Lexus Philippines has launched the all-new IS model, the most affordable Lexus luxury sedan, with a price range of P3.328 million to P3.808 million, among its line of premium vehicles available in the country.
“The IS is our most attainable luxury compact sedan and this could even be anybody’s first luxury vehicle,” Atsuhiro Okamoto, president of Lexus Philippines, said at the virtual launch on Saturday night of the new model.
IS, the tenth model of Lexus Manila, has a price tag of P3.328 million for the IS 300 and P3.808 million for the IS 350 F Sport variant.
Okamoto urged Lexus enthusiasts to experience IS stressing that “the best things in life are experienced when all senses are activated.”
Lexus Manila has 9 existing model product line up. These are ES (mid-size sedan), LS (compact luxury sedan), UX (its most affordable subcompact luxury crossover with a price of P2.538 million for UX200 and P3.108M for UX 200 F Sport), NX (compact luxury crossover), RX (mid-size luxury crossover), GX (mid-size luxury SUV), RC (luxury coupe), RC-F (performance coupe), and LC (flagship luxury coupe which is the top of its line at P9.908M).
Raymond Rodriguez, Lexus Manila president, noted that Saturday night's virtual launch of IS in Manila was the first in the Asia Pacific Region.
“It is here at Lexus that we go beyond the promise of automobile excellence, as we commit to a relationship that ultimately extends way after you drive home your very own Lexus,” said Rodriguez.
Born and bred at the Shimoyama Technical Center Test Track, IS is the first Lexus model to emerge from the toughest and most challenging roads in the world. The Shimoyama test track was modelled after the Nürburgring, this test course is evidence of the company’s passion for performance.
“With the aim of making ever-better cars, we have continued to make various efforts in ‘feeling the road’ and ‘conversing with cars’ through driving tests around the world, including our Five Continent Drive Project and the Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race,” said Lexus Master Driver Akio Toyoda in a press statement.
Utilizing the demanding road course, every performance aspect of the IS was finely tuned, from the engine, transmission, chassis, suspension, and safety systems. The F Sport variant has a 300hp, 380Nm naturally aspirated V6 engine and eight-speed automatic transmission, while the IS 300h is powered by a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder hybrid power plant mated to a Lexus E-CVT intelligent transmission.
The new IS comes with the LSS+2—a suite of the latest Active Safety features—such as the Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Tracing Assist, and the Automatic High Beam. The F Sport model comes equipped with the upgraded Pre-Collision system which detects oncoming vehicles and pedestrians, even when turning left or right at intersections.
Lexus was launched in 1989 with a flagship sedan and a guest experience that helped define the premium automotive industry. In 1998, Lexus introduced the luxury crossover category with the launch of the Lexus RX. The luxury hybrid sales leader, Lexus delivered the world’s first luxury hybrid and has since sold over 1.5 million hybrid vehicles.
A global luxury automotive brand with an unwavering commitment to bold, uncompromising design, exceptional craftsmanship, and exhilarating performance, the company said it has developed its line-up to meet the needs of the next generation of global luxury guests and is currently available in over 90 countries worldwide.
Lexus associates/team members across the world are dedicated to crafting amazing experiences that are uniquely Lexus, and that excite and change the world, the company statement added.