2014 Lexus IS 350 F Sport: Up Close
The Lexus IS' dominant design theme is its oversized spindle grille, which looks great in the F Sport trim on display at the 2013 North American International Auto Show. LED daggers below the headlights complement the pinched upper area of the grille, and the dagger theme is mimicked in the taillights.
More 2013 Detroit Auto Show Coverage
The interior sees even bigger changes than the outside, with an all-new dashboard design that adopts the slightly industrial, stacked design of other recently redesigned Lexus models. The F Sport's black-and-red interior looks great, too.
Unfortunately, the cabin adopts touch-slider controls for cabin temperature, which is something that's annoyed us before in the Lincoln MKX crossover. Perhaps Lexus' system is better, but our usability concerns remain with this technology.
From a comfort standpoint, the biggest improvement to the 2014 IS is its much roomier backseat. It's the result of an extra 3 inches to the car's wheelbase, and it means taller adult passengers (I'm 6-foot-1) have good legroom — something that was sorely missing in the prior-generation IS. The sedan also gets a new split-folding backseat, but it doesn't lay flat with the cargo floor; there's a ledge that's about 6 inches tall.
Pricing hasn't been announced, but Lexus General Manager Mark Templin said the new car's price will be comparable to the outgoing one, which starts around $36,000 for the 2013 IS 250 and around $41,000 for the IS 350 and its more powerful V-6 engine.
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looks great? Wow. The front end of this car is horrendous and has been skewered on other sites. I doubt you would be as complimentary of this wasnt a lexus.
Sheth would like it if it was a GM product.
I like the looks and I love the analog clock in the dash, don't know why but I do.
@slinky
I saw another post today where sheth complimented a Japanese car.
...At least I thought I saw it, I can't find it to reference. Oh well.
Give sheth a break guys. He's come a long way in providing less-biased and more educated comments.
slinky:
I would be disappointed if GM fielded anything looking like this. Lexus is really going off the deep end with this spindle grille styling. It's not premium lookng, its not attractive and it's not elegant. It's garish and an overreaction to past criticism of Lexus styling. Unsurprisingly the press is being far more open minded with this styling direction than they have been with the post-CTS Cadillacs. I can't tell you how many times I've read that cadillac's styling theme and grille design is too "blingy" and overwrought. What Cadillac has put out in the last decade is tame compared to this design.
@Matt:
You are probably talking about my comments about the new Kia sedan. Japanese car design has never been a strong suit and that continues to this day. Anyone who is objective and has appreciation for beautiful cars can understand that. Because I note that cars.com staff seems to have a much more lenient view of Asian branded cars (I doubt anyone on the staff drives anything else) I get accused of being wildy biased and uninformed. All lies and those who read my statements know as much. Cars.com is often EXTREMELYT critical of the styling and interior materials of domestic branded products but somehow cars like the IS are praised for their beauty. I don't get it.
GROTESQUE!
sheth
I must disagree. This is very premium looking. I like this much better than any Caddy ever built.
slinky:
Considering the source Im not surprised. I'm sure you prefer the Yaris to any Caddy ever built as well. I don't exactly consider you to be an objective observer.
Considering the source who reads a lot of your negative comments i would say you are not nearly as smart as you think you are.
3 out of 4 editors listed it as a "loser".
As a Scion, this would work great. As a Lexus, not so much. In no way does this say luxury.
I like red leather but not this Robitussin cough syrup red.
Lexus IS - "Look at me! Look at me!" waving to the buyers flocking to the new BMWs, Audis and even Cadillacs.
"I'm daring and exciting!"
"Hello? hello? anyone?"