2017 Lexus IS sedan upgrade

Lexus has updated the popular Lexus IS small sedan range by giving it an exterior facelift, a host of interior changes and additional safety tech.

The update includes eight exterior styling changes and 15 within the cockpit as well as the introduction of the complete suite of the Lexus Safety System+ technology.

Many of the design features have been imported from the recently released Lexus RC sports coupe, including its revised grille design, effectively creating a four-door version of that model.

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The Lexus IS range is available as the Lexus IS 200t with the recently launched two-litre 4-cylinder turbo petrol engine, the IS 350 powered by a 3.5-litre quad cam petrol V6 and the IS 300h petrol-electric hybrid.

All three variants are available in Luxury, F Sport and Sports Luxury grades with varying degrees of specification and equipment.

Exterior tweaks across the range include a new bumper design and a totally repackaged lighting design that substantially increases after-dark visibility.

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The Lexus IS Luxury and Sports Luxury also score new wheel designs.

Inside, the IS has new trim colours and combinations with the standout feature being the new 10.3-inch display audio screen, replacing the previous seven-inch unit in the centre dashboard. Other changes include new instrument gauges and steering wheel control buttons taken from the Lexus RC for more precise control.

The Lexus Safety System+ package introduces a sophisticated Pre-Collision System to a suite of electronic control mechanisms including Lane Departure Warning+.

Price rises for the 2017 IS range have been kept below $900 with the entry-level IS 200t Luxury going up $690 to $59,340 while the range-topping IS 350 Sports Luxury comes in at $83,870.