Lexus Gives a Green Signal To the 2017 IS for Philippines

MANILA: This fact is certainly not hidden from anyone that the Philippine motorists love sedans and whether it is the entry level B-Segment or the luxury class, this particular model enjoys the most sales in the country. Toyota certainly seems shaken after its global ranking took a hit, as their archrivals Volkswagen recently displaced them from the number one position. Hence to regain their lost glory, it seems they’re trying new strategies to push their luxury brand Lexus in the Philippine market to capitalize on the sedan driven market. This can be exemplified with the announcement for the launch of the 2017 Lexus IS in the country, which made its official debut at the 2016 Beijing Auto Show.

Talking about the upcoming vehicle, the new Lexus IS gets a major refresher from its older model. The front is decorated with the traditional ’Spindle Grille’ that provides a familiar Lexus feel and the oddly shaped headlamps that also look pretty rad and sporty. You’d certainly know that it is a sports car as most of the front has been covered with air intakes to keep the monster under the hood well fed. Returning from the older model is the pinstripe LED daytime lights that look more like accents. The rear however, is the same as the older model, apart from the restructured LED clusters for the taillights. Nevertheless, the brand new 17-inch sports alloys certainly add a lot of freshness to the vehicle’s side profile and suited to its sports car aesthetic.The luxury features in this car are literally too many to be included in a single article and it would be better if we talk about its drivetrain first. The 2017 IS underpins a powerful 3.5-litre V6 mill that puts out nearly 312 hp and is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission for driving comfort.

The interior comfort in the 2017 Lexus IS is certainly beyond amazing as the marque is renowned for its highly luxurious vehicles across the globe. The interiors are a perfect match between style and serenity with the sports seats and the breathtaking front cabin. The dash looks highly futuristic with the digital display instrument cluster and a sick looking center console. The 10-inch display screen is another new addition that sits neatly atop the carved dashboard. The audio console and the climate control units have also been seamlessly integrated to provide a smooth feel. We’re not sure what variants will be released in the country as these details are still awaited from Lexus Philippines, but most experts suggest that it will be the 350 model and the 350 F-Sport variant. Despite the recent problems with recalls and poor safety regulations, Christmas is certainly coming early to the Philippines this year.

Also Read: Lexus LC 500 to Bring Michelin Pilot Super Sport Tires into Being