Lexus has announced that it will be making some changes to its lineup for the 2009 model year. While some models will receive slight revisions, most of the change comes in the form of higher prices. Lexus cites rising raw material costs for the price increases.
Lexus’ IS range – excluding the IS-F – will be receiving some minor interior and exterior tweaks for ’09. Outside, the IS will be sporting new front and rear bumpers, a revised grille, new side mirrors and new 17 and 18 inch wheels. Inside, the 2009 IS features an updated center stack and foldable rear head rests.
Most of the IS’ mechanics will remain intact, although both the IS 250 and IS 350 will see a revised suspension, which should help the four-door in the handling department.
All IS models will see a price increase of $300, or roughly a 0.8 to 1 percent increase.
Although the high-performance IS-F just launched earlier this year, it too will be receiving some changes. The car’s exterior will remain the same, but the IS-F’s interior will sport a new instrument panel, a piano-black center stack for cars equipped with navigation and an optional terra cotta and black two-tone interior. The IS-F will remain mechanically the same for 2009.
Pricing for the ’09 IS-F will rise by 1.1 percent, or $610.
The GS sedan will soldier on unchanged for 2009, but will see a price increase of 0.6-0.7 percent.
For 2009, Lexus ’ flagship LS 460 and LS 460L model will be available with all-wheel drive for the first time in the line’s history. In addition to the two extra drive wheels, the AWD versions of the LS will also feature an air suspension, Variable Gear-Ratio Steering and Adaptive Variable Suspension. Pricing will start at $67,200 for the LS 460 AWD, with the long-wheel base LS 460L AWD starting at $77,110.
Two-wheel LS models and the LS 600h L hybrid model will be receiving passenger memory seats for 2009. Standard LS models will see a price increase of 0.9-1.2 percent, while the range-topping LS 600h L will get a price bump of 0.9 percent to $105,885.
