Lexus IS keeps calm and carries on for 2021
The IS has had a (subtle) redesign – a lowered stance and sportier styling come together in a car that has found its design groove
We recently covered the stunning Lexus LF-30 concept in the Spring 2020 edition of Interior Motives – a model that is said to embody the future of electrification. But Lexus is also taking things slowly with the new IS, and in an utterly convincing way.
It was unveiled in a digital event on 16 June 2020.
“We aimed for an aggressive design by way of a wide and low stance that evokes a sense of driving and a sharp character line,” commented Lexus chief designer Kenichi Hirai. ”To achieve a high degree of design, Lexus members in product planning, production technology, engineering, and styling combined their various insights and united behind development from an early stage. This enabled us to achieve the proportions of a four-door coupe that has a low center of gravity, an explicit form, and other elements that express the worldview of the new IS. We also pursued a deep and rich interior by paying close attention to detail, such as in the use of colour in design and as in ornamentation. I think the styling makes it possible to feel the maturation of the fun of driving.”
Exterior
The design team at Lexus have benefitted from the addition of some new manfacturing technology in the press shop, which has essentially allowed for more “elaborate and dimensional forms” in the body work. The addition of more lines to the exterior gently nudge the IS into a more agile, nimble-looking form.
The front of the vehicle is characterised by two deep, diagonal cuts in the bodywork that run down from the A pillars across the bonnet and to the grille, leaving room for the new lightweight headlamp units. These are sharp and angular, emphasising the grooves on the bonnet.
There is a new grille design which features a 3D polyhedral structure. The overall shape of the grille, however, is almost identical to the one used on the Lexus RC, although the two separate air intake areas that flank the main grille on the lower part of the bumper are larger.
The rear lamps are similar in their angular appearance, but incorporate an ‘L’ motif. They are also connected by an LED strip the runs the width of the car – a trend that is seemingly increasingly popular.
Two new paint colours have been developed especially for the new IS, called ’sonic iridium’ and ‘sonic chrome’. The first uses strong shadows to accentuate the shape of the car, while the latter has a metallic quality and a high-gloss finish.
Interior
At first glance, the interior of the new IS is well-executed but similar to the previous model in many ways. There are a couple of subtle changes worth noting. The dash is clearly segmented into two sections: the upper and lower. This is emphasised when opting for a two-tone colour scheme, like the one shown below featuring ‘flare red’.
The 10.3-inch touchscreen is new, and is compatible with CarPlay and Android Auto. It sits above the familar Lexus clock/vent combination. There is a new pattern of embossed intersecting lines on the door, which according to the OEM, represents a “new form of decorative expression.”
The company says it has gone for a sporty feel with the interior, carefully selecting materials to make the driver and front passenger feel encompassed within a cockpit.
Despite the fact that there are some new design features on the IS, the model feels extremely familar. Lexus has played to its strengths.
