New 2014 Lexus IS: What’s Under the Hood
There are no stunning changes to report in the drivetrain department of the 2014 Lexus IS. Base IS 250 shoppers still benefit from a 2.5-liter V-6 engine that develops 204 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, and the IS 350 features a familiar 3.5-liter V-6 that has been tuned to provide 306 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of twist. Lexus isn’t going for the gut of the sporty luxury sedan market with these drivetrains, but they are robust enough to compare well against offerings from Mercedes-Benz and Audi. Eight-speed automatic transmissions are standard – with no option of a manual – on all rear-wheel drive models, while adding available all-wheel drive to the IS 350 introduces a six-speed auto.
The 2013 Lexus IS Hybrid is a model aimed squarely at the European market, where it promises to deliver ultra-low emissions and satisfy eco-conscious buyers. No clues were provided regarding the IS Hybrid’s mechanical details beyond its emissions targets, but it does mark the first time that the small sedan has been offered with battery assistance. An American on-sale date for the Lexus IS Hybrid was not offered by brand spokespeople.