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2021 Lexus IS makeover will reportedly include V8 model

Come next year, things may get interesting for the Lexus IS, a car that currently is not the first to jump to mind when one thinks of compact, rear-wheel-drive sports sedans. The IS is rumored to be getting a major makeover for 2021, the most notable element of which is said to be the arrival of a V8-powered version. Don't call it an IS F, however; the model instead will be known as the IS 500. None of the above is official — the source of the V8 rumor is an Instagram post from allcarsnews, as surfaced by thedrive.com. As has been previously reported, the IS is going in for a major makeover for 2021, one that this outlet characterizes as being less than a complete redesign. It will, however, bring revised sheetmetal mirroring the look of the Lexus LS as well as a new interior. While the current engine lineup is said to carry over, this report says it will be joined by the brand's naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8. That engine powered the IS F, which was dropped after the 2014 model year, but in the 2021 car it, strangely, will be sold as the IS 500. That's the rumor, anyway. In the IS F, Toyota's 5.0-liter V8 made 416 horsepower and 371 lb-ft of torque. Currently, in the RC F coupe, it's putting out 472 horsepower and 395 lb-ft of torque. The IS 500 and its V8 would join an IS engine lineup that consists of a 2.0-liter turbo four with 241 horsepower and a 260-hp 3.5-liter V6 in the IS 300, plus a 311-hp 3.5-liter V6 in the IS 350. Today's sportiest variant is the IS 350 F-Sport Blackline Edition (pictured). If true, this could be a brief last hurrah for Toyota's 5.0L V8. Previous reports have claimed that by 2022, Toyota and Lexus plan to eliminate V8s from any vehicle costing less than $90k, and as part of that move, Toyota will drop its 5.7-liter truck engine as well. Related video:    

J.D. Power study sees new car dependability problems increase for first time since 1998

For the first time since 1998, J.D. Power and Associates says its data shows that the average number of problems per 100 cars has increased. The finding is the result of the firm's much-touted annual Vehicle Dependability Study, which charts incidents of problems in new vehicle purchases over three years from 41,000 respondents.
Looking at first-owner cars from the 2011 model year, the study found an average of 133 problems per 100 cars (PP100, for short), up 6 percent from 126 PP100 in last year's study, which covered 2010 model-year vehicles. Disturbingly, the bulk of the increase is being attributed to engine and transmission problems, with a 6 PP100 boost.
Interestingly, JDP notes that "the decline in quality is particularly acute for vehicles with four-cylinder engines, where problem levels increase by nearly 10 PP100." Its findings also noticed that large diesel engines also tended to be more problematic than most five- and six-cylinder engines.

Growing demand could bring more body-on-frame off-roaders to the Lexus range

Car-based crossovers are outselling truck-derived SUVs by a wide margin, but Lexus still sees a strong demand for models that offer true off-road capability. It hinted that it could soon increase its presence in this segment. Toyota's luxury division entered 2021 with two body-on-frame SUVs in its range: the Land Cruiser-based LX (pictured) and the smaller, more affordable GX. Neither is a high-volume model, but both fared shockingly well in 2020. LX sales in the United States fell by 4.4% to 4,512 units, which is a great result in a year when double-digit declines were common, and GX sales increased by 9.9% to 28,519 units. Clearly, off-roaders are in demand. "What we have seen at Toyota is that there's so much of an appetite for [off-roading] that I see that [moving into] the Lexus brand as well. There is an appetite, a customer desire, a customer push to see all brands giving them more options. I think it would be silly for Lexus not to travel down that path," explained Jack Hollis, the head of automotive operations for Toyota's North American division, in an interview with Automotive News. He added that his team has identified a "white space" in the Lexus range that could be filled with an additional body-on-frame off-roader. He didn't reveal precisely what he has in mind, but there are a few possibilities we can rule out. We know Toyota is wrapping up the development of the next-generation Land Cruiser, even if the SUV might not be sold in America, and seeing a next-generation LX seems like a given, but we don't think that's what Hollis was referring to. Moving into the space above the LX with an even bigger truck is highly unlikely. Similarly, the idea of a Lexus-badged SUV aimed at the Jeep Wrangler and the Ford Bronco is neat but unrealistic. Ford's hotly-anticipated born-again off-roader has captured the attention of executives, however. "Holy cow! They sold out that thing, and I think there's a strong market out there for authentic off-road chops and credibility. We're seeing that with [the Toyota] 4Runner as well. I don't think it's any secret that [the 4Runner] is not all that new, but it continues to set records, and it continues to grow volume," pointed out Lexus brand head Andrew Gilleland in a separate interview with Automotive News. Could we see a Lexus-specific version of the 4Runner? We certainly wouldn't rule it out, especially because making an upmarket variant of the SUV would help Toyota leverage the benefits of economies of scale.