yeah, so no.

It is not sold there because it never sold well. They stopped sales due to the lack of interest for IS300h.

What ceased sales for many vehicles in Europe is not safety standards, but cyber security standard.

 

When it comes to Australia, I am pretty sure the side-impact protection guidelines introduces in the ADR (Australian Design Rules) were not possible for the IS, which was the practical reason for its discontinuation. That may not be the ENTIRE reason, but it is the reason that is commonly cited.

For reasons like this, I was hoping for a brand-new IS, but alas.

 

Of course sales were part of the unofficial equation, but a new side pole impact design rule, known locally as ADR 85, caused Lexus to cancel the IS sedan, RC coupe, and CT hatchback in the Australian market effective October 31 2021. ADR 85 required all new cars sold from November 1, 2021, to pass a difficult new side impact test that Lexus claimed is yet to be introduced in other markets.

The Australian regulation is aligned closely with the European ECE135 standard but has not been adopted in other markets such as the United States. As such, the IS and RC has continued on in the North American market but the CT was removed from the lineup there in 2017.

If indeed it was cybersecurity concerns, or even parts sourcing concerns then would be odd the company is now moving to introduce a tech heavy stack on an already compromised or unpatchable platform which is the IS.

 

(I also posted this in another thread about the 2026 IS)

FYI, folks, I reached out to Lexus for clarification -- basically, is the IS 500 officially canceled? -- and here's what they wrote back:

"For 2026, the IS will only be offered with the 350 powertrain."

Which, of course, could mean a couple different things. PR reps NEVER comment about future product, but I think we should note that the RC F and Mark V Supra both received Final Editions in this, their final model years. So maybe 2025 isn't the end? Maybe there's still some hope that a V8-powered IS will return either later in the year or for 2027?

 

I'm teetering between counting our blessings that it's a naturally-aspirated V-6 once again and complaining about the retirement of the V-8.

 

As car enthusiasts, we are guaranteed to have opinions.

And some of them are even right from time to time, hahaha.

Anyway, I just got the 2025 Yellow Flare special edition in to review for the week and i'm going to enjoy every single mile, especially if this is the swan song.

 

Happy I ordered a new 2024 RCF. Color I wanted that's not available on the 2025-Caviar. Sunroom was still available-don't care about a CF roof that could fade, and did not have to pay the $17k upcharge for a car that has "last one " written all over it. I I forgot, the 2025 differential was hand built to make the car faster. Put the AFE intake on along with the Borla exhaust and a throttle controller, now the car really is fun to drive.

 

To me it seems clear they are just winding down V8 production to only the LC500 which is probably the lowest volume of all the current V8's. And same with the V6, just winding it down to one version of the 2GR-FKS. they also released the IS500 final edition or climax edition(lol) too didn't they?

 

Sales were number one part of the equation in Europe, as RC-F continued to be sold until 2024.

It is as simple as that. People didnt buy them, they died off.

 

Pretty wild to think that the 2GR might potentially outlive the V35A on the Lexus production line.

 

RC-F structurally is not the same as an IS and RC. The RC-F has a shorter wheelbase than the Lexus IS (XE30) though it is longer overall. The platform shares the front end of the Lexus GS (L10), midsection from the Lexus IS (XE20) convertible, while the rear componentry is from the XE30 series IS.

Sales sucked no doubt of the IS.

 

Will be interesting to see if the square HVAC toggles will make it into other Lexus lines.

 

New Camry already has square toggles.

 

Just imagine Lexus developed a BRAND new V6 Turbo engine and has only placed it in 2 vehicles - LS500 and GX550.

Why couldn’t they put this motor into this refreshed IS - oh right, that would mean actually spending $$$ on some R&D and figuring out how to mate the 10speed auto.

Toyota Management in Japan should really be embarrassed but I’m sure they could care less about US market and just laugh at Lexus sales compared to the cash cow that Toyota represents.

If I was Lexus CEO - V6 TT would go into all the models that are RWD based architecture. They also badly need a sport/luxury SUV to challenge GLE, X5, Cayenne, GV80. Instead we got the TX 😢

 

The 3.5L nat. asp. V6 was already grossly underpowered when the 3rd generation IS debuted in 2021. I couldn't believe it when I read yesterday that they didn't move the needle at all for this 2026 "refresh". The Toyotafication of Lexus continues in full force.