2027 Lexus IS F Release Date: Latest Updates – There is currently no confirmed 2027 Lexus IS F model or official release date. Lexus has not announced a high-performance IS F successor for the 2027 model year in the United States or elsewhere. Enthusiasts searching for updates on a potential return of the iconic F-badged performance sedan will find only unconfirmed rumors from early 2026 that have since been overtaken by official project changes.
Here is a clear, source-based look at the situation for U.S. buyers as of August 2026.
History of the Original Lexus IS F
The original Lexus IS F arrived for the 2008 model year as Lexus’s first true high-performance F model. It featured a 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V8 producing around 416 horsepower, an eight-speed automatic transmission, aggressive bodywork, and track-tuned suspension developed with input from Fuji Speedway (the “F” designation’s inspiration). It competed against the BMW M3 and Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG of its era and remained in production through the 2014 model year.
In the third-generation IS (launched 2013), Lexus offered the IS 500 F Sport Performance with a similar 5.0-liter V8 (up to 472 hp). That variant was discontinued after the 2025 model year. For 2026, the U.S. lineup was simplified to the IS 350 only (3.5-liter V6, 311 hp), available in F Sport Design and F Sport trims starting at approximately $46,895.
Early 2026 Rumors of a Next-Generation IS and Possible F Variant
In February 2026, Japanese outlet Best Car reported that Lexus planned an all-new, fully electric fourth-generation IS for 2027. The car was expected to draw heavily from the 2023 LF-ZC concept, feature single-motor rear-wheel-drive and dual-motor all-wheel-drive versions (the latter around 500 PS / roughly 493 hp), and target up to 1,000 km (about 620 miles) of range. Some reports speculated the high-performance dual-motor version could revive an “F” badge or driving mode.
These rumors aligned with earlier Lexus statements about bringing the LF-ZC into production around 2026–2027 as a sporty electric sedan rivaling upcoming BMW and Mercedes electric compact luxury models.
Project Cancellation Changes the Outlook
By early June 2026, multiple reports confirmed Lexus had canceled development of the production version of the LF-ZC (the intended electric IS successor). The decision was attributed to softer EV demand in key markets, particularly the United States, and a strategic shift toward SUVs and crossovers. Lexus stated that technologies developed for the project (including gigacasting and advanced electrical architectures) would be applied to a different future vehicle, but the dedicated electric IS sedan was shelved.
As a result, there is no confirmed path to a 2027 electric IS—let alone a high-performance IS F version.
What U.S. Buyers Can Expect from the 2027 Lexus IS?
Car and Driver and other outlets note that the current third-generation IS received a significant refresh for 2026 (new front fascia, interior updates, and refined steering). With no all-new model on the immediate horizon, the 2027 model year IS is widely expected to carry over largely unchanged from the 2026 version. It remains a rear- or all-wheel-drive sports sedan powered solely by the 311-hp 3.5-liter V6, offered in F Sport Design and F Sport trims.
Lexus continues to emphasize F Sport versions for a sportier appearance and handling tune, but these are not full “F” models in the tradition of the original IS F or IS 500.
Bottom Line for American Shoppers
No 2027 Lexus IS F has been confirmed, and the rumored electric next-generation IS that might have included a performance variant has been canceled. The current IS continues as a refined, reliable luxury sport sedan with F Sport options. Anyone hoping for a return of a high-output F-badged IS sedan will need to wait for future product plans, which Lexus has indicated will prioritize technologies from the canceled program in other models.
For the latest official information, check Lexus.com or contact a local U.S. dealer, as product plans can evolve.