The Lexus IS 500 looks like it’s going out with a bang, or a least a naturally aspirated V-8 engine, in North America.
The marque unveiled the 2025 IS 500 Ultimate Edition on Monday, and under its hood is that naturally aspirated V-8, a 5.0-liter engine making 472 hp. That makes it one of the last with a naturally aspirated V-8 on the American market, and almost certainly the last naturally aspirated V-8 IS. It could also be the last Lexus IS for North America, period, according to Car and Driver.
The clues are there: Lexus says it will only make 500 of the Lexus IS 500 Ultimate Edition, and it will be a 2025 model year car that is new for the fall of 2025, when automakers are typically already thinking about or talking up the following model year’s models. The IS has also been around for over a decade, with the third-generation luxury compact introduced in 2013, given a facelift in 2017 and 2020, and the IS 500 with the V-8 first shown in 2021.
Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance
Lexus
Among the IS 500 Ultimate Edition’s specific touches are red Brembo brake calipers and 19-inch forged alloy wheels, finished in matte black. The IS 500 Ultimate Edition also comes in an exclusive color on the outside, called Wind, that Lexus describes as a “metallic light gray,” which might help set it apart from the other gray cars on the road.
On the inside, the IS 500 Ultimate Edition is colored in red and black. The steering wheel and shift knob are by the LFA, one of the greatest cars of all time, Lexus says; the seatbelts, meanwhile, are red. IS 500 Ultimate Edition owners will also surely point out the analog clock to their friends and relatives, which has a “multi-layered dial finished with precision red laser etching, emphasizing craftsmanship at the most detailed level,” according to the brand.
Beyond that, the IS 500 Ultimate Edition has features that are standard on IS 500s, like various assisted driving and safety systems. Lexus did not name a price for the new car, but it will likely cost a premium beyond the $60,595 base price of the Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance. Those interested should begin contacting their dealer.
Authors
Erik Shilling
