The Lexus IS has been around for quite some time now, but Lexus clearly isn’t ready to let its sporty sedan fade away just yet. For 2027, the IS 350 F Sport gets a rather tasty makeover in the form of a limited-run Special Appearance Package, and if you ask me, the green paint and black wheels suit it rather well.
Only 350 examples will be built for North America, making this a fairly exclusive version of an already rare breed. The big visual change is the exclusive Envious green paint, which is paired with black 19-inch BBS forged alloy wheels. The wheels are lighter than conventional alloys and give the IS a much more purposeful stance without making it look like it is trying too hard.
The same theme continues inside, where Lexus has gone for a black cabin with NuLuxe upholstery and Ultrasuede inserts. There’s contrasting green stitching and satin chrome trim, adding just enough colour to remind you that you’re not sitting in an ordinary IS 350 F Sport.
Thankfully, Lexus hasn’t treated this as purely a cosmetic exercise. The Special Appearance Package gets the company’s Handling Package as standard, bringing revised tuning for the adaptive suspension and additional drive modes. Rear-wheel-drive versions also get a Torsen limited-slip differential, which should help make the most of the IS’s rear-driven layout when you decide to have some fun.
And there’s still a proper engine under that bonnet. The IS 350 continues with Lexus’ naturally aspirated 3.5-litre V6, producing 311 bhp and 379 Nm of torque. There’s no turbocharger or hybrid assistance here, just a relatively old-school V6 sending its power to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic gearbox. Opt for all-wheel drive and the gearbox changes to a six-speed automatic.
That old-school recipe is arguably the best thing about this car. The IS has managed to survive in a segment that has steadily moved towards turbocharged four-cylinders, hybrids and EVs. Lexus has even been trimming the range. The V8-powered IS 500 was dropped after 2025, while the IS 300 disappeared for 2026, leaving the IS 350 as the sole IS variant in the US.
For 2027, Lexus is also giving the IS some additional driver-assistance technology. The list includes lane-change assist, cross-traffic alert and traffic-jam assist, bringing the ageing sedan a little more in line with newer rivals.
But let’s be honest, that isn’t why this special edition exists. The appeal here is that it still offers a naturally aspirated V6, rear-wheel drive and a proper mechanical limited-slip differential, wrapped up in a compact luxury sedan. That combination is becoming increasingly difficult to find.
