Refreshed 2017 Lexus IS Debuts With Styling Tweaks, New Tech
Lexus has gone to China to debut its refreshed IS sedan.
The 2017 Lexus IS made its debut at the 2016 Beijing Auto Show with an updated look and a number of changes.
Lexus didn’t take a huge stylistic departure for its popular compact luxury sedan in this refresh, but the entire front fascia has been transformed to look more aggressive with new headlamps, a reshaped hood, bigger air intakes and a tweaked grille. New 10-spoke 17-inch wheels are also standard, and changes to the rear include more pronounced LED lights and rectangular exhaust tips. Two new colors called Deep Blue Mica and Graphite Black Glass Flake have also been added to the palate.
2016 Bejing Auto Show Coverage
Inside, the display screen now measures 10.3 inches, up from 7 inches, and Lexus says new buttons on the Remote Touch Interface that acts a bit like a laptop trackpad make it easier to use. The IS’s cockpit also gets a dash of new stitching on the meter hood and palm rest, revised gauges, new cupholders, and a larger leather-wrapped steering wheel.
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Powertrain setups are unchanged for this refresh, meaning three engine options will be available. The rear-wheel-drive IS 200t will continue to be powered by a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder with 241 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque and paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. A 3.5-liter V6 is also available in different levels of tune offering 255 hp or 306 hp.
The 2017 Lexus IS also gets upgraded safety equipment with the Lexus Safety System +, which combines Pre-Collision System, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Automatic High Beam and Radar Cruise Control.
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I thought the new Maxima was a terrible looker. And then, I saw this Lexus, ugliness pesonified.
As if the basking shark grill was not enough of a design over statement, they had to do the same with the air intake. Kind of losing a finger on one hand and cutting off the matching finger on the other hand to match.