Lexus Expands F SPORT to All Drivetrains

The Lexus IS was born when the compact sport sedan seemed to be everyone’s dream car. Many manufacturers strove to knock the BMW 3-series off its pedestal, but the first challenger automotive journalists thought actually succeeded was the Lexus IS. Lexus has never lost sight of the IS’s mission. The compact, rear-wheel-drive sedan remains renowned for its handling and high-performing drivetrains. And now, Lexus is offering more variants of the IS than ever before by expanding the F Sport package to more models.

The many variants of the IS reflect the many ways people want to experience their sports sedan. They range from desiring a practical and comfortable ride that looks great and feels good, to a hunger for a performance monster that fills the cabin with the roar of a naturally aspirated V8. Lexus of Henderson gives you this brief rundown of the IS model line.

IS 300

Lexus is expanding the F SPORT and F SPORT Design packages to the IS 300 lineup. The 2024 IS 300 F SPORT Design package is primarily about exterior aesthetics with 19-inch F SPORT alloy wheels, emblems, revised bumpers, and a bespoke grille surround. The shorter-named F Sport actually adds more content by including all the just listed exterior features while enhancing the interior with heated and ventilated front seats, aluminum pedal caps, and an F SPORT-branded heated steering wheel. IS 300s are available in rear-wheel-drive for that true sports sedan feel, powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 that produces 241 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Or, one can opt for the traction optimization of all-wheel-drive powered by a 3.5-liter V6 producing 260 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque.

IS 350

All 2024 IS 350s are F Sport or F Sport Design models with the same added features as listed for the IS 300 models. Both RWD and AWD versions are powered by a more powerful version of the 3.5-liter V6 producing 311 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque.

The Lexus IS 350 F Sport will be featuring a Blackout Package, which includes:

• 19-inch matte black BBS forged alloy wheels
• Black side mirrors
• Dark chrome for the window trim surrounds and other exterior trim.
• Memory for the driver’s seat, outside mirrors, and steering wheel. 

The Blackout Package is available with the Handling Package, which includes the F SPORT Active Suspension, added Sport+ and Custom Drive modes, and a black headliner.

IS 500

The IS 500 is the only compact sports sedan with a V8 under the hood, which makes it the only car in its class to provide the satisfaction of a purely linear throttle response of a naturally aspirated engine as well as the primal roar of a high-performance V8 with the hammer down. It is a modern take on the old muscle car tradition of incorporating a high-performance V8 in a relatively compact body. The newest version of the IS 500 model is the F SPORT Performance with 472 horsepower and 395 lb-ft of torque.

There will be a limited number of 2024 IS 350 models available with a limited Special Appearance Package, which includes:

• An exclusive Blue Vector exterior 
• Matching blue interior stitching
• 19-inch matte black BBS forged alloy wheels
• SmartAccess Key Card. 

This is truly a limited package, with only 150 units available in North America. 

There are ten different versions of the Lexus IS in all. Though each delivers on the Sports sedan experience, they remain a Lexus, which means they are comfortable, luxurious, reliable, have high-quality options, as well as the latest technology. The Lexus Safety System+ 2.5 suite of safety and driver assist features is standard on all models available features include the Panoramic View Monitor, 10-way power driver seat, and the amazing 1800-watt, 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system. 

If you have a desire for a car that carries you and your passengers in luxury but can thrill you down to your bones at a moment’s notice, come check out the several 2023 and 2024 IS models available at Lexus of Henderson.