Lexus IS range gets new F-Sport grade

Lexus has revealed that the popular IS range will receive significant improvements for 2010 including the introduction of a new F-Sport grade.

The best-selling sports saloon will receive sharper looks and new high-tech on board features for the 2010 model year.

A new F-Sport grade – inspired by ultra-high-performance IS F – will also be available boasting a range of premium equipment features, sportier exterior and an upgraded interior. 

New F-Sport grade
The new F-Sport grade will be available on both the IS 250 and 220d models and will be positioned between the SE-I and SE-L trims.

The F-Sport exterior will feature a lowered suspension (IS 250 only), exclusive 18’’ wheels and an IS F-style front grille and rear spoiler. Inside, aluminium sports pedals, IS F-style sports seats, steering wheel and automatic gear lever (on the IS 250), complete the sporty look. A black-on-black interior colour scheme, Alcantara upholstery and grey stitching on the front seats and steering wheel also add a touch of luxury to the new F-Sport saloon.

Premium equipment on the new F-Sport grade includes rain-sensing wipers, HID headlights with AFS, 13-speaker audio system and memory settings for the front seats and door mirrors.

Navigation and audio systems
The 2010 Lexus IS range will now feature one of the most accurate and fast-responding navigation systems on the market. Using a 40GB hard disc drive (HDD), it provides Europe-wide coverage and is able to gather live local traffic intelligence in each country to help plot the most efficient route.

A further benefit of the HDD system is its “sound library” function. Up to 10GB of disc space is available for owners to store audio tracks from CD – boasting enough room for about 2,000 songs.

The touch-screen, full-map system is available as an option on SE and SE-I models as part of package that also includes a rear park assist monitor.

All Lexus IS audio systems can be upgraded to receive DAB digital broadcasts and are equipped as standard with USB and audio jack plug connection for fully controlled use of portable music players, and Bluetooth with an audio streaming function.

Larger wheels for SE grade
The Lexus IS 250 SE and 220d SE have been given more street appeal for 2010 with 10-spoke 17’’ alloy wheels fitted as standard, in place of the previous 16’’ rims.

Improved fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions
Improvements have also been made to the fuel consumption and CO2 figures of the IS 250 model. With manual transmission, the IS 250 now boasts a combined fuel consumption of 29.1mpg, compared to 28.8mpg for the 2009 model. CO2 emissions have also fallen from 231 to 227g/km for the manual and 214 to 209g/km for the automatic.

Prices for the new 2010 Lexus IS start from £24,350. The IS F-Sport model starts from £28,290

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Donna Kelly

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10/03/2010