The Lexus IS has been an outlier among compact luxury sedans, with its V-6–only engine lineup. Well, no more. Lexus has unveiled the IS200t, which will use the brand’s 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder and which will replace the IS250 as the entry model in the series.
-The 2.0-liter is currently in the NX200t, where it makes 235 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. Tuned slightly differently in the IS200t, it makes 241 horsepower and the same 258 lb-ft in that application. That’s a jump of 36 ponies and 73 lb-ft over the IS250’s naturally aspirated 2.5-liter V-6. The IS200t also should more abstemious with fuel, so we expect its EPA figures will better the IS250’s ratings of 21 mpg city and 30 on the highway.
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The 2.0-liter will be mated exclusively to an eight-speed automatic transmission, an upgrade from the IS250’s six-speed ’box. Whereas the IS250 is offered with rear- and all-wheel drive, the IS200t will be rear-drive only. Look for another, as yet unannounced, new engine to cover the AWD market.
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- Lexus to Turbocharge More Things with 2.0-liter Four-Cylinder
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- Instrumented Test: 2014 Lexus IS250 F Sport
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- Lexus IS Full Coverage: Tests, Reviews, Specs, Photos, and More
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Hopefully, the IS200t will move the smallest Lexus sedan away from the underwhelming IS250 and closer in character to the IS350 F Sport, which is our current favorite in this segment. The company was not specific on the timing of the changeover from IS250 to IS200t, but look for it to happen in the early part of the 2016 model year.
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