Next-Generation Lexus IS Sedan to be Offered with BMW Inline-Six Turbo Engine?

Posted by Kevin on February 18th, 2019

Best Car Magazine in Japan is reporting that the next-generation Lexus IS sedan will be offered with the same BMW Inline-6 turbo engine that powers the all-new Toyota Supra.

The I6 engine, which is rated at 335 horsepower and 365 lb-ft of torque in the Supra, would be one of four engines for the Lexus sedan — a 2.0L turbo, 2.4L turbo, and 2.5L hybrid engine would also be available based on region.

Lexus IS Next-Generation Rear

Best Car also reports that the IS is unlikely to change in size, and will weigh approximately 3,395 lbs. For referenece, the current IS tips the scales at 3,737 lbs.

(Finally, the magazine reiterates the rumor that a next-generation IS F sedan will be resurrected with the twin-turbo V6 engine from the LS flagship.)

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Comments
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MichaelL
I know I am not going to make many friends here with my comment.... but, I think Lexus needs to get the IS replacement out as fast as possible. The current car is not competitive with the A4, 3 series, C Class etc.... all the magazines call this out. Even consumer reports is not a fan. Car and Driver has the IS as the 10th best car in the class. This is one of the reasons why the sales numbers are decreasing, along with the illogical shift to SUVs. Waiting until 2020 seems like a mistake. Let's see what the sales numbers are the next couple of years with this model....

I agree weight reduction should be a priority in the next model, I also feel a major interior upgrade is in order as well.
I agree in particular with an interior upgrade, the Lexus lags behind the Audi especially, also believe a new model is almost overdue and is needed sooner rather than later.
R
MichaelL
I know I am not going to make many friends here with my comment.... but, I think Lexus needs to get the IS replacement out as fast as possible. The current car is not competitive with the A4, 3 series, C Class etc.... all the magazines call this out. Even consumer reports is not a fan. Car and Driver has the IS as the 10th best car in the class. This is one of the reasons why the sales numbers are decreasing, along with the illogical shift to SUVs. Waiting until 2020 seems like a mistake. Let's see what the sales numbers are the next couple of years with this model....

I agree weight reduction should be a priority in the next model, I also feel a major interior upgrade is in order as well.
I agree in particular with an interior upgrade, the Lexus lags behind the Audi especially, also believe a new model is almost overdue and is needed sooner rather than later.
R
supra93


Looks most promising bring it on and with an interior upgrade please!
R
supra93


Looks most promising bring it on and with an interior upgrade please!
Gecko
I really wonder when this car is actually going to drop. So much back and forth on 2019, 2020, 2021, etc. Next year as 2020 would be great.
Gecko
I really wonder when this car is actually going to drop. So much back and forth on 2019, 2020, 2021, etc. Next year as 2020 would be great.
Joaquin Ruhi
Gecko
I really wonder when this car is actually going to drop. So much back and forth on 2019, 2020, 2021, etc. Next year as 2020 would be great.
Information previously posted on these forums by Carmaker1 suggests that 4IS enters production in July 2020 for a 2021 model year launch. A gut feeling tells me it'll echo the 2IS launch strategy of March/April 2020 auto show unveilings. That means Geneva, New York and Beijing show debuts for World/Europe, North America and Asia, respectively.
Joaquin Ruhi
Gecko
I really wonder when this car is actually going to drop. So much back and forth on 2019, 2020, 2021, etc. Next year as 2020 would be great.
Information previously posted on these forums by Carmaker1 suggests that 4IS enters production in July 2020 for a 2021 model year launch. A gut feeling tells me it'll echo the 2IS launch strategy of March/April 2020 auto show unveilings. That means Geneva, New York and Beijing show debuts for World/Europe, North America and Asia, respectively.
G
Joaquin Ruhi
Information previously posted on these forums by Carmaker1 suggests that 4IS enters production in July 2020 for a 2021 model year launch. A gut feeling tells me it'll echo the 2IS launch strategy of March/April 2020 auto show unveilings. That means Geneva, New York and Beijing show debuts for World/Europe, North America and Asia, respectively.
I hope we'll be able to get more substantial rumors before that date. What's the likelihood of that happening with Lexus with respect to 'concrete' leaks of engine options, platform (almost certainly going to be TNGA), transmission specs, etc?
G
Joaquin Ruhi
Information previously posted on these forums by Carmaker1 suggests that 4IS enters production in July 2020 for a 2021 model year launch. A gut feeling tells me it'll echo the 2IS launch strategy of March/April 2020 auto show unveilings. That means Geneva, New York and Beijing show debuts for World/Europe, North America and Asia, respectively.
I hope we'll be able to get more substantial rumors before that date. What's the likelihood of that happening with Lexus with respect to 'concrete' leaks of engine options, platform (almost certainly going to be TNGA), transmission specs, etc?
joepac
Rob Grieveson
Looks most promising bring it on and with an interior upgrade please!
And maybe bring back real leather too.
joepac
Rob Grieveson
Looks most promising bring it on and with an interior upgrade please!
And maybe bring back real leather too.
S
GNS
I hope we'll be able to get more substantial rumors before that date. What's the likelihood of that happening with Lexus with respect to 'concrete' leaks of engine options, platform (almost certainly going to be TNGA), transmission specs, etc?
not that likely soon since most of Japanese sales should be 300h which is kind of already known, few hp up or down dont matter... i guess they might publish IS500 info? But around year before release.
S
GNS
I hope we'll be able to get more substantial rumors before that date. What's the likelihood of that happening with Lexus with respect to 'concrete' leaks of engine options, platform (almost certainly going to be TNGA), transmission specs, etc?
not that likely soon since most of Japanese sales should be 300h which is kind of already known, few hp up or down dont matter... i guess they might publish IS500 info? But around year before release.
G
https://www.carscoops.com/2018/11/acura-tlx-type-s-spotted-first-time-come-new-turbo-v6-engine/

Interesting...TLX Type-S spotted, which may have that twin turbo V6 that Acura was talking about at the beginning of 2018. Suppose this has the TTV6, that means everyone is on the turbo 6 cylinder sports sedan bandwagon except Lexus? 340i, S4, C43, G70, Q50, TLX Type-S...am I missing anybody?
G
https://www.carscoops.com/2018/11/acura-tlx-type-s-spotted-first-time-come-new-turbo-v6-engine/

Interesting...TLX Type-S spotted, which may have that twin turbo V6 that Acura was talking about at the beginning of 2018. Suppose this has the TTV6, that means everyone is on the turbo 6 cylinder sports sedan bandwagon except Lexus? 340i, S4, C43, G70, Q50, TLX Type-S...am I missing anybody?
T
Cadillac ATS?
T
Cadillac ATS?
joepac
TheNerdyPotato
Cadillac ATS?
I thought ATS got canned...
joepac
TheNerdyPotato
Cadillac ATS?
I thought ATS got canned...
T
I think you're right. The sedan got cancelled but the coupe lives on.
T
I think you're right. The sedan got cancelled but the coupe lives on.
joepac
TheNerdyPotato
I think you're right. The sedan got cancelled but the coupe lives on.
Well the coupe only lives on till end of its cycle (2019) since that came out a year later than the sedan but... Yeah I think they're going to merge the CTS and ATS to make a "CT5" model. I have a feeling Lexus is going the same way with IS/GS. We'll wait and see. Lexus seems really tight lipped about the IS though which is making me nervous about the IS' future.
joepac
TheNerdyPotato
I think you're right. The sedan got cancelled but the coupe lives on.
Well the coupe only lives on till end of its cycle (2019) since that came out a year later than the sedan but... Yeah I think they're going to merge the CTS and ATS to make a "CT5" model. I have a feeling Lexus is going the same way with IS/GS. We'll wait and see. Lexus seems really tight lipped about the IS though which is making me nervous about the IS' future.
R
I think the Lexus range though interesting is kind of lopsided - and the cause really is the ES range. In South Africa the base ES is less expensive than the IS and comes with a 2.5 litre four cylinder front drive and appears to offer very good value. However, it is viewed as a Camry in drag. On the other hand, the ES 300h is vastly more expensive and Hybrids have not yet caught the imagination of the South African public.

Resale value also remain problematic which is surprising as Toyotas have the best resale value here bar none.

This I suspect is due to the Lexus brand being relatively new and unknown and many folk do not realise that it is made by Toyota.

Looking forward to the new IS and the arrival of the UX which should sell well out here. Great pity the CT was not offered with an alternative power train. The Hybrid version made it expensive compared to a BMW 1-Series, for example.
R
I think the Lexus range though interesting is kind of lopsided - and the cause really is the ES range. In South Africa the base ES is less expensive than the IS and comes with a 2.5 litre four cylinder front drive and appears to offer very good value. However, it is viewed as a Camry in drag. On the other hand, the ES 300h is vastly more expensive and Hybrids have not yet caught the imagination of the South African public.

Resale value also remain problematic which is surprising as Toyotas have the best resale value here bar none.

This I suspect is due to the Lexus brand being relatively new and unknown and many folk do not realise that it is made by Toyota.

Looking forward to the new IS and the arrival of the UX which should sell well out here. Great pity the CT was not offered with an alternative power train. The Hybrid version made it expensive compared to a BMW 1-Series, for example.
S
Rob Grieveson
I think the Lexus range though interesting is kind of lopsided - and the cause really is the ES range. In South Africa the base ES is less expensive than the IS and comes with a 2.5 litre four cylinder front drive and appears to offer very good value. However, it is viewed as a Camry in drag. On the other hand, the ES 300h is vastly more expensive and Hybrids have not yet caught the imagination of the South African public.

Resale value also remain problematic which is surprising as Toyotas have the best resale value here bar none.

This I suspect is due to the Lexus brand being relatively new and unknown and many folk do not realise that it is made by Toyota.

Looking forward to the new IS and the arrival of the UX which should sell well out here. Great pity the CT was not offered with an alternative power train. The Hybrid version made it expensive compared to a BMW 1-Series, for example.
residual value is because they start very expensive... same as Audi/BMW/MB.

As to the ES, at least it is cheaper than IS for you... for us there in Europe, ES300h is $10k more expensive than IS300h, depending on taxes.
S
Rob Grieveson
I think the Lexus range though interesting is kind of lopsided - and the cause really is the ES range. In South Africa the base ES is less expensive than the IS and comes with a 2.5 litre four cylinder front drive and appears to offer very good value. However, it is viewed as a Camry in drag. On the other hand, the ES 300h is vastly more expensive and Hybrids have not yet caught the imagination of the South African public.

Resale value also remain problematic which is surprising as Toyotas have the best resale value here bar none.

This I suspect is due to the Lexus brand being relatively new and unknown and many folk do not realise that it is made by Toyota.

Looking forward to the new IS and the arrival of the UX which should sell well out here. Great pity the CT was not offered with an alternative power train. The Hybrid version made it expensive compared to a BMW 1-Series, for example.
residual value is because they start very expensive... same as Audi/BMW/MB.

As to the ES, at least it is cheaper than IS for you... for us there in Europe, ES300h is $10k more expensive than IS300h, depending on taxes.

S