Lexus IS: 2nd Generation (2005-Present)

The new 2009 Lexus IS facelift has certainly started picking up some steam this week, and now we have a commercial from Japan that shows the updated model carting around Cinderella:

Nice to see the integrated turn signals in action, however brief.

Official 2009 Lexus IS photos have surfaced today, along with a promise that the mid-cycle facelift will debut at the Paris Auto Show. Before getting to the photos, though, let’s do a full breakdown of the various nips & tucks:

Exterior

• Revised front bumper with reworked lower air intake and fog lights
• Expanded front grille
• Integrated turn signals in the side mirrors
• Revised taillight design with L-shaped reverse lights
• New 17″ & 18″ wheel designs
• New colors: Amber Pearl & Truffle Mica

Interior

• New instrument panel center cluster design
• Illuminated temperature gauge & side mirror controls
• New color and wood trim combos: Ecru (with golden brown trim) & Light Grey (with Dark Grey bird’s eye maple)
• Contrasting stitching on the door panels, console lid & seats
• Carpets & Seat backs set to match color of upper instrument panel
• DC outlet and AUX input positions switched (!!!)

Mechanical

• Paddle Shifting function in D mode
• New VDIM cutoff switch for the IS 250
• Optional 18″ wheels on RWD models
• Revised suspension tuning and steering

Here’s the first batch of photos, I’ll be adding more as time goes on:

No question now, this is the upcoming 2009 Lexus IS facelift:

These photos, posted on the same site that leaked the 2009 IS brochure, reveal the new IS in some sort of Japanese Korean Lexus showroom, presumably where unreleased models are displayed for anyone to see.

Enough talk, here’s the full gallery:

[Source: Dajapa Via: My.IS]

Bader Bouarki’s photo of the Lexus IS is fantastic, and the description is even better:

I Told my friend to drive, i went to the second car and sit in the trunk, it was 120KM/H,
i added the cloud as a part of a beauty…

Sitting on the trunk of a car going 120kph (75mph) certainly puts a different spin on The Passionate Pursuit of Perfection.

It may be an elaborate hoax, but My.IS member nyjinwoo has uncovered what looks to be a brochure for the 2009 Lexus IS 250/350. First thing, here’s an overview of the exterior changes:

The front grille has been given the same extended chrome border and integrated turn signals that were included in last year’s refreshed GS. The revised rear lights have also been changed, though the differences are subtle unless compared with the current design:

The most obvious change is the L-Shaped clear accents in the lower corners, though it also looks as though the rear lights are protruding somewhat. This was something I noticed when looking at the convertible spy shots seen some months back.

Interior shots were also included, and the only change I can see is the wood steering wheel:

If accurate, these changes certainly increase the edginess of the IS (I’m particularly impressed with the chunky rear light treatment), but will it be enough to carry the model through its final three years of production?

[Source: dajapa via My.IS] (Thanks Joaquín!)

There’s some fairly strong imagery in this Lexus IS commercial from Australia, and it’s all vaguely biblical:

I’d really like to see the creative brief on this one.