THE South African line-up for the reimagined new 2021 Lexus IS sports sedan has been unveiled.
Starting from R841 300, with the IS 300h EX grade, it is available to pre-order as early as week one of April from Lexus dealerships.
What’s new for South Africa is that, for the very first time, Lexus has decided to launch IS as a hybrid-only model. Lexus launches three model grades in hybrid: IS 300h EX, IS 300h SE and IS 300 F Sport.
The 2021 Lexus IS is offered in a palette of 10 exterior colours – Solar Storm Red, Poseidon Blue and White Nova are exclusive to the F Sport. The EX and SE have an additional two colours – White Quartz and Morello Red.
Lexus firsts
Features that become standard on the Lexus IS for the first time include 18-inch alloy wheels for the EX and SE, an electric park brake, new 10.3-inch touch-display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a pre-collision system for the SE grade and F Sport featuring daytime/night-time pedestrian detection plus daytime cyclist detection, all-speed active cruise control, lane tracing assist, blind-spot monitor, and rear cross-traffic alert+brake, as well as a panoramic view monitor for the SE and F Sport when reversing.
This is an addition to smart entry and start, heated- and power-adjustable front seats, dual-zone climate control, 10-speaker audio for the EX grade and 17-speaker Mark Levinson sound for SE and F Sport grades.
The top-spec models also come standard with satellite navigation, voice control and LED headlamps with automatic high beam.
IS 300h SE customers have the luxury of a moon roof which comes standard for the grade.
The models achieve a total system output of 164kW. The IS has a combined-cycle fuel consumption from as low as 5.2 litres per 100 kilometres. The IS boasts a petrol-hybrid 2.5 litre CVT engine that achieves a maximum power of 133kW at 6 000rpm and maximum torque of 221Nm at 4 200-5 400rpm.
The IS F Sport’s front grille features the iconic mesh pattern that has been used on all F Sport models. The lower grille construction incorporates RC-F inspired air intakes.
The automatic high beam (AHB) headlamps on the F Sport grade also feature the new slim design, along with three newly designed high beam projector lamps and integrated L-shaped DRLs.
A true driver’s car…
For the first time on an IS F Sport, 19-inch alloy wheels are standard, in addition to an F Sport body kit and spoiler, F Sport scuff plates and ornamentation, high-grade LED headlamps, five-mode drive select, adaptive variable suspension, F Sport leather-accented trim, sports pedals and seats with driver memory settings.
Lexus South Africa vice president of sales and marketing, Glenn Crompton, said the new Lexus IS will reinvigorate the medium sedan class, with its stunning focus on three key attributes:
“An intense focus on evocative design, imaginative technology and leading driving dynamics, will help ensure that a new generation of Lexus customers are welcomed into IS sports sedan ownership. The hybrid direction and sports focus of the new IS, alongside the luxurious ES, delivers two distinct personalities for Lexus customers to select from in this segment.”
New Lexus IS – evocative design
The IS reimagines the sports sedan concept with a low and wide stance, the sleek proportions of a four-door coupe, slimmer headlights and a lower, sharper side character line that combine to express a centre of gravity closer to the ground.
Gently sloped rear-quarter pillars help form a sleek cabin silhouette, wrap around from the sides, contrasting with muscular rear fenders – to create a fast and aggressive look.
This is further emphasised by single-blade rear combination lights sporting an “L” motif and a sharper overall contour created by the character line around the boot lid.
Materials and ornamentation have been changed inside to complement the new 10.3-inch touch-display, which has been moved forward 150mm compared to the previous IS.
An elegant ochre interior trim complements a choice of black or dark rose on the SE and EX grades, while the F Sport is available in black, white and flare red – all with satin chrome ornamentation. New 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio, which is standard on the IS F Sport and SE, also raises the bar compared with the speaker system in the previous IS.
Imaginative technology
The new Lexus IS matches or exceeds the active safety technology featured in the current flagship Lexus LS.
Standard on the SE and F Sport grades, the new Lexus Safety System+ supports pre-collision warning (from approximately 10 to 180km/h), pre-collision brake assist (from approximately 30 to 80km/h with pedestrian and daytime cyclist detection, or approximately 30 to 180km/h with a detected preceding or stopped vehicle), and pre-collision braking (from approximately 10 to 80km/h with pedestrian and daytime cyclist detection, or approximately 10 to 180km/h with a detected preceding or stopped vehicle).
These systems are designed to work with both daytime and night-time pedestrian detection and daytime cyclist detection.
At an intersection, the pre-collision system is designed to provide a warning alert, then braking, if a driver is turning in front of a detected oncoming vehicle in the opposite lane or pedestrian in the opposite direction. It is also the first Lexus to offer emergency steering assist (ESA), which is designed to automatically apply additional steering torque to assist the driver in manoeuvring within its lane around an unforeseen pedestrian (for example) walking ahead.
Leading driving dynamics
The new IS becomes the first Lexus to debut the “Lexus Driving Signature,” which will become the development standard for all future Lexus models. The “Lexus Driving Signature” is defined by linear vehicle operation that is faithful to a driver’s intentions, providing seamless transition from braking to steering and acceleration through a corner.
These Lexus dynamic values were achieved by utilising the country road test course at the company’s new technical centre in Shimoyama, Japan, which opened in 2019.
The country road test course is based on many years of Lexus experience of driving on the Nürburgring Nordschleife, famous throughout the world for its gruelling driving conditions.
It was designed to take advantage of the local topography, featuring approximately a 75m change in elevation, a wide range of curves and a variety of road surfaces.
Substantial chassis changes include a 45mm wider front and 50mm wider rear track for greater vehicle turn-in and stability. Body rigidity has been improved, including the addition of bracing connecting the front-pillar section and apron member, contributing to the enhanced steering response and cornering ability.
For the front side members, the welding patch has been made narrower and additional spot weld points have been applied to increase the panel joint rigidity, providing excellent handling stability – including steering responsiveness and road surface feedback.
Adaptive variable suspension on F Sport boasts anti-dive and anti-squat control, as well as roll-attitude control. It even includes unsprung mass vibration damping control – where a higher damping force is maintained when unsprung resonance is detected based on speed-sensor signal output– thus helping enhance road holding with no loss of ride comfort.
In addition to Normal mode, it includes Sport S+ damping for tighter damping control during spirited driving. Active cornering assist (ACA) is newly adopted on all models, which is designed to maintain the most ideal vehicle posture when cornering by imperceptibly braking individual wheels to maintain the driver’s intended line.
Pricing and service information
The Lexus IS models retail from R841 300 for the EX grade, R899 800 for the SE grade and R916 100 for the F Sport.
The entire IS range boasts a best-in-class seven-year/105 000km warranty and full maintenance plan. The vehicle service intervals are pegged at every 15 000km or once a year.
Issued: Motorpress
