The new Lexus IS may be coming to PH sooner than we think

Just last week, it was announced by no less than Toyota Motor Philippines and Lexus Philippines President Masando Hashimoto that the refreshed Lexus IS will be launching in the country this year. No specific timeline was announced, but it could be very soon.

One of the last Japanese compact executive sport sedans globally today, the IS has appeared on the Department of Energy’s List of Recognized EVs, under the Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) category. This hints at a local launch that could happen in the coming months, perhaps within the first half of this year.

Based on available information, the new IS, like the outgoing version, will come in Executive and Premier variants which will both come powered by a 2.5-liter 2AR-FSE naturally-aspirated engine paired to an electric motor and battery.

Indicated is 133kW of power from the engine and 105kW from the electric motor. This matches the 181 horsepower and 143 horsepower numbers from the current IS and overseas models, with a combined system output of 223 horsepower. Battery capacity is 1.49kWh, and the system is mated to aCVT.

For obvious reasons, information on whether the F Sport variant with its naturally-aspirated 3.5-liter V6 2GR-FKS engine will remain is not available, but we can also expect this to still be the top-spec option for the sports sedan. If ever, it will likely still make 315 horsepower and 380Nm of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

As for other changes, you probably already know about the Lexus IS’s controversial facelift from last year, with its wider iteration of the company’s signature spindle grille, along with L-E-X-U-S spelled out on the trunk lid.

Its interior also received a major revamp with a modernized and more upright dashboard design which has been used as a base for the new GR GT sports car. Purists mourn the loss of the classic analog clock in the center stack, but this gets a 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster and a new 12.3-inch infotainment screen.

READ MORE ABOUT THE NEW LEXUS IS: Just when we thought it was going away, the Lexus IS receives a facelift 

Official information on the final specs and variants of the updated Lexus IS for the Philippines are not yet available, but given the timing of this HEV recognition, we can expect those to come very soon, along with the local launch.