This four-door sport sedan oozes muscle, and it's quite a different beast from the standard IS. The hood, for example, has been raised by almost two inches, and it has aggressive power bulges to accommodate the larger engine. The front bumper and fenders also had to be lengthened for the same reason. At the rear, Lexus included the most noticeable homage to the now-defunct hardcore F models - the stacked quad exhaust tips. A revised lower rear diffuser and dark chrome window trim set the IS F Sport apart, and a rear lip spoiler ties it all together.
The IS 500 F Sport gets new 19-inch Enkei alloy wheels this year, while the Premium can be had with 19-inch Matte Black BBS forged alloys that form part of a new Special Appearance Package. However, these wheels are also available as an individual option on both trims.
The Lexus IS 500 sedan has an overall length of 187.3 inches, riding on a 110.2-inch wheelbase. It's 72.4 inches wide with the mirrors folded in and stands 56.5 inches tall. With its elongated body, it stretches nearly two inches longer than the standard IS. Before the IS 500 rolled along, the heaviest IS was the 350 F Sport AWD at 3,880 lbs. Even with that big 5.0-liter lump under the hood, the IS 500 weighs 3,891 lbs, which is just 143 lbs more than the 350 F Sport RWD.
Lexus IS 500 Trims | F SPORT PERFORMANCE | F SPORT PERFORMANCE Premium |
---|---|---|
Max Width | 72.4 in. | 72.4 in. |
Length | 187.3 in. | 187.3 in. |
Height | 56.5 in. | 56.5 in. |
Wheelbase | 110.2 in. | 110.2 in. |
Lexus IS 500 Trims | Curb Weight |
---|---|
F SPORT PERFORMANCE | 3,891 lbs. |
F SPORT PERFORMANCE Premium | 3,891 lbs. |
Front Tire | P235/40YR19 |
Rear Tire | P265/35YR19 |
Spare Tire | Compact |
Wheels Type | Aluminum Wheels |
Front Wheel Size | 19" x 8.5" |
Rear Wheel Size | 19" x 9.5" |
You can choose from nine colors when configuring your IS 500, including Ultra White, Caviar, Iridium, Infrared, Atomic Silver, Grecian Water, Cloudburst Gray, and Ultrasonic Blue Mica 2.0. Certain premium colors have a surcharge of $500 or $595. The limited Special Appearance Package for the Premium introduced Molten Pearl exterior paint to the mix.
The Lexus looks spectacular in all these colors, especially in Infrared. We do wish there were more flamboyant colors available, considering the competition this car faces. Green seems to be a favorite at the moment, and we would have loved to see Japan's take on this color.