The Lexus IS is a compact executive car that is part of the Lexus lineup, which is Toyota's luxury division. Originally sold as the Toyota Altezza in Japan starting in 1998, the IS was positioned as an entry-level sport model beneath the ES in the Lexus range. The name Altezza means 'height' or 'highness' in Italian. The first-generation Altezza, known by the codename XE10, launched in Japan in October 1998. The European market saw the introduction of the Lexus IS 200 (GXE10) in 1999, followed by the North American debut of the IS 300 (JCE10) in 2000.
Key Points:
- The Lexus IS is a compact executive car sold under the luxury Lexus brand of Toyota since 1998.
-Originally known as the Toyota Altezza in Japan, it was rebranded as the Lexus IS for international markets.
- Positioned as a sporty entry-level model below the ES in the Lexus lineup.
- The first-generation models, XE10 in Japan and GXE10/ JCE10 internationally, featured straight-six engines and were available in sedan and wagon configurations.
- The Altezza nameplate was derived from the Italian word for 'height' or 'highness'.
- The Lexus IS represented a step towards a more performance-oriented offering from Lexus, attracting younger buyers.
The Lexus IS, with its sporty design and performance-oriented features, has
