Hey guys, I was scrolling through Pinterest and came up on this unfortunately incredibly tiny and low-res image clipped from a magazine.




Again, unfortunately very blurry and low-res photo, as it does seem to have been photo copied from a magazine of sorts.

The top-right model especially looks very reminiscent of the EV IS teased, with more production-oriented proportions. Really interesting to see the development process on this, and if anyone can find the source with a larger image, please let me know!

Any insight ? @Carmaker1

 

This top three seems like some design exercise to me. The one on the bottom right seems like toned down combo versioon.

 

I'm coming, I need to take care of some things. I know what this is, it's not the next IS. This is an already released vehicle, I'll clue you in a bit as I confirm what it is and provide the image too.

 

Looks like the Mirai.

 

Correct, it's the 2021 Mirai. I haven't looked at these in a long time! After Lexus cancelled the 300B GS Program in late 2016, during 2017 these images you see were drawn up for proposal selection on the repurposed 5th Generation Lexus GS called the 2nd Generation Toyota Mirai FCEV. The Mirai final design was fully dialed in during early 2018, to be ready for production start in late 2020. @gor134 I'll send you the full images when I have time. Won't post them publicly.

 

Very interesting, thanks for the insight as always!

Really interesting how the top right one looks the most like a Lexus (especially the electric IS concept) I'm assuming that specific proposal was one that was most similar to the 5GS with slight changes to look like a Toyota, while the other 3 proposals look a lot more Toyota.

 

It will be interesting to see if Lexus brings back IS and RC.
I would not be surprised if both get discontinued.

Honestly not really sure what Lexus as a brand is doing.
They have some good entries in entry level stuff like ES, NX and RX. They have nothing compelling for buyers in the $65-100k range until you reach LC price point.

 

I'm very interested to see the EV IS concept (and wagons) translated to production. With Audi bringing the next B10 Wagon to the US, would be also cool to have a Lexus Competitor as well (tho EV probably). But I guess they just want to roll out all of their SUVs first.. we probably won't see anything IS related for another 2 years till maybe, after the next ES I'm guessing...

 

Of course! Fizzboy7 beat me to it though.

I believe you post on TCL? Or no? I've locked my PMs, due to limited message space. I'll have them for you by tomorrow. I wanted to cover that subject sometime in the future, so I've never really mentioned it, like design of the 2018 LS 500, 2019 ES, 2021 IS, 2022 NX, and 2023 RX. It's really keeping up with so many developments and work, so easier to just PM you the photospread.

I honestly don't know, but your point is valid. If Lexus intends to productionize that BEV concept (unlikely now), trademarks for IS 500e would have to be filed this year to arrive in time for MY 2026. Not to mention the RC, which stupid C&D gave the false impression it was being redesigned for MY 2025. I am now skeptical about that report and will just wait and see. I highly doubt all of the trademark registrations, match each Dynamic Force powertrain that would be in a TNGA RC, so I'm not certain about it either. But hey, LFR is coming...

I would too, but I wonder if anything got suspended and abandoned eTNGA? Those design studies were based on eTNGA and were intended for production. Since 2019, I've observed what Toyota has proposed and saw an early version of BZ4x in a 2019 image. They're not fictional in terms of styling, but is there any active development program behind them, that's the question? I don't believe in "IZ". Like the UX300e, I believe in IS300e or IS500e. However, no trademark filings make me wonder when, since Toyota typically files for trademark 2-3 model years out from production. Usually parallel to design freeze and subsequent to it.

 

Yup, am on TCL as "sapphire.e90" I had posted those photos of the really cool AP2 S2000 proposal by Strosek.

Really excited for the LFR.. but almost seems like it's going to be a "1 and done" project without trickling down to any ICE models unfortunately.

 

Interesting about the AP2 S2K, I saw that. Thanks BTW, I'll get to it right away. Just to clarify, the info on the 5G GS being repurposed as Mirai, came from a former CL user MPLexus aka Gecko back in October 2019. Although we no longer communicate with each other, I appreciate what he shared with me, especially the USA Land Cruiser insight. I wouldn't want to deny him of that credit.

 

While we're on the topic of the Mirai/GS, have you heard anything about the upcoming Crown sedan, Carmaker? It's funny how things have went back full circle, without the Lexus badge.

 

It's honestly absurd, even with the previous S220 gen Crown, that they saw it fit for a development, yet a GS that could be sold on a way larger scale with more units and higher prices they couldn't make a business case for.

 

Perhaps it is easier as Mirai has already been paid for, so to speak? Presumably there are a few carry-over parts between new Crown sedan and Mirai. (Unless Mirai gen2 was always planned to be TNGA-L based, even if 5GS went ahead?)

 

When will be the launch of the new IS?
A few months ago I saw these images that are supposedly the patents of the next generation IS.