Moisture - I agree, but as you know, a bad reputation take a long time to erode.....a good reputation is very hard to shake down....In other words, if you have a very good reputation, people are willing to allow you to fall a few times before they knock you out (ex - CR-V with the oil dilution problem) but if you have a bad reputation, you will need several years before people forget what about you did wrong and that will follow you.

Moderators and OP - I apologize for taking the thread a bit sideways

 

if that's the case, goodbye Lexus since when my 3 series lease ends in end of 2022, I'll be back in another BMW model.

Had high hopes for Lexus introducing the 4IS within the next 2-3 years to be a comparison for my next car in the future.

 

Whatever that's left. lol

 

I suspect that by 2022 there will be more clarity. Who knows what'll happen by then

 

Shame if true. I very much dislike the look and feel of SUVs (maybe cause I'm on the "younger" side). I love the "sportback" look (Audi A/S/RS5) which tries to improve functionality of the sedan... I would be very interested if Lexus was planning to head in that direction to replace the IS/GS platforms.

 

Update/redesign the infotainment and refresh the drivetrain choices and it'd be fine by me. The styling is still current and the interior works well overall, imo.

 

Exactly what I was thinking.

 

I dont think many of you understand how the car market works. If you guys think that each "all new" model from a manufacture is revolutionary clean sheet design from the ground up, that's just not true.

 

They wouldn't call it a refresh if it was more extensive than just a new face and interior update (maybe a new engine option?). A redesign doesn't have to be a complete bottom up engineering effort but it does have to be significantly improved vs. the last iteration. Its surprising that a company like Toyota wouldn't have a pipeline of these things already in place ready to launch.

 

I don't think anyone is thinking that...when you look at 1IS to 2IS, they are completely different vehicles that don't even share a badge name. They were both offered in RWD and a 6 cylinder, but not even the same 6 cylinder.
When you go from 2IS to 3IS, the drivetrain, front brakes, and some suspension were a direct carryover. Really the biggest changes were the interior and exterior styling...which is worth a lot if you're not concerned with whats underneath.
It would be nice if the 4IS was a ground up new design, but realistically there will likely be some carryover. There is talk of a 2.4L Turbo...but is that a new motor or the 2.0L bored out? I don't know.
You figure maybe the 3.5L V6 with 300hp might be a mid-line engine, replacing the current 300 RWD, and then something at the high end with close to or over 400hp...maybe twin turbo V6. These are all speculations on my part of course.

 

No one thinks this...

There's refreshes, and then there is whole new gens..

 

Toyota/Lexus is moving all lineups toward the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform. Using a modular platform (like every other manufacturer has done) saves money and development cost and it is the future. The thing is, TNGA simply does not have a platform that is suitable for a new IS. Three of the platforms are designed for transverse mounted engine and FWD/AWD, so you can't use those for the IS. That leaves us with the TNGA-L (longitudinal engine and rear- or all-wheel drive), it is used to build the LC and the LS. The problem with TNGA-L is that it is too big in size and too heavy for a compact sport sedan like the IS. It also costs too much when the IS is suppose to be a a semi affordable entry level luxury sedan. So, unless Toyota/Lexus decide to spend a ton of dough to build a bespoke chassis or significantly modify the TNGA-L, a redesign of the IS is IMO SOL. Maybe Lexus will shoehorn the IS into one of the FWD/AWD platforms, but I surely hope not.

The only semi affordable RWD cars Toyota has anything to do with is built in partnership with other companies. The 86 is based on a modified Impreza chassis and the MkV Supra is basically a BMW z4 underneath. I wonder if the IS will go in the same direction.

 

Don't forget that Mazda is developing a RWD platform which Toyota plans to use.

 

Same 2.0 engine bored out? more attention and aftermarket support? excited!

 

Add more tech features to the IS to match other luxury cars like android carplay, heads up display, bird-eye camera, etc. and sales will boost with little expense to execute. A friend of mine choose the Accord over the TLX simply because android car play was on the accord and not on the TLX (you think it would be the reverse). The smallest design choices can turn off buyers. Personally I would get rid of the 2.0L 4Vt engine and have all the 300 use the 3.5L V6 with the stock 311hp tune and the 350 bumped up to at least 405hp. As nice as the GS line is the looks are not sexy for 2020, I would consolidate the ES and GS line to better compete with the E class and it would eat away at the E class sales. If the 2019 ES had AWD I would have gotten it as the old granny car is now a very nice looking one that will hold up for a while, at least with the ultimate package.