In August 2009, an IS F entered by Gazoo Racing and driven by Peter Lyon
, Hideshi Matsuda
, and Kazunori Yamauchi
won the SP8 class at the DMV Grenzlandrennen VLN race. Kazunori Yamauchi is the developer of Gran Turismo series
, of which the IS line is playable in several versions, and the IS F racer carried test equipment for future game modes. The 3 drivers, along with Owen Mildenhall, participated in the 2010 24 Hours Nürburgring
and finished in 4th place in the SP8 class, behind the 1st place ranked Lexus LFA.
Compact executive car
Compact executive car is a car classification term applied to premium cars smaller than executive cars. In European classification, compact executive cars are part of the D-segment. In North American terms, close equivalents are compact premium car, compact luxury car, entry-level luxury car and...
s sold by Lexus
Lexus
is the luxury vehicle division of Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corporation. First introduced in 1989 in the United States, Lexus is now sold globally and has become Japan's largest-selling make of premium cars. The Lexus marque is marketed in over 70 countries and territories worldwide, and has...
since 1998. The IS was introduced as an entry-level sport model slotted below the ES
Lexus ES
The Lexus ES series is a family of mid-size luxury sedans sold by Lexus since 1989. Now in its fifth generation, the series has been consistently built on the Toyota Camry platform with a V6 engine, automatic transmission, and front-wheel drive...
in the Lexus lineup (and outside of North America, the Lexus GS
Lexus GS
The Lexus GS is a series of mid-size luxury sports sedans / executive cars sold by Lexus since 1993. Designed to fill the gap between the ES and LS, and to provide Lexus with a performance sedan to compete in the mid-luxury class, three generations of the GS have been produced to date...
). The IS was originally sold under the Toyota Altezza nameplate in Japan (the word "altezza" is Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
for "highness") until the introduction of the Lexus brand and the second generation Lexus IS design in 2006. The Altezza name is still used at times to refer to chromed
Chrome plating
Chrome plating, often referred to simply as chrome, is a technique of electroplating a thin layer of chromium onto a metal object. The chromed layer can be decorative, provide corrosion resistance, ease cleaning procedures, or increase surface hardness.-Process:A component to be chrome plated will...
car taillights like those fitted to the first generation model, known as 'Altezza lights' or 'Lexus-style' lights.
The first-generation Altezza (codename XE10) was launched in Japan in October 1998, while the Lexus IS 200 (GXE10) made its debut in Europe in 1999 and in North America as the IS 300 (JCE10) in 2000. The first-generation, inline-6
Straight-6
The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase...
-powered IS featured sedan and wagon variants. The second-generation IS (codename XE20
Lexus IS (XE20)
The Lexus IS is the second generation of the Lexus IS line of compact executive cars and sport sedans. Sold by Lexus since 2005, the line includes multiple V6 gasoline-powered models, in four-door sedan and two-door convertible body styles. Additional sedan models also feature inline-four diesel...
) was launched globally in 2006 with V6-powered IS 250 (GSE20) and IS 350 (GSE21) sedan models. A high-performance V8 sedan version, the IS F
Lexus IS (XE20)
The Lexus IS is the second generation of the Lexus IS line of compact executive cars and sport sedans. Sold by Lexus since 2005, the line includes multiple V6 gasoline-powered models, in four-door sedan and two-door convertible body styles. Additional sedan models also feature inline-four diesel...
, premiered in 2007. Hardtop convertible
Convertible
A convertible is a type of automobile in which the roof can retract and fold away having windows which wind-down inside the doors, converting it from an enclosed to an open-air vehicle...
versions, the IS 250 C and IS 350 C, debuted in 2008. According to Lexus, the IS designation stands for Intelligent Sport.
First generation (XE10)
Produced as a direct competitor to the luxury sport sedans of the leading European luxury marques, the XE10 series Toyota Altezza and Lexus IS was designed with a greater performance emphasis than typically seen on prior Japanese luxury vehicles. The engineering work was led by Nobuaki KatayamaNobuaki Katayama
Nobuaki Katayama is a Japanese automotive engineer and former racing driver who was the chief engineer for the first generation Lexus IS, the Toyota Altezza in Japan, the first generation Lexus SC 400/SC 300, and the final generation of the Toyota Supra...
, who was responsible for the AE86 project. The AS200 and AS300 Altezza sedans formed the basis for the Lexus IS 200 and IS 300 models sold in markets outside Japan, primarily North America and Europe. A hatchback
Hatchback
A Hatchback is a car body style incorporating a shared passenger and cargo volume, with rearmost accessibility via a rear third or fifth door, typically a top-hinged liftgate—and features such as fold-down rear seats to enable flexibility within the shared passenger/cargo volume. As a two-box...
-station wagon
Station wagon
A station wagon is a body style variant of a sedan/saloon with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door , instead of a trunk lid...
version was sold in Japan as the "Altezza Gita", and in the US and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
as the Lexus IS SportCross. Overall, the XE10 came in three variants:
- AS200 (sedan or wagon) – 2.0-liter 1G-FEToyota G engineThe Toyota Motor Corporation G-family engine is a family of straight-6 piston engines produced from 1979 to present. It is notable in that only a single displacement, , was produced in this series...
inline-six, 160 hp JISJISJIS is a three letter acronym that can stand for:*Japanese Industrial Standards**JIS encoding**Shift JIS**Horsepower*Jakarta International School*Jeddah International School*Jerudong International School*Jabriya Indian School*Just in Sequence...
(118 kW) or 155 PS (114 kW), rear-wheel drive or 4WD; sold by Lexus as the IS 200 - RS200 (sedan) – 2.0-liter Yamaha-tuned 3S-GEToyota S engineThe Toyota S Series engines are a family of straight-4 engines with displacement from 1.8 L to 2.2 L produced by Toyota Motor Corporation. The series has cast iron engine blocks and alloy cylinder heads.-Table of S-block engines:-1S:...
inline-4Straight-4The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
, 210 hp JISJISJIS is a three letter acronym that can stand for:*Japanese Industrial Standards**JIS encoding**Shift JIS**Horsepower*Jakarta International School*Jeddah International School*Jerudong International School*Jabriya Indian School*Just in Sequence...
(154 kW), rear-wheel drive, not sold outside Japan by Lexus - AS300 (Gita wagon) – 3.0-liter 2JZ-GEToyota JZ engineThe Toyota JZ engine family is a series of inline-6 automobile engines. A replacement for the M-series inline-6 engines, the JZ engines were 24-valve DOHC engines. The JZ engine was offered in 2.5 and 3.0 litre versions.-1JZ:...
inline-6Straight-6The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase...
, 220 hp JISJISJIS is a three letter acronym that can stand for:*Japanese Industrial Standards**JIS encoding**Shift JIS**Horsepower*Jakarta International School*Jeddah International School*Jerudong International School*Jabriya Indian School*Just in Sequence...
(162 kW) or 215 hp SAE (160 kW), rear-wheel drive or 4WD; sold by Lexus (sedan or wagon) as the IS 300
1998–2000
Introduced in 1998 with the AS200 (chassis code GXE10) and RS200 (chassis code SXE10) sedans, the compact vehicle was produced using a shortened front-engine, rear-wheel drive midsize platform, allowing Japanese buyers to take advantage of tax savings imposed by Japanese government regulations concerning vehicle exterior dimensions and engine displacement, and adapted parts from the larger second generation Aristo/GS. The 2.0-liter 1G-FE inline-six powered AS200 (GXE10, sedan) featured a six-speed manual transmissionManual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
as standard, while a four-speed automatic was optional. The 2.0-liter 3S-GE inline-four powered RS200 (SXE10, sedan) featured a six-speed transmission, while a five-speed automatic was optional.
The design received critical acclaim at its 1998 launch, and was awarded Japan's "Car of the Year
Car of the Year Japan
The annual Car of the Year Japan award, also known as Japan Car of the Year , is given to newly released or redesigned vehicles released to the Japanese car buying market from November 1 of the previous year to October 31 of the current, and each award spans two calendar years. The award has been...
" honor for 1998–1999. A year later, Lexus began marketing the IS 200 equivalent models in Europe. The IS 200 in Europe was listed as producing 153 bhp, with a top speed of 216 kilometres per hour (134.2 mph), and 0 to- acceleration in 9.3 seconds. The styling cues of the rear light clusters on the first generation models were copied by a number of after-market accessory manufacturers for applications on other vehicles. This iconic style of one or more internal lamp units, covered with a clear (or tinted) perspex cover made popular by Lexus, became known in many circles as 'Lexus-style' or 'Altezza lights
Altezza lights
Altezza lights are vehicle tail lamp clusters consisting of one or more internal lamp units, covered with a clear acrylic cover made popular by Lexus...
'.
2000–2005
In 2000, a hatchback/station wagon model, the AS300 (chassis code JCE10), was introduced featuring a 3.0-liter 2JZ-GE inline-six engine. Equipped with rear- or all-wheel drive (JCE10, FR Gita Wagon; JCE15, 4WD Gita wagon), the AS300 featured a five-speed manual, or five-speed automatic for the FR Gita wagon and a four-speed automatic for the 4WD Gita wagon. The six-cylinder version (2JZ-GE) was only available in Japan on the Gita models. In the US, the IS 300 sedan debuted in 2000 as 2001 model and the wagon debuted in 2001 as a 2002 model with the same 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine (the 2.0-liter six-cylinder was not available), while in Europe, the IS 300 joined the IS 200 in the model lineup. All IS 300 models in the US were initially only available with the five-speed automatic transmission; this was also the case in Europe. However, a 5-speed manual was made available in the U.S. in 2002. Visually the exterior of the European IS 200 Sport and 300 were almost identical, the only differences being the boot insignia and the larger engined model initially having clear front indicators (later generalised to IS 200 range).The first generation IS interior featured unique elements not typically found in other Lexus models. These included a chrome metal ball shifter, pop-up navigation screen, and chronograph
Chronograph
A chronograph is a timepiece or watch with both timekeeping and stopwatch functions as well as other functions. Pocket watch chronographs were produced as early as the 18th century but did not become popular until the 1820s...
-styled instrument panel (with mini gauges for temperature, fuel economy, and volts). For the European market, the IS 300 gained full leather seats rather than the leather/ecsaine of the 200, plus auto-dimming rear view and side mirrors, and HID headlamps. In the US, the Environmental Protection Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
listed the IS 300 as a subcompact car
Subcompact car
Subcompact car is a North American term used to describe automobiles whose class size is smaller than that of a compact car, usually not exceeding in length, but larger than a microcar...
; although it technically had enough overall volume to be called a compact, rear seat room exhibited subcompact dimensions.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is an agency of the Executive Branch of the U.S. government, part of the Department of Transportation...
(NHTSA) crash test results in 2001 gave the IS 300 the maximum five stars in the Side Driver and Side Rear Passenger categories, and four stars in the Frontal Driver and Frontal Passenger categories. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is a U.S. non-profit organization funded by auto insurers, established in 1959 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. It works to reduce the number of motor vehicle crashes, and the rate of injuries and amount of property damage in the crashes that...
(IIHS) rated the IS "Good" overall for frontal collisions and "Good" in all six measured front impact categories.
For the first generation IS in the US market, sales hit a high of 22,486 units in 2001; subsequent sales years were less than forecast, and below the 10,000-unit mark in 2004. The IS 200 fared better relative to sales targets in Europe and Asia, while still well short of the sales volume achieved by the Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is a compact executive car produced by the Mercedes-Benz division of Daimler AG. First introduced in 1993 as a replacement for the 190 range , the C-Class was the smallest model in the marque's lineup until the 1997 arrival of the A-Class...
and other, mostly German-made competitors. This trend was indicative of Lexus' smaller global status; while Lexus' range of cars was very successful in North America, the marque's sales lagged behind its German rivals in Europe. In Europe, the lack of a manual gearbox option for the IS 300 may have limited sales in contrast to its rivals, the BMW 3-Series and the Mercedes C-Class.
An official concept model, the MillenWorks
MillenWorks
MillenWorks, known as Rod Millen Motorsports until 2005, is an automotive technology company started by Rod Millen in 1980. The company began by preparing Millen's rally cars, and evolved into designing and building them...
-built Lexus IS 430 was unveiled at the SEMA
SEMA
Specialty Equipment Market Association of the automobile aftermarket was formed in 1963 by Roy Richter, Ed Iskenderian, Willie Garner, Bob Hedman, John Bartlett, Phil Weiand, Jr., Al Segal, Dean Moon, and Vic Edelbrock, Jr...
Show in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2003. The IS 430 prototype was an IS 300 fitted with a 4.3-liter V8 from the Lexus GS
Lexus GS
The Lexus GS is a series of mid-size luxury sports sedans / executive cars sold by Lexus since 1993. Designed to fill the gap between the ES and LS, and to provide Lexus with a performance sedan to compete in the mid-luxury class, three generations of the GS have been produced to date...
. Lexus dubbed the IS 430 a one-off with no plans for production. In Europe, Toyota Team Europe (TTE) shoehorned a supercharged
Supercharger
A supercharger is an air compressor used for forced induction of an internal combustion engine.The greater mass flow-rate provides more oxygen to support combustion than would be available in a naturally aspirated engine, which allows more fuel to be burned and more work to be done per cycle,...
4.3-liter V8 into an IS 300 bodyshell, the result was a 405 PS ECE sedan. In 2000, TTE also released a compressor kit for the IS 200 on the European market. An Eaton supercharger at 0.3-bar pressure boosted the power to 205 hp without sacrificing fuel consumption (+3.3 percent). The kit was initially available as an aftermarket fitment, but could also be obtained as OEM Lexus accessory on new cars through the official Lexus dealer network and was fully covered by the standard warranty. This model variant was discontinued when the IS 300 was released on the European market.
Second generation (XE20)
The IS was completely redesigned in 2005 (2006 model year) and began arriving at dealerships in the third quarter of 2005, with the production version debuting at the 2005 New York Auto Show. The Toyota Altezza name ceased to be used with the introduction of the Lexus division in Japan, and the slow-selling SportCross station wagonStation wagon
A station wagon is a body style variant of a sedan/saloon with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door , instead of a trunk lid...
version was dropped from the lineup altogether.
Second generation IS models sold by Lexus in various markets have included:
- IS 200d – 2.2-liter 2AD-FHVToyota AD engineThe Toyota AD engine family is a series of DOHC inline-4 diesel engines. The AD engine is offered in 2.0 and 2.2 liter versions.-1AD-FTV:*TurbochargedApplications:*2006–present *2006–present...
Inline-4 diesel engineDiesel engineA diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
, 150 hp (110 kW), rear wheel drive - IS 220d – 2.2-liter 2AD-FHV Inline-4 diesel engine, 175 hp (130 kW), rear wheel drive
- IS 250 – 2.5-liter 4GR-FSEToyota GR engineThe Toyota GR engine family is an open-deck, V6 piston engine series. The GR series has a 60° die-cast aluminum block and aluminum DOHC cylinder heads. This engine series also features 4 valves per cylinder, forged steel connecting rods, one-piece cast camshafts, and a cast aluminum lower intake...
V6V6 engineA V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of three cylinders, usually set at either a right angle or an acute angle to each other, with all six pistons driving a common crankshaft...
, 204 hp (153 kW), rear wheel drive - IS 250 AWD – 2.5-liter 4GR-FSE V6, 204 hp (153 kW), all wheel drive (with front:rear torque split of 50:50 to 30:70)
- IS 300 – 3.0-liter 3GR-FEToyota GR engineThe Toyota GR engine family is an open-deck, V6 piston engine series. The GR series has a 60° die-cast aluminum block and aluminum DOHC cylinder heads. This engine series also features 4 valves per cylinder, forged steel connecting rods, one-piece cast camshafts, and a cast aluminum lower intake...
V6, 228 hp (170 kW), rear wheel drive - IS 350 – 3.5-liter 2GR-FSEToyota GR engineThe Toyota GR engine family is an open-deck, V6 piston engine series. The GR series has a 60° die-cast aluminum block and aluminum DOHC cylinder heads. This engine series also features 4 valves per cylinder, forged steel connecting rods, one-piece cast camshafts, and a cast aluminum lower intake...
V6, 306 hp (228 kW), rear wheel drive - IS 350 AWD – 3.5-liter 2GR-FSEToyota GR engineThe Toyota GR engine family is an open-deck, V6 piston engine series. The GR series has a 60° die-cast aluminum block and aluminum DOHC cylinder heads. This engine series also features 4 valves per cylinder, forged steel connecting rods, one-piece cast camshafts, and a cast aluminum lower intake...
V6, 306 hp (228 kW) all wheel drive, - IS F – 5.0-liter 2UR-GSEToyota UR engineThe Toyota UR engine family is a 32-valve quad-camshaft V8 piston engine series which was first introduced in 2006 as the UZ series it replaced began phasing out. Production started with the 1UR-FSE engine with D4-S direct injection for the 2007 Lexus LS. The series launched with a die-cast...
V8, 417 hp ( 311 kW), rear wheel drive - IS C – IS 250 C, IS 300 C, and IS 350 C; same powertrains as sedan equivalents.
The IS 250, IS 350 and IS F feature a D-4S direct injection
Gasoline direct injection
In internal combustion engines, gasoline direct injection , also known as petrol direct injection or direct petrol injection, is a variant of fuel injection employed in modern two-stroke and four-stroke gasoline engines...
system with both port and direct fuel injectors. Certain Asian markets feature the IS 300 (GSE22) without direct injection.
Safety features on the IS models ranged from multiple airbags to stability control systems. A Pre-Collision System (PCS) was the first offered in the entry-luxury performance sedan market segment. NHTSA crash test results rated the second generation IS the maximum five stars in the Side Driver and Rollover categories, and four stars in the Frontal Driver, Frontal Passenger, and Side Rear Passenger categories; Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is a U.S. non-profit organization funded by auto insurers, established in 1959 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. It works to reduce the number of motor vehicle crashes, and the rate of injuries and amount of property damage in the crashes that...
scores were "Good" overall score for all fourteen measured categories in the front and side impact crash tests.
The second generation IS marked the next introduction of Lexus' new L-finesse design philosophy on a production vehicle, following the premiere of the 2006 Lexus GS
Lexus GS
The Lexus GS is a series of mid-size luxury sports sedans / executive cars sold by Lexus since 1993. Designed to fill the gap between the ES and LS, and to provide Lexus with a performance sedan to compete in the mid-luxury class, three generations of the GS have been produced to date...
performance sedan. The sedan's exterior design featured sleeker, coupe-like contours, a fastback
Fastback
A fastback is a car body style whose roofline slopes continuously down at the back. The word can also designate the car itself. The style is seen on two-door coupés as well as four-door sedans.-History:...
profile, and a repeated arrowhead motif in the front fascia and side windows. The IS sedans carried a 0.28 Cd figure. The forward design was reminiscent of the earlier Lexus LF-C convertible coupe concept.
2005–2008
In North America, IS models sold at launch included the IS 250 and IS 350 sedans; in parts of EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, the IS models sold by Lexus included the IS 250 and IS 220d sedans. The IS 250 was also available in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
(automatic only), Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
.
On 6 December 2006, Lexus officially confirmed the existence of a high-performance variant of the second generation IS called the IS F. The Lexus IS F sedan (USE20) premiered at the 2007 North American International Auto Show
North American International Auto Show
The North American International Auto Show is an annual auto show held in Detroit, Michigan at Cobo Center, usually in January. It is among the largest auto shows in North America.-History:...
on January 8, 2007 as the launch product of Lexus' F marque lineup of performance-focused vehicles. The IS F went on sale several months later in North America and Europe. The IS F was capable of 0–60 mph (0–96.6 km/h) in 4.6 seconds, and had a top speed of 170 mph (273.6 km/h) (electronically limited).
The introduction of the second generation IS model marked a resurgence in sales for the IS line, with a 332 percent increase overall in 2006 compared to the previous year. In its first year of sales, the IS sold over 49,000 units, making it one of the ten best-selling luxury cars in the U.S. The IS line later took a median position in the entry-luxury market; in 2008 it sold behind the variants of the BMW 3 Series, new Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is a compact executive car produced by the Mercedes-Benz division of Daimler AG. First introduced in 1993 as a replacement for the 190 range , the C-Class was the smallest model in the marque's lineup until the 1997 arrival of the A-Class...
, and Cadillac CTS
Cadillac CTS
The Cadillac CTS is a mid-size car manufactured by the Cadillac marque of General Motors currently available in three body styles: Sedan, Coupe, and Sport Wagon. It was introduced in 2002 as a sports sedan, replacing the Cadillac Catera. The CTS and the supercharged CTS-V variant have been named...
, and ahead of the Acura TL
Acura TL
The TL "Touring Luxury" debuted as 1996 model, first with the 1996 2.5 TL available with the 2.5 L 176 hp SOHC 20-valve 5-cylinder engine from the Vigor. The 3.2 TL used the 3.2 L 200 hp SOHC 24v V6 from the second generation Acura Legend. The 2.5 TL was positioned as the...
, Audi A4
Audi A4
The first generation Audi A4 debuted in 1994, with production starting November 1994. It was built on the Volkswagen Group B5 platform, which it shared with the fourth generation Volkswagen Passat . It had a front-mounted longitudinal engine and front-wheel drive...
, and Infiniti G35 sedan. Outside the U.S., the Lexus IS spearheaded Lexus' growing sales efforts in Europe, Australia, and South Africa, becoming the best-selling model in Lexus' lineup in many of the aforementioned markets.
Backup camera
A backup camera is a special type of video camera that is produced specifically for the purpose of being attached to the rear of a vehicle to aid in backing up. Backup cameras are alternatively known as 'reversing cameras' or 'rear view cameras'....
to a Mark Levinson
Mark Levinson
The company Mark Levinson, now owned by Madrigal Audio Laboratories specializes in high-end digital audio processors, integrated amplifiers, power amplifiers, pre amplifiers, and CD players...
premium sound system and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control.
2009–present
In 2009, the IS line received a styling refresh, and the suspension and steering was retuned for improved stability and control. After three years with only one body style, the IS returned with a second body style, this time as a hardtop convertible, on 2 October 2008 when the IS 250 C debuted at the Paris Motor Show2008 Paris Motor Show
The 2008 Paris Motor Show took place from 4 October to 19 October 2008, in Paris Expo, Porte de Versailles.This edition of the Paris Motor Show featured a high number of hybrid and electric vehicles , a tectonic shift that led a New York Times blogger to ask, "Who killed the non-electric cars?".-...
. A more powerful IS 350 C also became available, with engine specifications analogous to those on the sedan models. The IS convertible went on sale in Europe in 2009, in North America in May 2009, and an IS 300 C was also produced for certain regions. The mid-cycle refresh in 2009 saw slight styling revisions to the interior.
In 2010, coinciding with the second IS line refresh, the diesel IS 220d was detuned with improved fuel consumption figures but lower power output by 27 bhp. The addition was called the IS 200d Building on its "F-Sport" line of parts and accessories for the IS 250/350, Lexus added factory-produced F-Sport IS models in 2010. The second refresh also include further interior updates for the IS line.
Motorsport
The first generation IS 200/300 and RS200 series was used by many racing teams, including TRD, to race in various touring car racingTouring car racing
Touring car racing is a general term for a number of distinct auto racing competitions in heavily-modified street cars. It is notably popular in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Germany, Japan, Scandinavia and Britain.-Characteristics of a touring car:...
series across Asia. In Europe, the Lexus IS 200 was raced in the British Touring Car Championship
British Touring Car Championship
The British Touring Car Championship is a touring car racing series held each year in the United Kingdom. The Championship was established in 1958 as the British Saloon Car Championship and has run to various rules over the years – "production cars", then FIA Group 1 or 2 in the late 1960s...
(through organizations such as BTC Racing), and the IS 300 was raced in the U.S. via the Motorola Cup North American Street Stock Championship touring car
Touring car
A touring car, or tourer, is an open car seating five or more. Touring cars may have two or four doors. Often, the belt line is lowered in the front doors to give the car a more sportive character. They were often fitted with a folding roof and side curtains. Engines on early models were either in...
series (with the manufacturer-sanctioned Team Lexus).
In 2001, Team Lexus entered three IS 300s in the third race of the 2001 Grand-Am Cup season at Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, and won their first IS 300 victory that year at the Virginia International Raceway
Virginia International Raceway
The Virginia International Raceway is a road course located in the community of Alton, Virginia near Danville, Virginia. It is found less than a half-mile from the North Carolina/Virginia border just outside Milton, North Carolina on the banks of the Dan River...
. In 2002, Team Lexus raced the IS 300 in the Grand-Am Cup ST1 (Street Tuner) class, winning both the Drivers' and Team Championships, as well as a sweep of the top three finishes at Circuit Mont-Tremblant in Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada.
In 2008, the second generation IS 350 was entered in the Super GT
Super GT
The Super GT series, formerly known as the All-Japan Grand Touring Car Championship or JGTC , is a grand touring car race series promoted by the GT-Association...
race series in the GT300 class (cars with approximately 300 horsepower
Horsepower
Horsepower is the name of several units of measurement of power. The most common definitions equal between 735.5 and 750 watts.Horsepower was originally defined to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses in continuous operation. The unit was widely adopted to measure the...
). The #19 Team Racing Project Bandoh IS 350 driven by Manabu Orido
Manabu Orido
is a Japanese racing driver who currently competes in the Super GT series for Toyota Team Tsuchiya in a Lexus SC 430 sponsored by Eclipse and AdvanOrido began his racing career as a street racer and then progressed to touge racing...
and Tsubasa Abe achieved its first victory in its fifth race at the Motegi GT300 race. In 2009, The Project Bandoh WedsSport IS 350, driven by Manabu Orido and Tatsuya Kataoka, won both driver and team title in the GT300 class that season.
In April 2009, a Lexus IS F entered by Gazoo Racing finished second to the team's Lexus LF-A
Lexus LFA
The Lexus LFA is a 2-seat exotic sports coupe produced by Lexus as a concept car, "halo" vehicle, racing prototype, and production model. It is the second model in the F marque line of performance vehicles from Lexus, following the IS F...
in the SP8 class in the ADAC-Westfalenfahrt VLN 4h endurance race. A IS F was also entered in the 2009 24 Hours Nürburgring
24 Hours Nürburgring
The 24 Hours Nürburgring is a touring car and GT endurance racing event on the Nürburgring Nordschleife . With a lap length of over , it allows the participation of more than 200 cars, and over 700 drivers.-Overview:...
race and finished third in the SP8 class. In August 2009, an IS F entered by Gazoo Racing and driven by Peter Lyon
Peter Lyon
Peter Lyon is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Hawthorn in the Victorian Football League during the 1960s....
, Hideshi Matsuda
Hideshi Matsuda
Hideshi Matsuda , is a racecar driver and Japanese TV reporter. He has raced in several 24-hour races, including Daytona and LeMans. He also raced 4 times in the Indianapolis 500, in 1994-1996 and 1999, usually for Beck Motorsports. He also drove in one CART Championship Car race at Twin Ring...
, and Kazunori Yamauchi
Kazunori Yamauchi
is a Japanese game designer, professional racing driver, and most notably, CEO of Polyphony Digital and producer of the Gran Turismo series. He became the president of Polyphony Digital after designing his first game Motor Toon Grand Prix, a cartoon-inspired racing title similar to Mario Kart...
won the SP8 class at the DMV Grenzlandrennen VLN race. Kazunori Yamauchi is the developer of Gran Turismo series
Gran Turismo (series)
is a popular and critically acclaimed series of racing simulation video games developed by Polyphony Digital.Developed exclusively for PlayStation systems, Gran Turismo games are intended to simulate the appearance and performance of a large selection of vehicles, nearly all of which are licensed...
, of which the IS line is playable in several versions, and the IS F racer carried test equipment for future game modes. The 3 drivers, along with Owen Mildenhall, participated in the 2010 24 Hours Nürburgring
24 Hours Nürburgring
The 24 Hours Nürburgring is a touring car and GT endurance racing event on the Nürburgring Nordschleife . With a lap length of over , it allows the participation of more than 200 cars, and over 700 drivers.-Overview:...
and finished in 4th place in the SP8 class, behind the 1st place ranked Lexus LFA.
Sales and production
Sales data for Lexus IS generations are as follows, with chart numbers sourced from manufacturer yearly data.| Generation (chassis code) | Model no(s). | Calendar year | Total sales, U.S., Japan | Total exports, production‡ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GXE10/SXE10/JCE10 | ||||
| IS 200/300 | 2000 | 15,540 | n/a | |
| 2001 | 22,486 | 30,475 | ||
| GXE10/SXE10/ JCE10/JCE15 |
||||
| IS 200/300/ SportCross |
2002 | 20,306 | 23,749 | |
| 2003 | 13,559 | 14,187 | ||
| 2004 | 9,972 | 11,114 | ||
| 2005 | 15,789, 3,911 | 10,253 | ||
| GSE20/GSE21/GSE25 | ||||
| IS 250/350 | 2006 | 54,267, 10,727 | 109,720‡ | |
| 2007 | 54,933, 9,514 | 110,907‡ | ||
| GSE20/GSE21/GSE25/USE20 | IS 250/350/F | 2008 | 49,432, 10,110 | 93,612‡ |
| IS 250/350/C/F | 2009 | 38,077, 5,278 | 43,369‡ | |
| IS 250/350/C/F | 2010 | 34,129 | n/a |
Technical specifications
| Drivetrain specifications by generation | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model year(s) | Model no(s). | Chassis code(s) | Engine type | Engine code | Transmission(s) | Power | Torque | |
| 2000–2005 | IS 200 | GXE10 | 2.0 L inline-6 | 1G-FE | 4-speed AT | 114 kW | 195 N·m (143.8 ft·lbf) @4600 rpm | |
| IS 200 SportCross | ||||||||
| 2001–2005 | IS 300 | JCE10 | 3.0 L inline-6 | 2JZ-GE | 5-speed AT/MT | 162 kW | 295 N·m (217.6 ft·lbf) @3800 rpm | |
| IS 300 SportCross | 5-speed AT | |||||||
| 2006–2009 | IS 220d | ALE20 | 2.2 L inline-4 | 2AD-FHV Toyota AD engine The Toyota AD engine family is a series of DOHC inline-4 diesel engines. The AD engine is offered in 2.0 and 2.2 liter versions.-1AD-FTV:*TurbochargedApplications:*2006–present *2006–present... |
6-speed MT | 130 kW | 400 N·m (295 ft·lbf) @2600 rpm | |
| 2006– | IS 250 | GSE20 | 2.5 L V6 | 4GR-FSE | 6-speed AT/MT | 153 kW | 252 N·m (185.9 ft·lbf) @4800 rpm | |
| IS 250 AWD | GSE25 | 6-speed AT | ||||||
| 2006– | IS 350 | GSE21 | 3.5 L V6 | 2GR-FSE Toyota GR engine The Toyota GR engine family is an open-deck, V6 piston engine series. The GR series has a 60° die-cast aluminum block and aluminum DOHC cylinder heads. This engine series also features 4 valves per cylinder, forged steel connecting rods, one-piece cast camshafts, and a cast aluminum lower intake... |
6-speed AT | 228 kW | 375 N·m (276.6 ft·lbf) @4800 rpm | |
| 2007– | IS 300 | GSE22 | 3.0 L V6 | 3GR-FE Toyota GR engine The Toyota GR engine family is an open-deck, V6 piston engine series. The GR series has a 60° die-cast aluminum block and aluminum DOHC cylinder heads. This engine series also features 4 valves per cylinder, forged steel connecting rods, one-piece cast camshafts, and a cast aluminum lower intake... |
6-speed AT | 170 kW | 300 N·m (221.3 ft·lbf) @4400 rpm | |
| 2007– | IS F | USE20 | 5.0 L V8 | 2UR-GSE Toyota UR engine The Toyota UR engine family is a 32-valve quad-camshaft V8 piston engine series which was first introduced in 2006 as the UZ series it replaced began phasing out. Production started with the 1UR-FSE engine with D4-S direct injection for the 2007 Lexus LS. The series launched with a die-cast... |
8-speed AT | 311 kW | 503 N·m (371 ft·lbf) @5200 rpm | |
| 2009– | IS 250 C | GSE20 | 2.5 L V6 | 4GR-FSE | 6-speed AT/MT | 152 kW | 252 N·m (185.9 ft·lbf) @4800 rpm | |
| 2009– | IS 350 C | GSE21 | 3.5 L V6 | 2GR-FSE Toyota GR engine The Toyota GR engine family is an open-deck, V6 piston engine series. The GR series has a 60° die-cast aluminum block and aluminum DOHC cylinder heads. This engine series also features 4 valves per cylinder, forged steel connecting rods, one-piece cast camshafts, and a cast aluminum lower intake... |
6-speed AT | 228 kW | 375 N·m (276.6 ft·lbf) @4800 rpm | |
| 2009– | IS 300 C | GSE22 | 3.0 L V6 | 3GR-FE Toyota GR engine The Toyota GR engine family is an open-deck, V6 piston engine series. The GR series has a 60° die-cast aluminum block and aluminum DOHC cylinder heads. This engine series also features 4 valves per cylinder, forged steel connecting rods, one-piece cast camshafts, and a cast aluminum lower intake... |
6-speed AT | 170 kW | 300 N·m (221.3 ft·lbf) @4400 rpm | |
| 2010– | IS 200d | ALE20 | 2.2 L inline-4 | 2AD-FHV Toyota AD engine The Toyota AD engine family is a series of DOHC inline-4 diesel engines. The AD engine is offered in 2.0 and 2.2 liter versions.-1AD-FTV:*TurbochargedApplications:*2006–present *2006–present... |
6-speed MT | 110 kW | 360 N·m (265.5 ft·lbf) @2600 rpm | |
| 2010– | IS 350 RWD only | GSE26 | 3.5 L V6 | 2GR-FSE Toyota GR engine The Toyota GR engine family is an open-deck, V6 piston engine series. The GR series has a 60° die-cast aluminum block and aluminum DOHC cylinder heads. This engine series also features 4 valves per cylinder, forged steel connecting rods, one-piece cast camshafts, and a cast aluminum lower intake... |
6-speed AT | 228 kW | 375 N·m (276.6 ft·lbf) @4800 rpm | |
Awards
- J.D. Power and AssociatesJ.D. Power and AssociatesJ.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information services firm founded in 1968 by James David Power III. The firm conducts surveys of customer satisfaction, product quality, and buyer behavior for industries ranging from cars to marketing and advertising firms. The firm is best known for...
named the second generation IS 250/IS 350 sedans the best vehicles in the entry luxury class in its 2006 Initial Quality Survey. - J.D. Power and AssociatesJ.D. Power and AssociatesJ.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information services firm founded in 1968 by James David Power III. The firm conducts surveys of customer satisfaction, product quality, and buyer behavior for industries ranging from cars to marketing and advertising firms. The firm is best known for...
named the first generation IS 300 sedan and IS 300 SportCross the best vehicles in the entry luxury class in its 2005 Initial Quality Survey. - Ward's Auto bestowed the IS 350 V6 engine with one of its 10 Best EnginesWard's 10 Best EnginesWard's 10 Best Engines is an annual list of the ten "best" automobile engines available in the U.S. market, that are selected by Ward's AutoWorld magazine. The list was started in 1994, and has been drawn every year since then....
awards in 2006. The IS 350 V6 engine was also named to the Ward's 10 Best Engines list in 2007. - The 2007 Lexus IS was the winner of the Intellichoice/AutoPacific Motorist Choice Award for Aspirational Luxury Cars, referring to the vehicle owners most desired in the luxury segment.
- The Lexus IS was named the winner of the 2007 IF product design awardIF product design awardThe iF Product Design Award was introduced in 1954 and is annually conferred by the iF International Forum Design. Every year the iF attracts more than 2,000 product entries from around 37 nations, which are judged by renowned experts, with the best of them receiving an iF seal of outstanding...
from the International Forum DesignInternational Forum DesigniF International Forum Design GmbH is a Hanover-based organization providing design-related services. International Forum Design was launched in 2001 as the operative business arm of design promotion company iF Industrie Forum Design Hannover e.V....
group in Hannover, Germany. - The 2007 Lexus IS was the winner of the Golden Steering Wheel Award in the Luxury category, according to German newspaper Bild am Sonntag. This award, selected by a jury panel of 25 automotive experts, was presented to Lexus in a Berlin ceremony.
- British automotive magazine Top GearTop Gear (magazine)Top Gear is an automobile magazine published by BBC Worldwide, and named after the BBC's Top Gear television show. It was first published in October 1993 and is published monthly at a price of £3.95. The major presenters of the television series—Richard Hammond, James May and Jeremy Clarkson—are...
named the second generation Lexus IS as the Executive Car of the Year in 2006. - The Canadian Car of the YearCanadian Car of the YearCanadian Car of the Year winners, as chosen by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada:-Canadian Car of the Year:-2011:Canadian Car of the Year winners, as chosen by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada:...
Awards, selected by the Automobile Journalists Association of CanadaAutomobile Journalists Association of CanadaThe Automobile Journalists Association of Canada is an association of professional journalists, writers and photographers whose focus is the automobile and the automotive industry in Canada. Since 1985 AJAC has held an annual Canadian Car of the Year award.-External links:* http://www.ajac.ca*...
, gave the IS 350 its Best New Technology award in 2006. - The Lexus IS was a finalist for Wheels magazine's Car of the Year (COTY) awards and also the World Car of the Year (WCOTY) award in 2006.
- Kelley Blue BookKelley Blue BookKelley Blue Book, headquartered in Irvine, California, is the United States' largest automotive vehicle valuation company. The company's website is a source for new and used vehicle pricing and information...
gave the first generation IS 300 its Best to Hold Value Award in 2001. - The IS 250 was winner in 2006 and 2007 of Best Prestige Car in the Australia's Best Cars awards – awarded by the conglomeration of all of Australia's respective State Automotive Associations.
- The Lexus IS came 2nd in the Top Gear Satisfaction Survey 2005, beaten only by the Honda S2000Honda S2000The Honda S2000 is a roadster that was manufactured by the Japanese automaker Honda Motor Company. It was launched in April 1999 and was created to celebrate the company's 50th anniversary. The car was first shown as a concept at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1995, following which it was launched in...
.