From this interview, Lexus management said they are going to keep the IS500 program for 4 years.

https://www.motor1.com/news/564929/l...nce-hybrid-ev/

Let's see whether Lexus will put the 10AT into IS500.

 

I'll believe it in 4 years. His last comment was to go out and buy one now.

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Cool. I wonder what incremental changes they'll do.. I highly doubt they will put the 10AT in. I feel like the base trim will just get more from the premium trim and they'll do a couple tweaks, maybe add wireless android auto/carplay but that's about it.

 

4 years is what I imagined. I don’t think the changes will be very drastic though. The 2022 is already improved over 2021 (for the IS350) with the new memory package. There’s nothing else I can think of that Lexus could add to the IS500 that I’d want. It’s old school and that’s why it’s a gem.

 

I don't think they will put a 10at into the IS500. pretty counter-intuitive imo when 4/10 gears are overdrives.

 

Maybe they'll add auto-folding mirrors! Wish mine had that haha

 

Extending sun visors, Auto-folding mirror, rear amber led or sequential turn signals, integrate the new OTA infotainment w/ mouse pad delete, wireless apple/android, additional interior color & wheel options, LSS+ 4.0, 5.0, etc (refined lvl 2 automation), foglights, maybe a transmission tune?



Pre-refreshed IS with OEM style light bar tail lights. Lexus will definitely not rave out on a LED light show, but I see potential in the rear light bar.

 

That's a relief, seems more likely to be able to get it without a markup since people may be less afraid of missing out. Just will have to practice some patience. I was actually pretty worried that I wouldn't get one as I'm really far down a list for one at MSRP.

 

I have predicted 3 years (4 years of the IS 300/350) since that one came out in 2021 with just some minor tweaks with additional goodies added (like sunroof in Canada) and such but let's put this prediction in a time capsule and review it in a few years

 

I would agree that 4 years is probable...at the absolute max.
I think we can be sure that is will be here for 3 model years guaranteed.
Lexus would likely retire the 3XX and 500 at the same time, but the 3XX has a one year head start on the 500.
Although it's evident that the 2IS and 3IS have unusually long lifespans for the model...8 years and 9 years (and counting) respectively.

 

I think if they were going to put in the development costs to do the 10AT they would have already done it when first developing the car. It's also possible the 10AT doesn't fit in the IS chassis.

More likely they will do what's inexpensive for them - adding very basic features that get put in across the IS line, paint and interior colors added/subtracted, maybe some new wheels, and maybe some basic suspension tweaks as they've done with the IS F, GS F, & RC F before it.

 

I'll be a little sad if they allow the IS500 in flare yellow or make a return to Rioja Red nuluxe.

The auto folding mirrors wouldve been nice but just another thing you have to worry about not working in 15 years.

 

From this doc, the 10AT can fit where the 8AT fits:

https://global.toyota/en/powertrain/transmission/

It is like Toyota could have decided to fit the 5.0 V8 into the IS as early as 2015, but they waited until 2021/2022 to do so. The same may apply to the transmission as well, who knows. The 5.0 V8 + 10AT mating work has already been completed (and deployed to the LC), so there should not be major additional work if Toyota wanted to do so on the IS.

 

Which suggests that if they wanted to do it, they already would have. There's a reason why the IS500 isn't just a four door LC.

 

Great info, although AmbyBomb is probably spot on. I think, kinda like the IS500 project as a whole, it would take someone within Lexus who is an enthusiast making a big case for it, maybe they could if the car sells extremely well.