Official: The 2021 Lexus IS Facelift Won’t Be Coming To Western Europe

Updated with styling and technical revisions for the new model year, the 2021 Lexus IS was officially presented back in June.

It should have started arriving at dealers in Europe, but it hasn’t, and it won’t, as CarScoops has learned that the Japanese brand’s rival to the BMW 3-Series, Audi A4, Jaguar XE and Mercedes-Benz C-Class won’t be sold in Western Europe.

The information has been confirmed by a Lexus spokesperson, who told us the following: “The new IS will not come to Western Europe (including the UK)”.

The representative did not go into specifics, but the decision is likely related to the poor sales figures of the sports sedan, as only 3,282 cars were sold in the Old Continent last year, a significant drop over the 5,413 in 2018 and 5,649 the year before, according to CarSalesBase. By comparison, Lexus shifted 14,920 examples in 2019, 22,927 in 2018 and 26,482 in 2017 in the United States.

While those living in Western Europe won’t be able to buy the facelifted IS, the model is getting ready to arrive at U.S. showrooms.

Pricing starts at $39,000 for the base IS 300, which features a 241-horsepower 2.0-liter turbo-four and benefits from standard LED headlights, 18-inch alloy wheels, auto-dimming mirrors, rearview camera, keyless entry&go, rain-sensing wipers, dual-zone A/C, 8-inch infotainment system with smartphone integration, Pioneer audio, etc.

The IS 300 AWD starts at $41,000, with the 3.5-liter V6 making 260 HP and a six-speed automatic transmission channeling the power to the two axles.

Completing the range is the IS 350 F Sport, with a 311 HP 3.5-liter V6, sportier styling and extra gear, from $42,900 with RWD and $44,900 with AWD.

Note: U.S.-spec 2021 Lexus IS F Sport pictured