Latest news with #IS500
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
End of an Era? The Lexus IS 500 Ultimate Edition Hints at the Model's Farewell
The naturally-aspirated V8-powered Lexus IS 500 isn't the quickest sports sedan around, but there are few that look and sound this good. You might be sad to hear that with the introduction of the IS 500 F Sport Performance Ultimate Edition, Lexus could be signaling the end of the road for the venerable IS. The Ultimate Edition retains the IS 500's naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 engine, producing 472 horsepower, unchanged from stock. While Lexus hasn't officially confirmed the IS's discontinuation, the limited-run nature of this model and its debut as a 2025 model year vehicle suggest there may not be a 2026 IS. Mechanically, the Ultimate Edition is unchanged from the standard IS 500, retaining the powerful V8 paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive only. The Ultimate Edition retains the handsome body and sporty interior but adds some special touches. It gets a special exterior paint color called Wind, a metallic light gray finish that's probably better looking in person than in photos, where it appears as a variation on the model's Ultra White paint. It also gets 19-inch matte-black BBS wheels, red brake calipers, and special IS 500 Ultimate Edition badging. The cabin features a two-tone red and black colorway, complemented by racy red seatbelts, a numbered 1-of-500 plaque, and unique door scuff plates that signify its special designation. The 472-horsepower V8 sports sedan will launch to 60 mph from a standstill in the mid-fours, which is properly quick, about the same as the Genesis G70 3.3T. The top trim IS 500 F Sport Performance Premium, gets a 14-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, voice command, configurable gauge cluster, a panoramic view monitor, and a 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium surround sound system with QuantumLogic surround technology. The upholstery features NuLuxe faux leather wrapped over heated and ventilated front seats (19-way power adjustable for the driver), a power moonroof, embossed door trim, and numerous physical controls for audio and climate. One vestige of the previous IS that we could do without is the wonky touchpad, which unfortunately remains in the IS 500. When it comes to safety, the IS 500 Sport Performance comes standard with Lexus Safety System+ 2.5 and includes features like pre-collision warning with pedestrian detection, lane tracing assist, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The IS 500 also boasts a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. Pricing for the 2025 IS 500 F Sport Performance Ultimate Edition has not yet been announced, but the stock IS 500 F SPORT Performance starts at $60,595, while the F SPORT Performance Premium variant begins at $65,095. The Ultimate Edition will, no doubt, exceed that price point. Too bad it won't be offered in some of our favorite colors from the IS 500's palette history, like Flare Yellow and Molten Pearl. We don't care if the IS 500 F Sport Performance Ultimate Edition isn't the quickest, most tractable sports sedan around. The IS 500's naturally aspirated V8 offers a refreshing and nostalgic driving experience, as well as an absolutely intoxicating sound, appealing to enthusiasts who love sport and luxury. The Ultimate Edition will be totally worth the extra money, especially since the V8 will likely disappear from the Lexus stable in the next few years. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Top Gear
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- Top Gear
The 466bhp Lexus IS 500 Ultimate Edition is a naturally-aspirated V8 saloon and we want one
USA Yes, it's a shameless limited-run special, but it's very desirable. Forged wheels, special paint, limited to 500 units in North America Skip 1 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Lexus has sold 1.3 million examples of its compact, rear-wheel-drive IS saloon since the first generation arrived in 1999, and to celebrate it's launching a shameless special edition of the IS 500 F-Sport in North America called 'Ultimate'. Oh boy, this makes us miss the old IS F. You may remember the 500 F-Sport uses a naturally-aspirated 5.0-litre V8 to make 466bhp and 395lb ft of torque. And yes, that's kinda the only reason why we're bringing you the news of this limited-run Ultimate Edition. As you might have guessed, just 500 will be available. Advertisement - Page continues below But what does the UE actually add? 19in forged BBS alloy wheels finished in matte black for a start, with contrasting red calipers and Brembo brakes. You also get a special shade of grey paint that Lexus has titled 'Wind'. Stop sniggering at the back. On the inside we're told the special edition gets 'Circuit Red' and black trim, with seats covered in artificial leather and Ultrasuede. The LFA-inspired steering wheel and shift knob are finished in real dimpled leather, while the analogue clock gets 'precision red laser etching'. Very Lexus. You might like Of course, we'd love to see all of these updates, but Lexus has only provided one picture of the Ultimate Edition so far (above). The IS 500 is an excellent-looking sports saloon though, so below is a little gallery of 2022 model year versions to get you excited about V8-engined sports saloons again. Skip 9 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Advertisement - Page continues below Looking for more from the USA? Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
This Might Be Your Last Chance to Buy a V-8-Powered Lexus Sedan
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Lexus has always been quiet about its sport sedan heritage, but the Japanese automaker has long been battling alongside BMW and Mercedes-Benz in the quest to perfect the four-door rocket. But that time is coming to an end, it seems. Lexus is being coy about what is next for the IS-series of sedans, but the phrasing of the name makes us fairly certain that the newly revealed IS 500 Ultimate Edition means something. Launched as a limited edition, special-production version of the V8-powered IS 500, the Ultimate Edition appears to commemorate the years of eight-cylinder sport sedans before it — and feels something like a final send-off. Mechanically, the IS 500 chassis and powerplant remains unchanged, sporting a 5.0-liter 2UR-GSE V-8 engine with 472 hp and 395-lb-ft of torque. Adaptive suspension, 6-piston Brembo brakes, and 19-inch forged alloy BBS wheels also remain. The majority of the changes for the Ultimate Edition are cosmetic; specifically, matte gray-black paint is applied to every body panel, adding the color of "Wind" to the sedan. Other new features of the IS 500 Ultimate Edition include a Circuit Red and Black interior, complete with NuLuxe and Ultrasuede seats, plus an LFA-inspired steering wheel and shift knob. Red seatbelts add another sporty touch to the cabin while an 8.0-inch infotainment display reminds everyone that this generation of IS is nearly 13 years old. We're not one to speculate too much here at Road & Track, but we can't help analyzing the phrasing associated with the IS 500 Ultimate Edition. Lexus is calling it "the culmination of greatness," suggesting that something will be finished with the Ultimate Edition model. Is that the IS 500 and its V8? Or is that the whole IS lineup? What does this mean for its RC coupe sibling? We're not exactly sure just yet. Total sales of the IS-series sedan top 1.3 million units since its inception with the IS 300 in 1999, but more modern sales figures paint a picture of a sedan in its twilight years. Lexus says it will only build 500 units of the Ultimate Edition sedan. Pricing and production details have yet to be announced, but we're sure this special edition IS 500 sedan will rise well above the regular model's $60,595 sticker price. Either way, be on the lookout for more news around the future of Lexus's middleweight rear-wheel-drive sedan. You Might Also Like You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners The Man Who Signs Every Car
Car and Driver
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
2025 Lexus IS Ultimate Edition Could Be the End for the RWD Sedan
Lexus is introducing an Ultimate Edition of the IS sedan, with a limited run of 500 units. This version seems to signify that the IS will be discontinued soon. The Ultimate Edition is based on the IS500 and has a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V-8 engine with 472 hp. Lexus hasn't yet confirmed it, but the signs are pointing to the end of the road for the IS sports sedan. The new Ultimate Edition version of the V-8-powered IS500 F Sport Performance features visual tweaks and special badging, and will be a limited run of 500 units. Its impending arrival in the fall as a 2025 model signifies that there will be no 2026 IS in the U.S., and we'd be sad to lose yet another sports sedan—especially one with a naturally aspirated V-8. The Ultimate Edition comes in a new color called Wind, and it has special matte-black 19-inch BBS wheels and red brake calipers. The interior is finished in a two-tone red and black color scheme, including red seatbelts. There's a plaque denoting each car with its number in the 500-unit series, and the scuff-plate trim is also exclusive to the Ultimate Edition. There aren't any changes to the IS500's 472-hp 5.0-liter V-8 engine or its eight-speed automatic, and the Ultimate Edition comes only with rear-wheel drive, like all other IS500s. This F Sport Performance model previously got to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds in our testing, and we ran it at our Lightning Lap track test as well. When asked if the 2025 model year would be the last for the IS, a Lexus representative told C/D that the company "could not comment on future product plans." But we'd be surprised if the current-generation IS lives on much longer, as it debuted for the 2014 model year and received a significant refresh in 2021. But we suppose if you're going to go out, there are worse ways than with a naturally aspirated V-8 bang. Joey Capparella Deputy Editor, Rankings Content Despite being raised on a steady diet of base-model Hondas and Toyotas—or perhaps because of it—Joey Capparella nonetheless cultivated an obsession for the automotive industry throughout his childhood in Nashville, Tennessee. He found a way to write about cars for the school newspaper during his college years at Rice University, which eventually led him to move to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for his first professional auto-writing gig at Automobile Magazine. He has been part of the Car and Driver team since 2016 and now lives in New York City.
Motor Trend
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Motor Trend
2025 Lexus IS500 Ultimate Edition First Look: Last of the V-8s, Ultimately
It's almost improbable that Lexus still sells the IS500 F Sport Performance, the version of its otherwise conventional IS compact sport sedan that debuted for 2022 with a 472-hp 5.0-liter V-8. The engine has no turbo- or superchargers and is assisted in no way by electrification. It's just a honkin' V-8 mixing air, fuel, and spark to propel a relatively small four-door sport sedan in a way that none of its four- and six-cylinder, forced-induction (and even all-electric) competitors offer any longer. Almost to celebrate its own audacity, Lexus is introducing a limited run of 500 IS500 Ultimate Editions. 0:00 / 0:00 The modifications are more than the usual badge-and-sticker job, too, with Lexus swapping in larger 15.0-inch ventilated front brake rotors, red-painted six-piston Brembo brake calipers, and high-friction brake pads in place of the regular IS500's 14.0-inch, four-piston front stoppers. Also added? A lightweight set of 19-inch forged aluminum BBS wheels (in place of the regular IS500's Enkei pieces). Lexus also is introducing a new-to-IS paint color on the Ultimate Edition, "Wind," a cool gray that really pops with the matte-black-painted BBS wheels. Inside, there are red seatbelts, a serialized badge commemorating the specific vehicle you buy, and red accents on the gauges and analog dashboard clock. Lexus even programs an Ultimate Edition–exclusive startup animation for the 8.0-inch digital gauge cluster display, a neat detail that seems easy in abstract but goes missed by far too many automakers when churning out special-edition variants. The seats and dash are slathered in NuLuxe faux leather and sueded elements, again part of an overall "color theme" of Circuit Red and Black. Lexus could slather the entire car in Barney purple paint and dye the interior green to match, and it likely wouldn't dull our enthusiasm for this old-school sport sedan. Sure, the IS500 F Sport Performance barely outruns the length of its name—it's quick but not crazy quick, and its handling is better suited to fast roads than racetracks—but it more than makes up for any performance shortcomings by delivering far more visceral feels than much of the zippier but ultimately less soulful competition. The IS500 Ultimate Edition therefore receives the regular IS500 F Sport Performance's 5.0-liter V-8 with no notes. We don't have any, either. So, buyers can look forward to 472 hp, 395 lb-ft of torque, a (somewhat lazy) eight-speed automatic transmission, and only the rear tires transferring that V-8's power to the ground. The soundtrack is great, and because the engine makes its power up high in the rev range, you practically must wind the V-8 out in order to access it. The only question we have is this: With Lexus dubbing this special edition IS500 the "Ultimate Edition," is it implying some finality? The IS is nearing the end of its current life cycle, so this could be the V-8 version's swan song (although there isn't yet mention of the non-Ultimate Edition—which is still on Lexus's website—going away for 2025). This same engine is still powering the similarly old RC F coupe, too. But boy, we sure hope not—we're not ready to let go of the naturally aspirated V-8–powered, small sport sedan quite yet, even if BMW, Mercedes, Audi, and others have.
