2027 Lexus IS: What to Expect From the New Luxury Sedan

The compact luxury sedan appeared an aging breed, but the 2027 Lexus IS is still around. For 2026 with its biggest facelift, Lexus said the IS returns for another year with a new limited run and the same rear-wheel-drive feel it has been for a quarter-century. For those looking for a small sport sedan in the US or the Gulf, the new Lexus IS 2027 is one of the last in its class to be built with a naturally aspirated V6 and a driver-first feel.

This guide walks through everything worth knowing before you sign: the new Special Appearance Package, the engine, the trims, US and Gulf pricing in dollars and dirhams, the expected release date, and how the car stands against BMW, Audi, and Mercedes. The price is in USD and AED, so buyers on either side of the map can plan the real cost.

The 2027 Lexus IS at a Glance

Think of the 2027 Lexus IS model as the 2026 refresh with one more party trick. Lexus poured its engineering budget into the IS last year, so the 2027 Lexus IS car is essentially just mechanical and has a collectible edition of the IS package on top with a few special features. Here is the short version.

Our headline for the fans will be the same: the IS is the last luxury sport sedan on sale with a naturally aspirated six-cylinder engine. Rivals switched to turbo fours and sixes years ago. Lexus kept the old-school recipe, and buyers continue to reward that choice.

What’s New for the 2027 Lexus IS

The Envious Special Appearance Package

Lexus also announced the 2027 Lexus IS Special Appearance Package in Miami on August 29, 2026, closing out the four-city IS 25th Legacy Tour that marked the nameplate’s 25th birthday. Most of what is new for the 2027 IS Lexus fans has been centered on this edition. The company constructs one of these limited runs every year, and this one might be the sharpest yet.

The package rides on the IS 350 F Sport and wraps the car in a new satin green paint called Envious. Lexus pairs the green with gloss-black accents and a set of 19-inch black BBS forged alloy wheels, which are among the best factory rims the IS has ever worn. Inside the interior, black NuLuxe-trimmed seats with Ultrasuede inserts, green contrast stitching, and a satin chrome finish on the trim.

Exclusivity is the real selling point. Lexus will hand out only 350 examples of the Special Appearance Package to the North American market, and each one will come with a stack of the sedan’s optional features as standard, including the Technology Package with Traffic Jam Assist and Lane Change Assist. Green paint that turns heads, forged wheels, and a build cap this low will be enough to ensure a car that lasts well beyond that.

What Carries Over From the 2026 Refresh

The rest of the 2027 Lexus IS mirrors the well-received 2026 update, so buyers get a genuinely modern cabin without the growing pains of a brand-new platform. Lexus redesigned the front end with an aggressive grille that runs up into the leading edge of the hood. F Sport models wear a redesigned rear spoiler and red brake calipers, while a new 19-inch wheel design cleans up the profile.

The dashboard is where the refresh pays off day to day. There are bigger 12.3-inch screens serving as the central stage for the layout, one row of physical climate controls to help people who hate menu-diving, and trapezoidal vents giving the room a cleaner look.

In the standard kit now come wireless charging and four USB-C ports and forged bamboo trim in the center console for many new cars and many makes. Lexus also added a revised electric power steering system with a variable-ratio rack on the chassis side, making the adaptive suspension more responsive and enjoyable to ride without losing the feedback that makes the 2027 Lexus IS fun.

2027 Lexus IS Under the Hood: One Engine, Two Drivetrains

Every 2027 Lexus IS 350 runs the same 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 with 311 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque in US trim. Gulf-market cars quote roughly 312 hp and 380 Nm, the small difference being measurement standards rather than a different engine. Drivers prefer the smooth, linear pull of an atmospheric six over the sudden shove of a turbo, and this Lexus V6 has a sterling reputation for reliability after years of service.

You choose your drivetrain according to how you drive. Rear-wheel-drive cars have an eight-speed automatic and seem to me like the purist’s choice, sending power to the back axle in the way a sport sedan should. All-wheel-drive cars switch to a six-speed automatic and give up a bit of that playfulness for confidence in rain or sand. That setup gets zero to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds, with the rear-drive car being a tenth quicker at least on paper.

Fuel economy gets where it should for a mid-size V6 sedan, with EPA estimates of 19 mpg city and 27 mpg highway for the rear-drive model. Gulf buyers report real-world figures around 8 to 11 km per liter, depending on how heavy the right foot gets in city traffic. Premium fuel is recommended to hit the rated output.

Whatever happened to the IS 300 and IS 500?

A lot of shoppers still are looking for the 2027 Lexus IS 300 and 2027 Lexus IS 500 F Sport, so it helps to clear up where both went.

The four-cylinder IS 300 left the US lineup with the 2026 refresh. Lexus decided a single, stronger V6 made more sense than splitting the range across a weaker turbo four, so the entry-level badge disappeared from American showrooms. Gulf markets have always had an IS 300 variant on the menu, and regional listings still show it, so buyers in the UAE and Saudi Arabia should confirm current availability with Al-Futtaim and local dealers before assuming that it is gone.

The V8-powered IS 500 F Sport Performance is the sadder story for enthusiasts. That car was produced from the 2022 through 2025 model year with a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 output of 472 horsepower and a zero-to-60 time of about 4.4 seconds. Lexus ended production of the V8 IS after 2025, so there is no 2027 Lexus IS 500 F Sport and no V8 option anywhere in the range.

If you want that engine, you are shopping the used market now, and prices for clean examples have already started climbing as buyers realize it was the last of its kind. For 2027 the IS 350 F Sport is at the top of the hierarchy.

2027 Lexus IS 350 F Sport: Trims and Features

The Lexus 2027 IS lineup keeps things simple. Whichever Lexus IS 350 2027 trim you choose, the mechanicals are the same, so your money goes to equipment and style, not a bigger engine. Here is how the ladder looks.

F Sport Design

The entry point and the value pick for most buyers. The F Sport Design has the full F Sport exterior look with 19-inch wheels, NuLuxe upholstery, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, onboard navigation, and adaptive cruise control. It skips a few of the sportier mechanical bits, but since it shares the 311-hp V6 with every other trim, you lose nothing on straight-line pace.

F Sport

Up to the F Sport, and you add the bits that fans want. This trim comes with ventilated front performance seats, a 10-way power driver’s seat with memory, aluminum pedals, staggered-width wheels, and the F Sport Handling Package. That includes adaptive variable suspension and a limited-slip rear differential that sharpens the car on a back road. Triple-beam LED headlights and power rear sunshade are also available.

F Sport Special Appearance Package

The 2027 Lexus IS halo. Built on the F Sport, limited to 350 units for North America, and dressed in Envious green over black BBS forged wheels. It folds into the Technology Package and much of the IS options list as standard, so the sticker reflects a loaded car rather than a stripped one. This is the version collectors will chase.

2027 Lexus IS Pricing in the US and Gulf

Lexus had not released full 2027 Lexus IS pricing at the time of writing, so the figures below are based on the model from 2026 and are a good guide. US prices include destination. AED figures show a direct conversion from the US MSRP and, separately, the sort of on-sale pricing Gulf shoppers see, as regional prices are set locally and do not track US numbers.

For Gulf buyers, the picture is different because Lexus markets the car through regional distributors. In the UAE, the refreshed IS 350 launched through Al-Futtaim with trims ranging from AED 199,000 to AED 270,000 before VAT, and some listings offer well-equipped F Sport models around AED 235,000 to AED 255,000. Entry versions that are offered can come in lower. These numbers change with the exchange rate, local taxes, and dealer packages, so they are in a planning range and not a set price. There was no firm Gulf pricing of the 2027 model year as of publication.

One thing to keep in mind in both markets: the Special Appearance Package will cost a premium over a standard F Sport for its equipment load and 350-unit cap. Lexus said it would share the exact MSRP closer to launch.

2027 Lexus IS Release Date

Lexus scheduled the 2027 Lexus IS, including the Special Appearance Package, to arrive at US dealerships later in 2026, following the August reveal in Miami. That timing aligns with how Lexus rounds off its model years, so expect cars on lots through the back half of 2026 and into early 2027.

The 2027 Lexus IS 350 F Sport release date for the standard trims should be set at the same time as the standard trims, as volume cars are a carryover and do not require a separate launch. In other words, the Lexus IS 350 F Sport 2027 goes on sale in the same year as the rest of the range.

Gulf deliveries typically follow the North American on-sale date by a few weeks to a couple of months, and they come through Al-Futtaim and other regional dealers. Those who want to buy the Envious edition should move early, as 350 cars for an entire continent will ship quickly once the paint hits the internet.

How the 2027 Lexus IS Stacks Up Against Rivals

The compact luxury sedan space has thinned out, but there are still some strong names in the mix. The Lexus IS in 2027 goes up against the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4 and A5, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Genesis G70, Cadillac CT4, and Acura Integra, depending on trim and price.

Here is the honest trade-off. The 2027 Lexus IS is on an older platform than most of these cars, giving away some back-seat space and a little cabin tech gloss to competitors. What it provides in return is character. The naturally aspirated V6 sounds and revs like nothing else in the class, the rear-drive balance is real, and Lexus reliability and resale are tough to argue with.

A BMW 330i will out-tech and out-space it, and a Genesis G70 undercuts it on price while matching it on feel. Buyers who want a turbo-four commuter with the latest-looking, upmarket screens have options for it. Buyers who are looking for that one last analog-feeling Japanese sport sedan have exactly one, and it says Lexus on the trunk.

Who Should Buy the 2027 Lexus IS?

The new Lexus IS 2027 makes the most sense for two kinds of buyers. First, the driver who prefers how a car feels to its spec-sheet bragging rights and needs a reliable rear-drive car with an engine note that turbos just can’t replicate. The other is the collector who reads the words “limited to 350 units” and starts doing resale math.

If you want cavernous rear seats, the latest infotainment, or a plug for your commute, then you can shop the ES or a rival. A compact luxury sedan that still drives like the segment used to, the 2027 Lexus IS 350 is a good choice, and the Envious edition adds a touch of exclusivity. Either way, the math is friendly in dollars and dirhams if you match the trim with how you drive.

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