BERLIN: Lexus is introducing a new 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the European-market Lexus IS200t, and while there is no official announcement yet, it’s likely the IS200t signals that a 2.0-liter engine will eventually come to the U.S.-market Lexus IS, too.
The new 2.0-liter turbo pushes out a respectable 244 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, a sizeable bump over 2.5-liter V-6 in the current IS250, which is rated for just 204 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. In the Euro-spec Lexus IS200t, the 2.0-liter routs its power to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission, and is said to return up to 40 mpg. The car can reach a claimed top speed of 143 mph.
As of right now, there is no official confirmation of the Lexus IS200t making its way to our shores, but several reports suggest that Lexus will expand its use of turbocharged engines here. Adding the 2.0-liter instead of the V-6 in today’s IS250 would improve the car’s acceleration and fuel efficiency. Lexus has already started using turbo-four engines in the U.S. with the Lexus NX200t crossover. Its 2.0-liter turbo-four produces 235 hp and 258 lb-ft, but because that car is based on a front-wheel-drive platform, the engine would need to be redesigned for use in the rear-wheel-drive IS.
