New Lexus IS Will Get All Up In Your Grille

These are the first official pictures of the new Lexus IS. Inspired by the LF-CC concept car, Lexus’s new sexy saloon boasts proper in-yer-face styling. Just look at that grille.

The front-end looks faintly ridiculous in the way concept cars should, so the fact that this is the production styling just makes it all the more cool. Props to Lexus. As well as the grille, the striking L-shaped daytime running lights (DLRs) also make the transition from concept to production untouched.

Inside, the driver is surrounded by sumptuous materials in an attempt to lure the more adventurous BMW/Audi/Merc drivers to the dark side. Our favourite feature is the moving driver’s dial on the instrument panel, stolen from the LFA supercar. This, with the new ‘sportier’ driving position, allows you to feel like a supercar owner for a fraction of the price. Assuming you have a vivid imagination, of course.

Two engines will be available, including the 205bhp 2.5-litre V6, which sits in the IS 250, as well as the unit everyone's talking about, the four-pot 2.5-litre hybrid which will feature in the IS 300h. We're promised class leading energy efficiency and 210bhp, which sounds decent.

Let’s just hope it remains suitably drifty. Don’t want those aggressive looks going to waste now, do we?