Next-Generation Lexus IS Sedan to Grow in Size?

Posted by Kevin on July 23rd, 2018

According to Japanese magazine Mag-X, the next-generation Lexus IS will debut in 2020 as a much larger sedan, with dimensions closer to the GS than the current IS model.

Using the numbers from the article, let’s make a comparison table with the IS old & new, the GS sedan, and the LC coupe for good measure:

Model Wheelbase Length Width Height
New IS 2870 mm (113 in) 4730 mm (186.2 in) 1815 mm (71.5 in) 1425 mm (56.1 in)
Current IS 2,800 mm (110.2 in) 4,681 mm (184.3 in) 1,810 mm (71.3 in) 1,430 mm (56.3 in)
Current GS 2,850 mm (112.2 in) 4,879 mm (192.1 in) 1,840 mm (72.4 in) 1,455 mm (57.3 in)
Current LC 2,870 mm (113.0 in) 4,760 mm (187.4 in) 1,920 mm (75.6 in) 1,345 mm (53.0 in)

If the Mag-X dimensions are correct, the next-gen IS could have a longer wheelbase and shorter overall length than the GS sedan. This discrepancy could mean shorter front & rear overhangs due to the adoption of the GA-L platform from the LC & LS.

The article suggests a new 2.4L four-cylinder turbo and a 2.5L hybrid as engine options, but there’s no mention of the 400+ horsepower IS 450 that was rumored a couple weeks back. Mag-X also throws in an IS F with the same 4.0L twin-turbo V8 that’s supposed to power the LC F coupe.

Here’s the full page from Mag-X, if anyone wants to translate the article in the comments:

Lexus IS Mag-X Full Page

JapanLexus IS: Third GenerationRumors
Popular Stories

Sorry. No data so far.

Comments
L
If car makers made V4 engines, cars would have longer useful wheel base, short front overhang, better dynamics thanks to RWD or better AWD systems than transverse, and more refined engine than I4 or V6, and better layout hybridization without space loss. But with ICE on their deathbed (or not?), because of BEVs, it is probably to late to change.
L
If car makers made V4 engines, cars would have longer useful wheel base, short front overhang, better dynamics thanks to RWD or better AWD systems than transverse, and more refined engine than I4 or V6, and better layout hybridization without space loss. But with ICE on their deathbed (or not?), because of BEVs, it is probably to late to change.
S
Levi
If car makers made V4 engines, cars would have longer useful wheel base, short front overhang, better dynamics thanks to RWD or better AWD systems than transverse, and more refined engine than I4 or V6, and better layout hybridization without space loss. But with ICE on their deathbed (or not?), because of BEVs, it is probably to late to change.
The cost of quad cams on a V4 engine kills it. Same for B4. Subaru and Porsche only do B4 for legacy reasons.
S
Levi
If car makers made V4 engines, cars would have longer useful wheel base, short front overhang, better dynamics thanks to RWD or better AWD systems than transverse, and more refined engine than I4 or V6, and better layout hybridization without space loss. But with ICE on their deathbed (or not?), because of BEVs, it is probably to late to change.
The cost of quad cams on a V4 engine kills it. Same for B4. Subaru and Porsche only do B4 for legacy reasons.
S
Levi
If car makers made V4 engines, cars would have longer useful wheel base, short front overhang, better dynamics thanks to RWD or better AWD systems than transverse, and more refined engine than I4 or V6, and better layout hybridization without space loss. But with ICE on their deathbed (or not?), because of BEVs, it is probably to late to change.
The cost of quad cams on a V4 engine kills it. Same for B4. Subaru and Porsche only do B4 for legacy reasons.
mikeavelli
Also with the ES growing HUGE in length, 196 inches, I fully expect the next IS to grow significantly as well.

There has to be a next IS F.

And bring a wagon too or a 5 door. lol
mikeavelli
Also with the ES growing HUGE in length, 196 inches, I fully expect the next IS to grow significantly as well.

There has to be a next IS F.

And bring a wagon too or a 5 door. lol
mikeavelli
Also with the ES growing HUGE in length, 196 inches, I fully expect the next IS to grow significantly as well.

There has to be a next IS F.

And bring a wagon too or a 5 door. lol
M
With conservative Lexus, I could see the TTV6 being the IS-F engine.
M
With conservative Lexus, I could see the TTV6 being the IS-F engine.
M
With conservative Lexus, I could see the TTV6 being the IS-F engine.
Trexus
Yes bring back the IS Sportcross wagon (entry level) and bring on LS Sportcross wagon (LF-1 (flagship)).
Trexus
Yes bring back the IS Sportcross wagon (entry level) and bring on LS Sportcross wagon (LF-1 (flagship)).
Trexus
Yes bring back the IS Sportcross wagon (entry level) and bring on LS Sportcross wagon (LF-1 (flagship)).
L
Well, to reply to this thread, if the next IS will remain RWD based, new generation GS or not, if the IS does grow in size closer, I really want it to have more rear seat space mostly. If not, the current IS 300h does not lack anything at all.






ssun30
The cost of quad cams on a V4 engine kills it. Same for B4. Subaru and Porsche only do B4 for legacy reasons.
This then also applies to V6 vs I6. After BMW remaining committed to I6, Mercedes is replacing their V6 lineup by I6. JLR is also to follow suite, and so for Aston Martin (Mercedes engine). All other car makers have abandoned NA V6 for FI I4, Toyota is the only to use NA V6 (with Honda). Toyota needed BMW to put an I6 into their new Supra.
L
Well, to reply to this thread, if the next IS will remain RWD based, new generation GS or not, if the IS does grow in size closer, I really want it to have more rear seat space mostly. If not, the current IS 300h does not lack anything at all.






ssun30
The cost of quad cams on a V4 engine kills it. Same for B4. Subaru and Porsche only do B4 for legacy reasons.
This then also applies to V6 vs I6. After BMW remaining committed to I6, Mercedes is replacing their V6 lineup by I6. JLR is also to follow suite, and so for Aston Martin (Mercedes engine). All other car makers have abandoned NA V6 for FI I4, Toyota is the only to use NA V6 (with Honda). Toyota needed BMW to put an I6 into their new Supra.
L
Well, to reply to this thread, if the next IS will remain RWD based, new generation GS or not, if the IS does grow in size closer, I really want it to have more rear seat space mostly. If not, the current IS 300h does not lack anything at all.






ssun30
The cost of quad cams on a V4 engine kills it. Same for B4. Subaru and Porsche only do B4 for legacy reasons.
This then also applies to V6 vs I6. After BMW remaining committed to I6, Mercedes is replacing their V6 lineup by I6. JLR is also to follow suite, and so for Aston Martin (Mercedes engine). All other car makers have abandoned NA V6 for FI I4, Toyota is the only to use NA V6 (with Honda). Toyota needed BMW to put an I6 into their new Supra.
Joaquin Ruhi
mordecai
With conservative Lexus, I could see the TTV6 being the IS-F engine.
This is, precisely, what I'm expecting. It could be tuned for more power than LS 500, though, since IS would surely be lighter than LS. As I've said time and again, Lexus makes its cars as powerful as possible without incurring a U.S. EPA Gas Guzzler penalty (LFA excepted).
Joaquin Ruhi
mordecai
With conservative Lexus, I could see the TTV6 being the IS-F engine.
This is, precisely, what I'm expecting. It could be tuned for more power than LS 500, though, since IS would surely be lighter than LS. As I've said time and again, Lexus makes its cars as powerful as possible without incurring a U.S. EPA Gas Guzzler penalty (LFA excepted).
Joaquin Ruhi
mordecai
With conservative Lexus, I could see the TTV6 being the IS-F engine.
This is, precisely, what I'm expecting. It could be tuned for more power than LS 500, though, since IS would surely be lighter than LS. As I've said time and again, Lexus makes its cars as powerful as possible without incurring a U.S. EPA Gas Guzzler penalty (LFA excepted).
S
mikeavelli
Also with the ES growing HUGE in length, 196 inches, I fully expect the next IS to grow significantly as well.

There has to be a next IS F.

And bring a wagon too or a 5 door. lol
I dont think it will grow a lot, a bit maybe. But it will be more sport focused for sure which again means tighter rear space.

I do expect IS500. Competition is doing it, they will too.
S
mikeavelli
Also with the ES growing HUGE in length, 196 inches, I fully expect the next IS to grow significantly as well.

There has to be a next IS F.

And bring a wagon too or a 5 door. lol
I dont think it will grow a lot, a bit maybe. But it will be more sport focused for sure which again means tighter rear space.

I do expect IS500. Competition is doing it, they will too.
S
mikeavelli
Also with the ES growing HUGE in length, 196 inches, I fully expect the next IS to grow significantly as well.

There has to be a next IS F.

And bring a wagon too or a 5 door. lol
I dont think it will grow a lot, a bit maybe. But it will be more sport focused for sure which again means tighter rear space.

I do expect IS500. Competition is doing it, they will too.
MichaelL
mikeavelli
Also with the ES growing HUGE in length, 196 inches, I fully expect the next IS to grow significantly as well.

There has to be a next IS F.

And bring a wagon too or a 5 door. lol
I hope it doesn't grow too much. I am considering it for my next car, but I live in a city and appreciate a compact size. I hope it doesn't grow more than a couple inches in overall length.
MichaelL
mikeavelli
Also with the ES growing HUGE in length, 196 inches, I fully expect the next IS to grow significantly as well.

There has to be a next IS F.

And bring a wagon too or a 5 door. lol
I hope it doesn't grow too much. I am considering it for my next car, but I live in a city and appreciate a compact size. I hope it doesn't grow more than a couple inches in overall length.
MichaelL
mikeavelli
Also with the ES growing HUGE in length, 196 inches, I fully expect the next IS to grow significantly as well.

There has to be a next IS F.

And bring a wagon too or a 5 door. lol
I hope it doesn't grow too much. I am considering it for my next car, but I live in a city and appreciate a compact size. I hope it doesn't grow more than a couple inches in overall length.
L
GS4 has a 5cm longer wheelbase than IS3, yet is almost 20cm longer overall. It means the remaining 15cm happen at the overhangs. Overhangs are what make a car huge and difficult to drive in tight spaces, because it is harder to estimate the overhangs, that to feel the wheelbase. If the new IS gets a slightly longer wheelbase, where all to added space goes to rear seats, but overhangs remain short, it would remain a 'compact' sporty sedan, with rear seats good for long trips.
L
GS4 has a 5cm longer wheelbase than IS3, yet is almost 20cm longer overall. It means the remaining 15cm happen at the overhangs. Overhangs are what make a car huge and difficult to drive in tight spaces, because it is harder to estimate the overhangs, that to feel the wheelbase. If the new IS gets a slightly longer wheelbase, where all to added space goes to rear seats, but overhangs remain short, it would remain a 'compact' sporty sedan, with rear seats good for long trips.
L
GS4 has a 5cm longer wheelbase than IS3, yet is almost 20cm longer overall. It means the remaining 15cm happen at the overhangs. Overhangs are what make a car huge and difficult to drive in tight spaces, because it is harder to estimate the overhangs, that to feel the wheelbase. If the new IS gets a slightly longer wheelbase, where all to added space goes to rear seats, but overhangs remain short, it would remain a 'compact' sporty sedan, with rear seats good for long trips.
S
Levi
GS4 has a 5cm longer wheelbase than IS3, yet is almost 20cm longer overall. It means the remaining 15cm happen at the overhangs. Overhangs are what make a car huge and difficult to drive in tight spaces, because it is harder to estimate the overhangs, that to feel the wheelbase. If the new IS gets a slightly longer wheelbase, where all to added space goes to rear seats, but overhangs remain short, it would remain a 'compact' sporty sedan, with rear seats good for long trips.
This is why the LWB 3-series gets much more rear space than SWB 5-series despite being much shorter; in fact the sub-4.8m 3-Series L has more legroom than full-size SUVs like the GLS or Range Rover. It's ridiculously space efficient.
However, for the IS a lot of wheelbase stretch will be used to allow a FMR layout (if they keep doing it for the IS). I'm expecting at most 50mm/2in longer interior cabin to make the rear usable but definitley not spacious. But usable is all they need.
To me a 4GS with 50mm shorter overhangs and front axle moving forward by 20mm is a perfect size for 4IS. The side profile of the 4GS looks very compact for its actual size. I don't think maneuvrability is a concern for sedan shoppers since they are already sacrificing maneuvrability by choosing a sedan in the first place. The only place where a 4800mm IS could have major difficulty moving is Japan, but the compact-size 3IS is a whale on Japanese roads already.

S