Wagons may be all but extinct in today’s automotive landscape, cast away by buyers’ love of SUVs, but they still stir enthusiasm among certain corners of the car world. One such example is the Lexus IS SportCross, the only wagon in the brand’s 36-year history.

The five-door model lasted just a single generation before being discontinued, yet it still holds a place in the hearts of wagon fans. One of them is digital artist Theophilus Chin, who recently imagined what a modern Lexus wagon could look like in the current lineup.

Also: Lexus Sedan’s Radical Redesign Could Finally Bring Back The IS Spirit

Instead of starting with the aging IS sedan, Theottle chose the larger and more contemporary Lexus ES as the foundation for his design. The familiar sedan form is reworked with a taller, more upright rear, and styling cues borrowed from the all-electric RZ.

In this reimagining, the rear glass wraps around seamlessly into the side windows, visually slimming the D-pillars and giving the rear a cleaner profile. The roofline is less sloped than the standard ES, flowing into a pair of aerodynamic fins that replace the more conventional rear spoiler.

The lower portion of the tail is carried over from the regular ES, including the slim LED bar, the integrated ducktail spoiler, and the rear bumper. The wheelbase and the rear overhang haven’t changed, meaning that the ES Sport Cross retains the footprint of the sedan.

Illustrations: Theottle

The new Lexus ES is based on Toyota’s TNGA-K architecture, which is compatible with self-charging hybrid and fully electric powertrain options. The flagship ES 500e trim with AWD capability would be the most fitting for the Sport Cross variant, generating 338 hp (252 kW / 343 PS) from its zero-emission powertrain. Furthermore, the 75 kWh battery would be good for a WLTP range of around 530 km (329 miles).

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If it ever reached production, the ES SportCross would go up against premium wagons like the BMW i5 Touring and the Mercedes E-Class Estate. But while the idea might appeal to wagon enthusiasts, Lexus appears far more focused on sedans and SUVs these days, making this actually happening quite unlikely.

Still, there was a hint of possibility back in late 2021, when Lexus previewed a compact EV concept showcasing a variety of body styles, including a sedan, shooting brake, crossover, and convertible. At the time, many believed these prototypes hinted at the next generation IS, a model that now seems destined to offer more than just battery-electric powertrains when it eventually arrives.

Lexus

The Lexus IS has been part of the automaker’s lineup since 1999, as a rival to the Audi A4, BMW 3-Series and Mercedes C-Class. With the current generation in its twilight years, fans of the nameplate are hoping for a new model that could revive the sporty spirit of the original. Independent digital artist Theophilus Chin came up with a new rendering, proposing a sexier future for the Japanese sedan.

The illustrations are based on the 2021 Lexus Electrified Sedan Concept, which sparked speculation about a fully electric successor to the IS. In order to bring the model to 2025 standards, Theottle updated the exterior design using features from the more recent Lexus ES that debuted earlier this year.

More: New Lexus Sedan Gunning For Mercedes And BMW In Europe

The speculative front end in these renderings is sharp and aggressive, with angular LED headlights and sporty, triangular intakes on the sculpted bumper. The small opening on the nose hints at a hybrid powertrain, an interesting shift away from the fully electric concept. But the real win here is the Spindle grille, which has been updated to look much more refined and palatable than previous iterations.

The profile of the car stays true to the radical lines of the concept, maintaining the roofline and proportions of the original. However, it introduces more conventional surfacing, with character lines borrowed from the larger ES. A new set of alloy wheels, standard mirrors, and regular door handles bring the design closer to reality, as if the car were nearing the end of its sketch phase.

Theottle

Lexus

The rear of the car is where things get more interesting. With a ducktail spoiler above a slim, full-width LED bar, this design is a sharp departure from the fastback tail of the ES, offering a more athletic and coupe-like rear end. The shoulders are more pronounced, and the rear windscreen is noticeably sportier. It still manages to look like it could make its way into production without losing that concept car flair.

Will The Production Model Look Anything Like The Renders?

As promising as these illustrations are, it’s worth noting that we can’t exactly count on the production model looking exactly like these renders. Production cars are subject to the harsh realities of packaging constraints, and things are bound to change as the design gets finalized.

Lexus has kept things under wraps for now, with camouflaged prototypes still a ways off. However, given that the current IS has been around since 2013, and has already seen two facelifts in 2017 and 2020, we can reasonably expect that a new version is on the horizon.

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Lexus recently released the Climax and Ultimate Editions of the IS 500 in Japan and the US, signaling that the naturally aspirated V8 engine’s days are numbered. But Toyota’s commitment to hybrids and multiple powertrains suggests that the next IS will offer hybrid options, and possibly even a fully electric variant.

Competition in this segment is only getting fiercer, especially with electric and range-extender sedans gaining ground in markets like China. The new IS will have to face off against the likes of the Audi A5, BMW’s upcoming Neue Klasse 3-Series and i3, and even the ICE and electric versions of the next Mercedes C-Class.