The Lexus IS was supposed to be history. Instead, it keeps showing up like the last person at the party who refuses to leave. While the sports sedan market continues to shrink, the IS has managed to survive another round, with Lexus bringing it back for the 2027 model year after rising sales helped keep the name alive.
There is something interesting about a car that refuses to disappear. The IS has endured years of changes, updates, and plenty of speculation about its future, yet it still holds its place as one of the few remaining traditional sports sedans. It is not chasing every new trend. It is simply still here.
For 2027, Lexus is offering the IS a limited-edition model that adds some extra personality to the lineup. The standout feature is an exclusive Envious green paint finish, matched with black seats and green stitching inside. The look is finished off with black 19-inch BBS wheels, while the handling package comes standard, giving the sedan a more focused setup.
The IS lineup has become simpler. After Lexus removed the IS300 and the V8-powered IS500 starting with the 2026 model year, the IS350 now carries the torch. Every new IS comes with a 311-horsepower 3.5-litre V6, paired with either an eight-speed automatic transmission for rear-drive models or a six-speed automatic for All Wheel Drive versions.
Only 350 examples of the 2027 Lexus IS Special Edition are coming to North America, making it a rare version of a car that already feels like a survivor. Lexus has not released pricing yet, but the special edition is expected to arrive by the beginning of 2027.
The IS is not the newest name in the game, and that might be exactly why it still matters. In an era where everything is being replaced, redesigned, and forgotten, the Lexus IS is doing something different. It is staying put. It is keeping its identity. And for a certain kind of driver, that still means something.