2011 Lexus IS with Minor Facelift Unveiled in Europe, comes with new 150HP Diesel

Carmakers continue to roll out product announcements ahead of next month's Paris Motor show. The latest is Lexus that revealed details on its revised for the 2011 model year, IS series for Europe, which benefits from some modest cosmetic tweaks, additional standard features and the introduction of a new diesel model.

Blink an eye, and you'll easily miss the styling changes on the sedan and coupe-convertible models, that include tweaked headlamps that gain LED daytime running lights, reworked rear light clusters, a revised front grille design, new exterior colors and alloy wheel designs. Interior revisions are limited to a

Meanwhile, the 2011 F-Sport trim level gets a new deep front spoiler with faired-in fog lights, new grille design and a rear spoiler with integrated stop light plus new 18-inch alloy wheels. Inside, there are extra touches of titanium-effect trim and a new dark, anthracite roof liner.

Other revisions to the IS range include improvements to the SE-I specification with the addition of rain-sensing wipers, an auto-dimming rear view mirror and new leather upholstery with heated front seats.

For the 2011 model year, there's a new IS 200d model powered by a 150-horsepower version of the 2.2-litre diesel engine of the 177HP IS 220d. In the UK, the IS 200d replaces the more potent IS 220d, but in other European markets such as Germany, the two diesel models will be sold together.

The IS 200d can accelerate from nought to 100km/h (62mph) in 10.2 seconds and reach a top speed of 205km/h (127mph). Combined cycle fuel consumption is 5.1lt/100km (55.4mpg UK or 46.1mog US) and CO2 emissions are 134g/km compared to 148g/km for the IS 220d.

There are also changes to the 2.5-liter V6 petrol engine featured in the IS 250 and IS 250C coupe-convertible with six-speed automatic transmission. According to Lexus, the V6 unit has been revised to meet future Euro5 emissions standards, achieving better fuel economy and CO₂ emissions.

While power and torque figures remain unchanged at 208HP and 252Nm, combined cycle fuel consumption drops from 9.1lt /100km to 8.4lt/100km (31.7 to 33.6mpg UK), with a concurrent fall in CO2 output from 209 to 194g/km.

The 2011 Lexus IS will be formally revealed at the Paris Motor Show next month with European sales starting shortly after.