2021 Lexus IS: Everything You Need to Know
To continue its domination over rivals in the compact luxury car segment, including the Audi A4, Kia Stinger, Volvo S60, and BMW 3-series, the new Lexus IS is getting revamped for the 2021 model year. Developed for the track yet tailored to the everyday driver, the 2021 Lexus IS sees a variety of new features, system upgrades, and a healthy lathering of styling gel.
Changes & Updates
Enhanced Driving Performance
“We aimed to make the new IS a Lexus compact sports sedan that provides high-quality riding comfort while offering a high level of vehicle control.” – Chief Engineer Naoki Kobayashi of Lexus International
Supremely sleek, sophisticated and assuredly sporty, the 2021 IS will certainly turn heads, but perhaps it’s the sedan’s underpinnings that make it something really special.
Focusing on Lexus’s relentless pursuit of perfection, engineers spared no expense when constructing the new IS. Guided by this prime directive, the team targeted one aspect on which all luxury sports cars thrive: Performance.
Whether on racetrack or stretch of two-way asphalt, the 2021 IS feels every bit the sports car it’s advertised as. In reinforcing the vehicle’s radiator and C-pillar structures, Lexus engineers increased overall rigidity, reduced road noise and vibration, and improved steering inputs to boost heel-to-palm response.
The 2021 Lexus IS sheds weight compared to its 2020 sibling. Coil springs in its adaptive suspension system are reportedly 20% lighter, while a material change to forged aluminum makes its A-arms 18% lighter. Even its stabilizer bar has seemingly cut back on the snacks, resulting in a 17% reduction in weight.
The new Lexus IS will also be sporting new swing-valve shocks and larger 19-inch wheels, the latter being a first-time feature. These 19-inchers, available on the F SPORT trims, grip the road better to improve cornering and overall handling. Lexus IS F SPORT models can be equipped with a specialty limited slip differential that further enhances performance.
Restyled & New Colors
Expect to be floored at the exquisiteness of the 2021 Lexus IS. At first glance, you’ll notice a newly designed front grille with 3D mesh styling. (F SPORT models boast several additions to improve airflow.) Headlights are slimmer, and optional triple-beam LED lamps are exceptionally complementary to the refreshed front-end.
Along the side, the new IS features athletic rocker panels, curved rear pillars, and muscular contours that lead to its reworked rear fender.
For 2021, the IS can be had in five all-new exterior colors: Iridium, Cloudburst Gray, Matador Red Mica, Infrared and Grecian Water.
Inside the new IS, you’ll see a bit of a reworked cabin. Cupholders have been rearranged for better (i.e. more practical) usability. Air vents have been rounded out and pushed closer to the door panels for improved airflow.
New Multimedia System
Adding to its array of creature comforts – NuLuxe® seats, a 10-way power driver’s seat, and dual-zone climate, for instance – the 2021 Lexus IS is setting its sights on the future with a massive 10.3-inch touchscreen display. The available multimedia and infotainment system features optional navigation, Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ compatibility, and Amazon Alexa.
An enhanced Mark Levinson Premium Surround Sound system is another must-have upgrade if you opt to buy the new IS. The audio system is available as two worthwhile options:
- 825-watt 15-speaker system
- 1,800-watt 17-speaker system with updated amplifier
Lexus Safety System+ 2.5
Standardizing premium safety systems is a Lexus priority. The 20201 Lexus IS, therefore, will mark the release of Lexus Safety System+ 2.5 (LSS+ 2.5) with standard blind-spot monitoring.
What is LSS+ 2.5? An upgrade to the once-standard Lexus Safety System+ found on previous IS models, LSS+ 2.5 adds several new features while improving carryovers.
The Lexus Pre-Collision System now utilizes a single-lens camera with sensors to enhance the so-called response range and better detect objects, people or other moving vehicles. The Pre-Collision System includes primary driver-assist features like Frontal Collision Warning, Automatic Emergency Braking, Pedestrian detection, and Bicycle Detection.
Another change can be seen in Lexus’s All-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control. DRCC can now be activated above 30 mph and resume automatically from a full stop. Better yet, DRCC can now automatically pass slower vehicles once the driver activates the appropriate turn indicator.
Improvements have also been made to increase the efficacy of Lexus IS’s Lane Departure Warning and Lane Tracing Assist systems. The incorporation of Intelligent High Beams, Road Sign Assist, and standard Blind Spot Monitor offer additional peace of mind.
2021 IS Release Date
As of July 2020, the 2021 Lexus IS has a scheduled release date in the fall, likely between August and December 2020.
To stay updated on the 2021 IS, contact our Lexus dealership in Savannah at (912) 231-0005. We’ll inform you when the 2021 model is ready to be taken out for a joyride.
About Chatham Parkway Lexus
Located at 1120 Chatham Parkway in Savannah, GA, we help shoppers not only find the best luxury vehicles – we help them live their best luxurious lives. With competitive pricing on new Lexus vehicles, excellent financing options, and a customer-first auto service center, our Savannah Lexus dealership is your local source for luxury cars in Georgia.
Call the Chatham Parkway Lexus sales team at (912) 231-0005 to get more info about building a 2021 IS or leasing a 2020 IS in Savannah.