Lexus IS 500 Ultimate Edition Is A Fitting V8 Swansong

Over the years, the Lexus IS has carved a niche for itself in the rear-wheel-drive sports sedan segment, and in its latest — and final — V8 hurrah, Lexus has pulled no punches. Say hello to the Lexus IS 500 Ultimate Edition, a limited-production swan song that celebrates Japan’s last bow to the naturally aspirated V8s as we know it.

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This isn't just another special edition, for those who remember the visceral pull of a naturally aspirated V8 and the tactile joy of analogue engineering, the IS 500 Ultimate Edition might just be your last chance to relive that magic. Under the hood, it’s business as usual — in the best way possible. The 5.0-litre 2UR-GSE naturally aspirated V8, paired with an 8-speed Sport Direct Shift automatic transmission, continues to deliver its 472-horsepower soundtrack to the rear wheels only.

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Wearing the unique paint job called “Wind”, this last edition also gets upgraded Brembo six-piston calliper brakes upfront, finished in red, and paired with large 380mm ventilated discs. There’s also the special-looking 19-inch forged BBS alloys dipped in matte black. On the inside, there’s a new drama in the form of a colour theme of ‘Circuit’ red and black, with seats trimmed in a combination of NuLuxe and Ultrasuede. There’s also the LFA-inspired steering wheel and shift knob finished in dimple-textured genuine leather. Lastly, there are the red seatbelts with a serialized badge that reminds you that this is not the ordinary IS.

Engineered and fine-tuned at Shimoyama, the IS 500 Ultimate Edition will go on sale in the fall of this year (between September and December). Make no mistake, this is more than a collector’s edition – as it's limited to just 500 units – it’s the last sports sedan with a naturally aspirated V8 and we hope every one of those limited-run units counts. So if you’re in North America and your garage has one last spot for a V8-powered sports sedan, the Ultimate Edition may well be your fitting and final opportunity.