Lexus Heads Into 2020 With Updates for the RX SUV and IS Saloon

Lexus has prepared new grades, equipment features and a special version of the IS F Sport to take its RX luxury SUV and IS executive sport saloon into 2020.

New entry-level grade for RX and RX L

The new RX and seven-seat RX L SUVs, launched in October 2019, have a new entry-level grade that offers a wealth of cutting edge technology, safety and comfort features as standard.

Connectivity in particular is comprehensively catered for with a 12.3-inch multimedia display with touchscreen functions, six USB ports around the cabin and simple smartphone integration via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Owners can also access a range of useful and personalised connected services via Lexus Link

Where safety is concerned, the RX and RX L benefit from the latest generation Lexus Safety System+, with functions that can recognise a wide range of collision risks, alert the driver and apply braking and assistance to help avoid an accident, or lessen the consequences if an impact is unavoidable. Triple-eye LED headlights with Automatic High Beam, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and an Intelligent Clearance Sonar are also included in the specification.

For convenience, the RX and RX L have a power tailgate, paddle shifts on the steering wheel and a wireless smartphone charger. Comfort details include heated front seats (RX model only), Tahara synthetic leather upholstery and eight-way power-adjustable front seats – with two-way lumbar adjustment on the driver’s seat.

Owners have the option to upgrade their vehicle’s specification with a Premium Pack, adding smooth leather upholstery, front seat ventilation, hands-free tailgate operation with a kick sensor, heated steering wheel, auto-dimming and reverse-tilting functions for the door mirrors and easy access for the driver with auto-retracting seat and steering wheel (with memory function). For the RX L, the package also includes integrated front seat heaters.

A Tech and Safety Pack is available for the RX and RX L (for vehicles where the Premium Pack has already been specified), adding a colour head-up display, Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Cross Traffic Alert with automatic braking – features which enhance the RX’s excellent safety provisions. Additionally, a panoramic roof can be added to the RX, and a sunroof to the RX L.

The new models are available to order now with customer deliveries from January 2020.

Captain’s seats

The top-of-the-range RX L Takumi is newly available with the option of two individual captain’s seats in place of the three-seat bench in the second row. Equipped with individual centre arm rests and finished in the same high quality leather as the front seats, these provide more leg and elbow-room, while also freeing up more leg and foot space for the third row passengers. Both seats have a power-folding function to create an extended, flat load space.

2020 Lexus IS

Lexus has created a limited edition version of the IS F Sport saloon with extra styling and equipment features in addition to the regular F Sport specification.

The new model is named I Blue in a reference to ai-iro, the centuries-old indigo plant dye that became known as “Japan blue”. This colour has great national significance, being featured on the strip of Japan’s football team and the official logo of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

More than 100 shades of ai-iro are recognised in Japan and in designing the interior of the new I Blue, Lexus chose kachi-iro to colour the wooden steering wheel trim – a good luck touch as kachi means “to win”. The blue theme is also applied to the panels around the window controls on the doors and inserts and stitching in the black and grey Tahara leather-like upholstery.

There are three exterior paint shades to choose from – Azure Blue, Sonic White and Graphite Black. Special details include 10-spoke 18-inch F Sport alloy wheels with a deep lustre finish inspired by the Lexus LFA supercar, black door mirror casings, a gloss black spindle grille mesh and gloss black garnishes framing the fog light recesses in the front bumper.

The equipment specification adds Lexus Premium Navigation with a 10-inch display, power-adjustable front seats with ventilation and a memory setting, and auto-folding and auto-dimming functions for the door mirrors.

Other F Sport-specific details include aluminium sports pedals and scuff plates, sports suspension and sports front seats. The limited edition model can also be specified with a Premium Pack that adds triple-LED headlights with Automatic High Beam, smart entry and start, reversing camera and steering wheel heater.

Elsewhere in the 2020 IS range there is a new colour option – Manganese Lustre – and a new Sport Pack option trim with Black and Noble Brown Tahara upholstery and black metal inlays.

ENDS