The Lexus LF-CC Concept provided a clear signal that the automaker wants to build an IS Coupe, with the study’s design offering some clues of how the series production car would look. Now that the 2014 Lexus IS sedan is no longer a secret, we can have a much better idea of the future IS Coupe.
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Among those who received an invitation was U.S. comedian and television host Jay Leno who traveled all the way to Japan and the Fuji Motor Speedway to try out a pre-production prototype of the 2014 IS that was covered on the outside, but not on the inside, thus affording us our first view of the dashboard.
Leno hints at a longer wheelbase and a sportier chassis setup aimed to compete primarily against the BMW 3-Series and from the looks of things, GM's newcomer in the segment, the Cadillac ATS.
If you take a close look at the prototype's body, you will find many common styling cues with the Lexus LF-CC Concept displayed at the Paris Motor Show this past September, including the slanted "spindle" front grille that extends to the bottom of the bumper, the strong belt line, the creased side skirts and the design of the rear end.
This is no coincidence as the LF-CC was penned as a thinly disguised concept for an IS Coupe, which will join the range shortly after the sedan model pictured here, offering Lexus a product to compete against the BMW 3 / 4 Series and Audi A5 coupes.
As you may very well remember, over the past few months, our spies have nabbed two unique test cars, including a teal-colored model with black stripes and the "AD-A" inscription on the front fenders, followed by a green LFA, again with black stripes but with an "AD-B" label right behind the front wheel arches.
Now, we have a third (!) prototype, this one painted in a white color scheme with red accents on the body and wheels that brings to mind the Porsche 911 Carrera RS. It's named the LFA AD-X.
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For our third post on the new LS during the past 24 hours, we have to thank Carscoop reader Lloyd who discovered these scoop pictures of the Japanese model sitting right under a Toyota Venza on a transport truck in South Korea.
Here's what Lloyd told Carscoop: "Another tip on the 2013 LS. Although the 2013 Lexus LS has been leaked, new spy photos of the non-F-Sport version with little camouflage have surfaced online from South Korea."
From what we can tell, he is probably right about the car not being an F-Sport model. The styling differences between the sported-up and the regular 2013 LS seem to be limited to the bumpers and alloy wheel designs.
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We cannot say with certainty whether the pictures are real, but if they are, then it would seem that the 2013 LS is a light facelift and not an all-new version of the Lexus flagship model, as we were originally led to believe.
The model pictured here is the new LS 460 F Sport that Lexus has confirmed and which features a styling package with different front and rear bumpers, side skirts, and a rear diffuser with prominent tailpipes.
The prototype convertible model seen here adopts all the styling cues of the V8-powered IS-F such as the swollen wheel arches, front fender vents, the modified front and rear bumpers, the quad tailpipes and then some more in the guise of the massive rear wing and special alloy wheels.
But wait, isn't the current IS series nearing the end of its line with a replacement due to make an appearance within the next year?
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Their bespoke styling parts and colors suggested that Lexus may be readying a handful of special edition versions of the LFA to mark the end of the supercar's production.
Well, as it turns out, that's not the case. In an email to the Lexus Enthusiast website, Etienne Plas, senior manager of product communications for Lexus Europe, said that the company does not plan to present any kind of special edition version of the LFA.
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While featuring a similar, if not identical, aero package with the LFA AD-A, this particular prototype was finished in a green hue and sported 'AD-B' markings on either side.
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For starters, this particular LFA model is equipped with the Nürburgring Edition package that includes a front spoiler made from CFRP (carbon fibre reinforced plastic), a fixed rear-wing, fin-type side spoilers, a canard fin plus exclusive mesh-type wheels.
If you look a little bit closer, however, you will notice several differences such as the carbon fiber dressed hood with the additional air-vents and roof, the larger and more rounded rear wing and the black stripes with the "AD-A" nameplate just above the side sills.
This particular prototype that was freshly spied testing in Europe features slightly extended front-and rear-ends.
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