When it comes to luxury sedans, the V8 isn’t dead just yet, at least not at Lexus. While most of the competition has turned the page on this enthusiast favorite format, Lexus has diligently hung on to this tried and tested V8 rear-wheel drive formula with the Lexus IS, and to celebrate what could be its final iteration (we hope not), the Japanese luxury automaker has announced the 2025 Lexus IS 500 Ultimate Edtition. Limited to just 500 examples for North America, this special edition comes with some exclusive cosmetic and performance upgrades over the standard model.
2025 Lexus IS 500 Ultimate Edition
The exterior has been finished in a freshly introduced F-SPORT-exclusive color called Wind, which is a slick light gray metallic shade that contrasts against light-weight 19-inch forged BBS matte black wheels. One of the most significant performance upgrades is to the brakes, with stopping power coming from six-piston Brembo brake callipers paired with 380 mm vented discs.
Inside, the cabin gets some sporty touches in the form of circuit red and black trim, red seatbelts, NuLuxe and Ultrasuede seats, and a dimple-textured leather steering wheel, inspired by the V10-powered LFA supercar. You also get laser-etched red details in the analog clock, and a serialized console badge conveys this car’s significance. On the tech front, you get an Ultimate Edition-exclusive startup animation every time you fire up that V8.
Speaking of the engine, under the hood, you still get the snarly naturally-aspirated 5.0-liter V8 that puts out 472 horsepower and 395 pound-feet of torque, with power going exclusively to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Beyond its big power, you also get a whole host of safety equipment, part of Lexus’ Safety System 2.5+, that includes everything from adaptive cruise control, roadside recognition, pedestrian and cyclist detection, and automatic high-beams. Set to go on sale this fall, there’s no word on pricing just yet, but expect this limited-run model to cost more than the IS 500 F Sport Performance, which currently retails for $65,095.
So there you have it, a quick update on the Lexus IS, a compact sedan that first launched nearly 25 years ago as an alternative to the Germans. The IS 500 has held on to the muscle car recipe with its V8 rear-wheel drive formula, and while a stick has never been offered, it could have made a perfect swan song on this Ultimate Edition, if this is indeed the end of the line.