Lexus has shown the facelifted IS sedan at the Beijing Motor Show with minor exterior and interior updates.

The Lexus IS sedan has been updated with revised interior and exterior styling. The facelifted IS sedan has been enhanced with redesigned headlights with L-shaped daytime running lights. The bumper now features larger air intakes and the spindle grille has been tweaked too. At the rear, L-shaped LED lights are seen and rectangular chrome exhaust tips hint at the sporty nature of the IS sedan,whichrides on 17-inch, 10-spoke alloy wheels as standard. Lexus has also added two new colours to the range, including Deep Blue Mica and Graphite Black Gloss Flake.

Changes to the interior include a larger, 10.3-inch infotainment system and the Remote Touch Interface (RTI) now features a 'Enter' button. The audio and ventilation control panel has also been revised while the meter hood now has new stitching. New cupholders and a leather-wrapped palm rest are included and the analogue clock features new markings. Engine offerings will remain unchanged(See below) but the updated IS will feature Lexus Safety System + incorporatingPre-Collision System, Lane Departure Alert (LDA) with Steering Assist, Automatic High Beam (AHB) and Radar Cruise Control.

Lexus South Africa has confirmed that the facelifted IS sedan can be expected in South Africa in the fourth quarter of 2016.

Lexus IS Range in South Africa

The current IS range in South Africa starts with the IS 200t in both E and EX trim. We recently had the IS 200t EX on test and found it to be a rather impressive product. It comes fitted with a new 2.0-litre turbo engine that develops 180 kW and 350 Nm of torque through an 8-speed automatic transmission. Ride quality and refinement is right up there with the best sedans in the market and it comes packed with a decent spread of features too. Pricing for the IS 200t E starts at R550200 while the IS 200t EX is priced from R604800.

Read the full review for the Lexus IS 200t

If you are after more performance, the range also includes the sportier IS 350 F-Sport that’s powered by a 3.5-litre V6 with 233 kW and 378 Nm of torque. This derivative employs an 8-speed automatic transmission and is capable of 0-100 kph in 5.9 seconds before reaching a top speed of 225 kph. Pricing for the IS 350 F-Sport starts at R665900.

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