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2021 Lexus IS First Drive | A model remodel

The Lexus IS has now been with us for more than two decades. First introduced in 1999, it celebrated its 21st birthday this year and, to mark the occasion, Lexus hit the compact sedan with a significant overhaul, including a revamped powertrain lineup, an updated interior, and a much-needed tech update in an attempt to keep the sporty four-door relevant in a market that craves crossovers and SUVs. So, first things first: The 2021 Lexus IS is not actually new. In fact, Lexus still refers to it as a third-generation car internally, despite the “redesign” and repositioning for 2021, which is ultimately more about the products elsewhere in the Lexus lineup, rather than the IS itself. WeÂ’ll come back to that. Unveiled in June, the 2021 IS model range has been pared down to just two models, the IS 300 and IS 350 F-Sport. The highlight of the standard equipment sheet is an 8-inch touchscreen that's nearly 5.5 inches closer to the driver than the outgoing modelÂ’s. A 10.3-inch touchscreen is available as an upgrade, and perhaps most notably, the IS is finally available with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration suites. Despite the common name and number, however, the IS 300 is in fact offered with two very different engines depending on how many wheels are driven. Power for the rear-wheel-drive IS 300 comes from a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four, which develops 241 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. It's bolted to an eight-speed automatic transmission. With the IS 300 AWD (pictured below), all-wheel drive is paired with a 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 good for 260 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque, and a six-speed automatic transmission. Nothing confusing about that, is there? 2021_Lexus_IS_300_AWD_Blue_004 View 9 Photos Thankfully, things are a bit more normal with the IS 350 F Sport. Its high-output V6 is alive and well, with its naturally aspirated displacement of 3.5 liters and an output of 311 horses and 280 pound-feet of twist. It's the same engine regardless of drivetrain, though rear-wheel drive is still tied to the eight-speed automatic while all-wheel drive gets the six-speed. The quickest variant is the RWD model, which will crack off a run to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds. The AWD variant is intended to be an all-weather option, not a performance enhancer. The observant reader will note that we keep referring to the IS 350 F Sport, rather than simply the IS 350.

Lexus LF-1 Limitless looks like a curvy crossover concept

Lexus released a teaser for a new concept that will make its debut at the 2018 Detroit Auto Show, and it has quite the name. The company calls it the LF-1 Limitless, a name that wouldn't sound out of place on a battleship. According to Lexus, the name was chosen because this concept "is a flagship crossover that redefines the boundaries of luxury." Frankly, the boundaries that make up the high-dollar crossover segment are definitely well-tread by now. What we can tell is that the concept's heavily raked D-pillar suggests it will have a coupe-inspired look similar to the BMW X6 and Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe. The bodywork features many curvy lines and exaggerated wheel arches. It will be interesting if this LF-1 has flagship size to go with its flagship description, which would put it in competition with the upcoming Audi Q8. This concept is well-worth keeping an eye on, since Lexus has a history of previewing future production models with the LF moniker. Examples include 2009's LF-Ch that became the CT 200h, 2012's LF-LC coupe that became the LC 500, 2013's LF-NX that became the Lexus NX crossover, and 2015's LF-FC that became the new LS sedan. Not everything makes it to production, such as the LF-SA mini car, and the LF-C2 that suggested an RC convertible. But there's a strong enough history of production cars coming from LF concepts that this LF-1 could be the preview of a new production model. Related Video:

Lexus files to copyright LC 500 nameplates [UPDATE]

UPDATE: Reached for comment, Lexus told Autoblog that it "cannot offer comment on the potential naming of a production version of the LF-LC concept" and pointed out that automakers trademark nameplates as a matter of course. Some automakers already slap a production-ready name on their concepts, but not Lexus. The Japanese automaker typically labels its show cars with the letters LF-XX. So when we heard that Toyota had green-lit the LF-LC concept for production, we naturally started wondering what name the production version would carry. But if the latest intel is any indication, we can stop wondering. According to Lexus Enthusiast, the automaker has filed to trademark the names LC 500 and LC 500h in a variety of markets – including the United States, Canada and Australia. The application tells us a number of things: first of all, that the LF-LC will retain that second set of letters along the road to production (like the NX but unlike other recent Lexus concepts). And secondly, it indicates what engines we can expect to find under the hood. The 500 designation would seem to suggest that the base version of Lexus' upcoming halo sports car will pack the 5.0-liter V8 from the RC F. The bigger question mark is over the hybrid version. Current gasoline-electric models in the company's lineup include the RX 450h (based on a 3.5-liter V6) and the LS 600h (with a 5.0-liter V8). For the LC 500h, Lexus could be planning a more potent electric motor to mate to the 3.5L V6, or planning a new powertrain altogether.