Sophisticated, boldly redesigned Lexus IS arrives

LEXUS NEW ZEALAND

MEDIA RELEASE
10 July 2013

Sophisticated, boldly redesigned Lexus IS arrives

Lexus’ meticulously redesigned and expanded IS range, which blends prestige with performance, has arrived in New Zealand.

The third generation IS signifies an evolutionary design leap forward for Lexus’ premium compact sports sedan. It features an F-Sport iteration of every model and, for the first time in the range, a dedicated Lexus Hybrid Drive, the IS300h.

Lexus New Zealand General Manager of Product Planning, Neeraj Lala says, “The third generation IS line-up has been redesigned from the ground up to provide the absolute best blend of premium refinement and driver involvement Lexus can offer.

“The IS250 and IS350 have been specifically engineered to be the best handling compact luxury sedans in the market. With a more muscular stance and a sportier cockpit, the new IS attunes itself to the driver like never before.”

While driver involvement remains a key attribute, Lexus’ popular IS features improved practical elements like increased interior space and visibility. The new car boasts a longer wheelbase and wider body than its predecessor; a performance-orientated stance that also results in a more spacious cabin – as well as 60:40 split-folding rear seats – and improved luggage capacity.

Added practicality and efficiency also arrives with the introduction of the IS300h – the first Lexus IS sedan to feature the highly efficient Lexus Hybrid Drive system, offering combined power from the petrol engine and the electric motor of 164kW. The model’s hybrid powertrain features a newly developed and uniquely configured 2.5-litre four cylinder Atkinson Cycle petrol engine, fitted in a rear-wheel drive vehicle for the first time.

The IS300h, which is also available in F Sport guise, offers an engaging driving experience, as well as recording notably improved fuel economy of 4.9-litres/100km and low CO2 emissions of 113g/km. Lexus’ latest addition to the comprehensive Lexus Hybrid Drive model line-up is priced from $80,995 and features a maximum braked tow rating of 750kg.

Inside the lavishly appointed IS cabin, greater emphasis has been placed on providing the driver with a sportier, more refined cockpit, and passengers with increased comfort and space. Design detail abounds, with a richly configured centre console incorporating premium soft-touch surface materials, as well as unique controllers that require a simple finger touch against the temperature controller to manipulate the car’s climate control air conditioning system.

Standard features across the IS range include keyless entry and start, Bluetooth hands-free, phone book accessibility and audio streaming, satellite navigation and a reversing camera (with front and rear parking assist monitoring), all accessible through a full colour seven-inch high resolution display screen and the second generation of Lexus’ Remote Touch interface.

The contoured cross-quilted front seats (or unique sports seats in F Sport models) boast genuine leather facings, are multi-way adjustable and offer both seat heating and ventilation across the entire range.

Limited grade IS models feature a 15-speaker Mark Levinson Premium Surround Sound audio system, incorporating cutting edge audio technologies and high end components for a truly world class home theatre-quality audio experience on the road. This system is also available as an option in F Sport models.

The all-new, boldly redesigned and expanded IS range is in showrooms now.

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