New Car Preview: 2026 Lexus IS Gets a Sharper Face and Fresh Tech

Lexus is not walking away from the compact sports sedan game. Instead it is giving the IS another facelift for the 2026 model year, the third significant update to a platform that first landed in 2014. Rather than a ground-up redesign, this refresh is a careful tune of what owners already like, with cleaner styling, bigger screens, and subtle chassis tweaks aimed at making the IS feel more natural behind the wheel.

The most obvious change greets you up front. A new fascia lowers the visual mass and tightens the car’s stance, adding a touch of length by about four tenths of an inch. The version shown wears the F Sport suit with a revised rear spoiler, fresh 19 inch alloys, and red brake calipers that pop behind the spokes. There is also a new exterior color called Neutrino Gray, bringing the paint palette to eight choices.

Inside, the IS finally looks properly modern without losing the physical controls drivers appreciate. A reworked dash integrates a larger 12.3 inch center touchscreen that lines up neatly with a 12.3 inch digital instrument cluster living in a traditional hooded binnacle. The layout keeps useful knobs and toggles below the display and on the steering wheel, so common tasks do not get buried in menus. Lexus also introduces an eye catching Forged Bamboo trim option made from bamboo fibers for a sustainable twist.

Lexus says the mechanical updates focus on feel. The electric power steering has been retuned to respond more naturally to changing conditions, while the suspension gets quicker acting dampers to keep the body settled without turning the ride brittle. It is the kind of quiet work that matters on the commute and still pays off on a back road.

Two core grades are planned at launch. The IS300h returns as a hybrid with rear wheel drive and a powertrain layout similar in spirit to the current car that pairs a 2.5 liter four cylinder with an electric motor. Output should land in the same neighborhood as before. The IS350 remains the enthusiast pick with a 3.5 liter V6 rated around 311 horsepower and the option of all wheel drive. Final specs will be confirmed closer to the start of sales in each market.

There is a bit of market nuance to watch. Lexus has not officially said which regions get the 2026 IS first, though the brand targets early 2026 for most markets. U.S. timing and pricing will follow, and for context the 2025 IS 300 opened at 41,830 dollars. Enthusiasts will also notice there is no V8 news here. The IS 500 V8 goes away in November, but the fact Lexus is investing in another IS update leaves a door cracked for future surprises.

Why this update matters is simple. The IS still hits the right size and feel for drivers who prefer a low seating position and a chassis that talks back. With sharper styling, a much improved cockpit, and calibration work under the skin, the 2026 model keeps the sedan relevant while the world rushes toward SUVs. If pricing stays close to today’s numbers and the steering and ride changes deliver as promised, this refresh should give the IS nameplate a few more lively years.

2026 Lexus IS highlights

• New front fascia and F Sport styling tweaks with 19 inch wheels and red calipers
• Neatly integrated 12.3 inch touchscreen and 12.3 inch digital cluster
• Retuned electric power steering and quicker reacting dampers
• New Forged Bamboo interior trim option made from bamboo fibers
• Grades include IS300h hybrid and IS350 gas, rear wheel drive standard, AWD available on IS350
• U.S. specifications and pricing to be announced closer to launch

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