Leaked: 2009 Lexus IS facelift

[SickWrathTerror]

Motor Authority -

http://www.motorauthority.com/...elift/

The current-generation Lexus IS sedan first went on sale in 2005 and in keeping with the carmaker’s practice of refreshing its models every three to four years the popular sedan is due for a facelift anytime now. A leaked Japanese brochure that’s purported to be the real deal gives us an early look at the design for the updated model, which is expected to make its world debut towards the end of the year.

According to the brochure, the changes will consist of new side mirrors, a revised front grille, new-style 17 and 18in alloys, an expanded color palette, and a new Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) stability control system for the IS250 model. The images, which showed up on the my.IS forum, also reveal that the 2009 IS will receive slightly revised head and taillights, as well as some minor revisions to the interior such as a new steering wheel design.

Lexus is also readying new coupe and cabrio variants of the IS for launch next year. The cars have been sighted in prototype form in the U.S., and more recently trademarks for the names IS250C, IS300C and IS350C have been registered with U.S. and Canadian patent and trademark offices.

[Coupe__88]

It still looks decent though im gonna have to voice my opinion and say that Infiniti currently makes the nicest looking japanese vehicles. Some of the Lexus lines look too forced . The original IS300 was though

[jeff1234]

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=3980991

[SickWrathTerror]

Quote, originally posted by jeff1234 »

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=3980991

Oh poopers.

[jeff1234]

Quote, originally posted by SickWrathTerror »

Oh poopers.

Don't worry, the original thead quickly faded to page 3. In ten minutes, it will be in so far back, it will be archived.

[BLK9GEN]

I hope the wood steering wheel doesn't make it to the U.S. and I was kind of hoping Lexus would squeeze another 15-20 hp out of the 2.5l V6. Overall though, not bad, but not much of a change either. The changes are suble and amount to a nice "polishing" of an already solid vehicle IMO.

Any pics of the new wheels?

[Impeccable]

I wish they would have added a strip of wood above the glove box

other than that still sexy

[PokeyD16Z]

Quote, originally posted by SickWrathTerror »

Lexus is also readying new coupe and cabrio variants of the IS for launch next year. The cars have been sighted in prototype form in the U.S., and more recently trademarks for the names IS250C, IS300C and IS350C have been registered with U.S. and Canadian patent and trademark offices.

4 model years into the life of the car and they're STILL "readying" those cars? Why bother now?

[misterhenryhenry]

Looks decent to me but I'm not so sure if it is a must buy. The interiors are so slick though. Good luck to Lexus when they launch this car.

_______
Fun And Free Wheeling

[Impeccable]

Quote, originally posted by PokeyD16Z »

4 model years into the life of the car and they're STILL "readying" those cars? Why bother now?

only 3 years

[vwpiloto]

I think the side view mirror are excessively large on the current car. They remind me of Dumbo. The intergrated turn signal of this version sort of breaks up that visual mass.

[J-Tim]

Is the windows size still barely enough to fit a machine gun ?

[Wimbledon]

Official images:
http://www.motorauthority.com/...elift/

[Double-V]

Is the head restraint designed by a chiropractor, and intended to increase business???

[HenkanDDR]

Quote, originally posted by Double-V »

Is the head restraint designed by a chiropractor, and intended to increase business???

Rather it's designed to fold down to increase rear-wiew, and it fold forward so that anyone who sits there doesn't forget to fold it back up... thereby protecting them from having to visit a chiropractor in the case of an accident.

[VW1.8Tsunami]

While they are nice, I just can't get rid of my bitterness toward lexus for changning the IS body style. I'm still in love w/ the IS 300

[Elbows]

^Agreed.

The current IS is one of those weird cars for me...I look at it, and my mind says "okay, reasonably attractive..nice inoffensive lines, smooth bodywork..." and I hate it.

[Infiniti]

the grille and headlights look as if some edge has been taken off - looks a *tad* softer imo

[Turbio!]

Wooo.

[s204speed]

Coupe please

[1SICKLEX]

Quote, originally posted by J-Tim »

Is the windows size still barely enough to fit a machine gun ?

Like many new cars, the windows are small. I know its a pita to lean with your arm out the window.

[TigerinColorado]

Quote, originally posted by Elbows »

The current IS is one of those weird cars for me...I look at it, and my mind says "okay, reasonably attractive..nice inoffensive lines, smooth bodywork..." and I hate it.

So true.

FWIW: My neighbors 2008 IS 250 AWD has been in the shop for 3 days now. They put him in...a base hatchback Aveo! He's a bit of a pompous arse, so the neighbors are snickering.