Lexus tight-lipped on groundbreaking new electric Lexus IS
Lexus is rumoured to be working on a brand-new all-electric successor to its IS mid-sized saloon.
The rumour of a Lexus IS EV was first floated by Japanese publication Best Car, which claimed the Toyota-owned luxury brand was working on a radically redesigned version of its compact executive saloon.
While the Japanese car maker is staying silent on the rumour, Best Car claimed that the most powerful version of the all-electric Lexus IS would have around 500bhp, and a range of 620 miles, prompting suggestions that it could be fitted with one of Toyota’s solid-state batteries (SSB). Toyota claims its power-dense SSBs offer a 10%-80% charge time of less than 10 minutes.
EV Powered reached out to Toyota UK for further comment but was told it is “company policy about not talking about future product plans”.
The reports suggest that the electric Lexus IS will adopt a more daring design than the upcoming electric-only Lexus ES, which is set to land in the UK this spring.
As parent company Toyota seeks to develop its EV line-up to keep pace with competitors, the next-gen Lexus IS is expected to be built using gigacast structural body panels. Likewise, it is anticipated to be a fully software-defined vehicle (SDV) with over-the-air update capabilities and a drive-by-wire steering system.
Should it arrive next year, the Lexus IS will go up against electric rivals from BMW and Mercedes-Benz, namely the upcoming i3 and the C-Class EQ. Its debut would align with Lexus’ decision to delay any new EVs from 2026 to mid-2027.
The Lexus IS was discontinued in the UK at the end of 2020 as consumers began pivoting towards SUVs. In the event of a 2027 comeback, it would join the ES and the RZ SUV and a forthcoming reimagining of its legendary LFA as an EV.
