Later this year, the RZ model, a battery-powered SUV, will debut. It's the first - but by no means last - Lexus vehicle to have no conventional engine at all.
They're also sticking with gas-electric hybrids in a bigger way. Starting with the upcoming model year, their compact UX model will only be available with hybrid power. No more regular version of their smallest crossover.
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And then...there's an outlier.
Say hello to the contrarian bad boy, also proudly wearing the Lexus badge. It's the new IS 500 F Sport Performance, with a base price of just under $60,000. No electricity at all driving the huge rear wheels; just a 472 horsepower V8 making harmonious eight cylinder sounds. Suspension upgrades mean that it sticks to the road appropriately when that road turns curvy.
This isn't exactly a new idea from the premium car maker. Back in 2008, the IS-F model stormed onto the scene, and it was the baddie of the brand back then as well. The new IS 500 F is definitely the spiritual successor to that earlier hot-rod sedan.
One interesting note: the IS 500's engine does not have turbochargers, and it doesn't have a supercharger. In a way, it's sort of an old-school V8.
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And while it may be old school in execution to a degree, it's ushering in a subset at Lexus called Performance. Yes, part of this car's official name is the word "performance" as a proper noun. Lexus says this is the debut of the brand's Performance line, ultimate driving cars no matter what's powering them.
Nothing official, but a full-electric concept called Sport could very well end up with that moniker, especially with Lexus hinting about racetrack performance from it. That includes a 0-60 time in the two-second range.
In the meantime, if you prefer your performance the traditional way, the IS 500 F Sport is your ultimate performing Lexus sedan. But with a company pledge to move to electrification, for how long? They're not telling, but as the old saying goes, you may want to get one while you can.