Having made its debut in 2013, the third-generation Lexus IS shocked us: everything about the compact sport-luxury sedan was new and rather ground-breaking (especially its styling), except for the powertrains. Miraculously, the tiny, outdated, and rather underpowered 2.5-liter V6 remained the standard engine in the base IS 250, a move that left us scratching our heads.
Don’t get us wrong: the 2.5-liter GR-FSE, as it’s known internally, was a gem of an engine… in 2004. But the rest of the industry has successfully moved to 2.0-liter turbo-charged four-cylinder engines that not only make more power, but are also significantly more fuel-efficient. So for the 2014 model year, the powertrain of the third-gen IS didn’t only seem out of date… it seemed downright antiquated — a shame, since the vehicle is otherwise a gem. But all that soon looks like it will all change.
Luckily, the new Lexus NX compact crossover introduced a modern, new engine. And, unsurprisingly, it’s a 2.0-liter turbo-charged inline-four. And if trademark applications foreshadow anything, it’s that the new 2.0L turbo is coming to the IS, GS, and RC.
On May 23rd, 2014, Toyota Motor Corporation filed a trademark application for the term IS200T with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The IS200T trademark carries serial number 86290354 and lists “Automobiles and structural parts thereof” as its Goods and Services category. It was published for opposition on October 14th, 2014.
Similarly, the automaker filed trademark application for the terms GS200T and RC200T on September 11th, 2013 and August 9th, 2013. The applications, carrying serial numbers 86061565 and 86033759, respectively, were published for opposition on February 4th, 2014 and December 10th, 2013, respectively. We should note that Toyota also filed a similar trademark application for NX200T — which is now a reality… a 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque reality.
| TRADEMARK | FILING DATE | PUBLISHED FOR OPPOSITION DATE | SERIAL NUMBER |
|---|---|---|---|
| IS200T: | MAY 23, 2014 | OCTOBER 14, 2014 | 86290354 |
| GS200T: | SEPTEMBER 11, 2014 | FEBRUARY 4, 2014 | 86061565 |
| RC200T: | AUGUST 9, 2013 | DECEMBER 10, 2013 | 86033759 |
| NX200T: | OCTOBER 15, 2012 | JANUARY 15, 2013 | 85754116 |
We think it’s only a matter of time before the IS, GS, and RC (ahem, IS coupe) get the boosted 2.0… especially given that BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz either already have boosted 2.0-liter inline-four-cylinder engines in same-segment vehicles, or will have in the very near future. And these trademark filings seem to be the proof in the pudding that Lexus, finally, is moving in the same direction. Because why would Lexus Toyota file the trademarks in the first place?
No Comments yet