Report: After three facelifts, the Lexus IS could finally get a new generation as an EV

• The Lexus ISthat escaped death to return for the 2026 model year could extend its lifespan with an electric powertrain.
• This is evident from a report from the Japanese outlet Best carLexus plans to launch a next-generation electric IS sometime in 2027.
• The lineup is expected to include single- and dual-engine versions, with the latter reaching around 500 hp.

The Lexus IS may be saved again. While an ‘Ultimate Edition’ was expected to mark the end of the model in 2025, the luxury sedan was ultimately updated with another facelift for 2026. Yet everything must come to an end. According to a new report from Japan’s Best Car, the IS as we know it will disappear and be replaced by an electric alternative sometime in 2027.

The report states that the IS EV will draw most of its inspiration from the 2023 LF-ZC concept. When the concept was first shown, Lexus said it would start building a production version in 2026, which fits in well with new talk from Japan that the IS could return next year. The new IS wouldn’t be the first Lexus sedan to build on the LF-ZC, as the new ES sedan arriving for the 2026 model year will have similar styling cues.

Most of the details surrounding the electric IS are murky, but the report is clear on a few things. The new version is expected to measure around 188.5 inches long, making it two inches longer than the outgoing model but still making it significantly smaller than the latest ES. Lexus is expected to offer both a single-motor version with rear-wheel drive and a dual-motor AWD model, with the latter expected to produce nearly 500 horsepower. Car and driver contacted Lexus for confirmation of the report. We will update this story if we hear back.

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Jack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his still unshakable addiction to Formula 1.
After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealer group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford, and decided to pursue a career in automotive writing. By chasing down his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel across Wisconsin in search of stories about the automotive world before landing his dream job at Car and driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf.