2009 Lexus IS and IS-F Facelift: 36 Official Photos, Details and U.S. Pricing

These are the first photos of the U.S. spec 2009 Lexus IS that is already available for order in the North American market. In Europe, the revised IS will be unveiled along with the IS Coupe Cabriolet Concept at the Paris International Auto Show in early October.

Although at a first glance the IS doesn’t look any different from the ’08MY IS, look a little closer and you may notice the new wing mirrors with the integrated turn lights, the slightly altered front grille, the newly designed 17 and 18 inch alloys, the redesigned front bumper with the more rectangular-shaped lower air intake and the revised taillamps with the L-shaped back-up lights. According to Lexus, the 2009 IS 250 / 350 also feature a newly designed center cluster and foldable rear headrests.

In terms of mechanical changes, Lexus says that both the IS 250 and IS 350 receive a revised suspension and steering tuning to further enhance the sedans’ handling. Additinaly, the IS 250 will be offered with standard with Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) with a cutoff switch, a feature that had been available previously only on the IS 350.

The 2009 IS 250 manual and automatic, IS 250 all-wheel drive, and IS 350 receive a 0.8-1.0 percent increase or $300 with base prices in the U.S. set at $31,155 for the IS 250 with a manual transmission, $32,325 for the IS 250 with an automatic transmission, $34,785 for the IS 250 all-wheel drive and $36,605 for the IS 350.

As for the top-end IS-F that was launched just earlier this year, changes are limited to a revised instrument panel cluster design, illuminated mirror controls, a new open/close moonroof switch, and a piano-black center-cluster finish for navigation-equipped vehicles. Lexus also offers a new terra cotta and black two-tone for the 2009 model. The IS F will have a base MSRP of $56,610 which accounts to an increase of 1.1 percent or $610 compare to the ’08MY IS-F.