The circular design themes on the wrap are no doubt distracting, but make no mistake; this is a prototype of the production version of the next Lexus IS sedan, which we had previously seen only in test mule guise.
If you take a close look at the prototype’s body, you will find many common styling cues with the Lexus LF-CC Concept displayed at the Paris Motor Show this past September, including the slanted “spindle” front grille that extends to the bottom of the bumper, the strong belt line, the creased side skirts and the design of the rear end.
This is no coincidence as the LF-CC was penned as a thinly disguised concept for an IS Coupe, which will join the range shortly after the sedan model pictured here, offering Lexus a product to compete against the BMW 3 / 4 Series and Audi A5 coupes.
The interior of both the new IS Sedan and Coupe models was also previewed by the LF-CC study that you can check out in our previous post here.
Another thing to hold from the concept is its hybrid powertrain that links a 2.5-liter four-cylinder Atkinson cycle engine to a generator, an electric motor, and a battery. If the setup sounds familiar, it’s because it is used on the new Lexus ES300h as well as the latest Toyota Camry and Avalon Hybrids, where it generates a combined system output of 200 horses.
Besides the hybrid powertrain, the new IS sedan’s range will include a pair of V6 petrols, and at least in Europe, one or more four-cylinder diesel engines sourced from BMW as part of an agreement between the two companies. An IS-F performance model should round out the range, but details on the powertrain remain scarce at this time.
Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoop
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