Automakers love a special edition because it’s a great opportunity to keep the product planners busy and squeeze out a slightly greater margin. Take one normal car, paint it a color not normally in the brochure, give it a numbered badge, and presto! To cap off the 2025 model year, Lexus is building 500 examples of what it calls the IS 500 Ultimate Edition, and while a special edition like this normally isn’t particularly newsworthy, something about how the brand seems to be phrasing this is worrying.
All of these special edition models will come in a light, almost-ceramic grey called Wind with a red-and-black interior, and feature a red-etched dashboard clock face, red seat belts, BBS wheels, and a serialized plaque. Under the hood, you’ll find the same 472-horsepower naturally aspirated V8 and eight-speed automatic as all other IS 500 models, a powertrain that isn’t as refined or as brisk as you get in a BMW M340i or Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing, but offers the most soul out of any middleweight compact sports sedan option.
So far, it seems like a relatively unremarkable special edition until we consider what “Ultimate” means. It’s hard to say that the IS 500 Ultimate Edition is the best of its kind because it seems mechanically identical to any other current IS 500. Lexus hasn’t announced any hardware or calibration changes, so it’s not like this limited-run example is obviously sharpened. It’s also not some stripped-down fundamental version of the IS 500, so it doesn’t fit that definition of the word either. That leads us to “Ultimate” being a synonym for final, and although Lexus isn’t commenting on future plans, I can’t help but wonder if the IS 500 is nearing the end of its run.
See, the current IS is essentially a heavy update of the third-generation car that went on sale for the 2014 model year. Its bones are more than a decade old, and although the five-liter V8 is still one of the most evocative engines on sale today, it dates back even further to the IS F of 2008. In a low-carbon world of cruelty-free energy and renewable vegetables, surely this sort of Neanderthalic thrill, turning prehistoric zooplankton into noise won’t be something new cars can do forever.
So, on the odd chance that this is the last variant of the IS 500 we ever see, is it a fitting end? Well, it’s certainly understated, but I’d like to see something with a little more dazzle. The past two model years have offered brilliant colors, Blue Vector (pictured above) and Flare Yellow, and perhaps something with a bit more flair than white would be a more fitting move. Maybe Nori Green, or that incredible Structure Blue offered on a limited batch of LC 500s, or Black Amethyst from the LFA color list, or perhaps going back into the heritage palette and digging up Auburn Sky from the original IS.
If 2025 is the last model year for the IS 500 with its magnificent V8, we’re all going to miss it when it’s gone. The only way to get into something similar without going second-hand is to invent a time machine and head back to an era when natural aspiration ruled the roost. Whether or not this is the end of the line for the naturally aspirated V8 compact sport sedan, who’d have thought that Lexus would be the last one standing in the segment?
Top graphic image: Lexus
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I feel strongly about the Toyota Nascar bodies not using this car as the basis. I know the body designs are not the same as a “Stock” car, but I still feel like a V8 Car should be the basis for the Nascar – Stock Cars. At least until they allow the players to decide and allow for varied drivetrains like the old days.
NASCAR is not the audience that Toyota is looking for with Lexus. One can imagine a parking lot at Talladega filled with beatup IS and LX models with folks tailgating and talking about the chicks they used to score with back in the day.
You might be surprised. I think that same group you mention can appreciate a reliable V8 Sedan regadless of how tarted up the interior is.
“SHOULD HAVE JUST BOUGHT A CHEBY CAPRICE, HOSS!” would be as far as that appreciation goes lol
Very sad. I’m still bummed Toyota didn’t even give us a V8 option for the Tundra, which is why I bought a late model 2nd gen with the 5.7 instead. Toyota loyalists didn’t want the twin turbo V6.
well and it does not help at all that the new Tundra has had more than a few teething problems, some recalled, others supposedly fixed with a software push. All seem to be concerning enough to make the automotive news it seems.
That’d be a sad day indeed. Fun engines regulated out of existence while the ruling class gallivants around in private jets is simply asinine (but expected)
It just dawned on me that I’ve yet to see one of these on the street. I see plenty of other sport sedans – buck tooth M3s, M340i, AMGs, even the occasional Guilia Quad. No IS500s.
They seem to be selling. When I browse some Lexus dealers looking to see if a unicorn Nori Green SUV has somehow been produced and allocated to a local dealer, I often check the IS500 to see if there is something cool. The model in stock changes, but is usually a boring white or black, which only look good next to that awful cement gray.
It’s Lexus. That’s the joke with them, isn’t? Lexus always holds on to older tech for a little longer.
I’m almost certain this car still has a CD player.
They actually made a one off IS with a turntable in the glovebox. It’s called the IS Wax Edition.
Yep, IS and RC still have a CD player
As it occurred to anyone they hooked it up to a horrible transmission because it is a only slightly better engine and having the transmission blown before the engine covers up the additional horrible design? Has it ever been hooked up to a decent transmission to find out if it sucks?
Trust no one
“Trust no one”
No one? Not even me???
You can trust me!
Can I borrow $20?
Frankly if it doesn’t come in a color spectrum from no color to all color it isn’t special. Have women taken over car colors where there is 50 shades of grey knowing men see 1 just to torture us?
Man I love that Lexus V8 so F-ing much…
Do you own one?
I’ve always lusted after one of these but they’re really expensive for what they are and basically all they have is the V8. They’re meant to compete with the M340i/S5/C43/etc. variants but by the time Toyota’s stupid allocation system gets them to dealerships they’re 70 grand before markups. They’re a much harder sell when they cost as much as a base M3, and they’re basically the same price as a CT4V BW.
Those cars are weapons on a track. An IS500 can’t be tracked in stock form. For most people that doesn’t matter, but for me it does. At the end of the day it just comes down to how much you care about the engine, because that’s what you’re paying for here. The sedan that happens to be around it is a decade old…as is the transmission it’s hooked up to.
Is the engine so good that it can stand on its own? That’s subjective and depends on the buyer…but it’s undoubtedly a pretty special motor and its days are numbered. It’s also literally the only way to get a naturally aspirated V8 in a new sedan in 2025. So if all you care about is *Clarkson impersonating an American voice* the V8 motor, and $70,000 is chump change for you, I’d say go for it.
It’s also as good of an investment as a relatively normal car can be, because these things do not and will not depreciate. Nice 10 year old GSFs are still selling for 60 grand or more. A 2022 IS500 with 50,000 miles on it is still worth 50 grand. Trust me, I keep an eye on them. I’m personally not willing to part with that much money for what’s effectively a cruiser, but if you are you have my utmost respect.
But remember to set aside a couple grand for a nice exhaust. The stock setup on these is criminal and so quiet that they rely on pumped in audio. Let this elegant beast of an engine sing you and everyone in a one block radius the song of its people as god intended.
The transmission in these cars is what kills them. They suck ass, like horrible, for any sort of spirited driving. Worse than the 2008 ISF due to tuning.
I’ve read that it gets a little better once you get some heat into it and let it do its own shifting in the transmission’s sport mode…but even so, a ZF8 it is not, and if you want to row your own the Blackwing and M3 let you do it…hell if you can put up with front wheel drive and a 4 popper then you can save some money and get an Integra Type S, but I’d imagine that there are close to 0 people cross shopping an IS500 and an ITS.
“It’s also literally the only way to get a naturally aspirated V8 in a new sedan in 2025.“
Insanely depressing stat
It’s a real bummer
The price on these really is the hurdle. I’ve toyed with picking one up a few times, but the price of a new one is crazy and selection of used ones is generally pretty small and prices still far too high. They are a cruiser, not a track toy, but for that purpose they are comfy and reliable, and will remain so for years to come. Just that price…
You can also get a 300C in the 40s at this point. It won’t be as reliable or hold its value as well, but it’s a big ole V8 and it’ll survive a track day if you really want it to. It’s got good enough brakes and cooling. Don’t get me wrong…it’s going to be a tire roasting mess on a circuit, but it’ll also be a hoot.
Unfortunately, I have had far too many 300/Chargers as rentals to ever consider owning one. The V8 and 8HP are the star of the show, but the rest of it is…not great. With that said, the Hemi in a rental vehicle is a lot of fun.
I’ve tried to convince myself that an IS350 F-Sport would be just fine for me, since I daily drive a Jeep TJ that can only do 0-60 in under 30 seconds if it is going downhill, but the fact that the IS500 exists is a stumbling block there, as irrational as that may be.
You can also get a certified IS350 F Sport with rear wheel drive for under 40 grand. Is it really $20-30,000 less car? I certainly don’t think so.
Yep, I don’t think so either and think I’d be more than happy with an IS350, which is why I say my brain is irrational about it.
I previously owned an IS350 F sport RWD. It’s a great car. It’s by no means an M series car or a Cadillac V, but it’s fun to drive, has excellent fit/finish inside, and is dead nuts reliable. Strong chance I buy one again.
I can’t give a crap about nearly any electronic gauge out there, but the LF-A and IS-F/GS-F/ RC-F gauge cluster? Those were actually well done. They’re cool.
20+ years from now it’ll be interesting to see who repairs them, but they’re neat.
Now that I think about it, I’ve hated every digital cluster I’ve had the displeasure of viewing, except for the one on Lexus F cars. Yeah, it’s a bit clunky to reconfigure, but the visuals are amazing, and the physical bezel is sweet.
Almost every digital cluster is just a screen, nothing else. That’s why. There’s no amount of digital trickery that can replicate 3 dimensional depth, especially when the car is off. Screen only is just a flat black abyss where needles and bezels should be.
Sad to see it go, but more upset that that beautiful engine was stuck mated to the horrible IS, while the GS500 was axed (and for that matter the entire GS line).
Lexus GS was the best sedan no one bought.
Everything you needed, nothing you didn’t.
I looked hard to buy a used one a few months ago, but the ones out there are definitely holding their value
The reason why is folks’ll know they’ll run for 30 years outside of rubber rotting and eventual wear from friction. They’re known quantities. The only ones that’ll be cheap are complete basket cases.
If you want a “cheap” one, realize it’ll only happen if you buy the one that will actually be expensive to run. They won’t magically lose value.
I wasn’t looking basket case cheap, like $30kish. At that price they were probably ok but high miles, so I dropped down to an Accord instead.
Well, you were in the right range at least.
Basket case L10s are usually in the teens. Solid ones that just need elbow grease I agree haven’t moved. 10 years ago they were high-20s to 30 on the cheap end and… yeah, they still are.
Granted in 2035, they’ll likely haven’t budged much. They’ll lose value mostly to inflation, not absolute value. Which is why they’re staying put. At least the Atkinson 2GR-FXEs were proven out in Hybrid Avalon taxi cabs to go out for 300-400K, to just be refreshed and thrown back out there for another 300.
I look at the L10 GS as if it were high-end Panther body, in that little can kill it, it needs little attention, and will just run forever. Except boy is it way quieter, more comfortable, quicker, etc.