One way to keep an eye on automakers is to see what patents they're filing. Sometimes it is merely the nomenclature surrounding models the company's looking to protect, sometimes it's a full-on blueprint showing you the designs of a product.
Sometimes you hit the jackpot and other times you're thwarted. It seems this time the jackpot has been found.
According to reports, Toyota's premium division, Lexus, has filed a patent with the U.S. Patent and Trademark office for "IS200t." Anyone who's been following the all-new NX sport-utility vehicle would have noted that it will be offered with two motors from the get go: the NX200t and NX300h.
It seemed from that moment that the IS250, at minimum, was in the crosshairs. We're taking this as Lexus has developed a more powerful and more efficient powerplant that will see itself home in more Lexus products to come.
What will be interesting to see is if Lexus keeps the IS350 around or just dumps it once the next-gen IS F or RC F comes online.
Stay tuned!
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