Lexus IS 200t turbo on the way?

It looks like the Lexus IS range is about to get a new edition as Lexus trademarks the IS 200t badge pointing towards the introduction of the 2.0 litre turbo.

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The Lexus NX will be going on sale before the end of the year, and apart from the NX being the smallest SUV to come from Toyota’s luxury brand, it also comes with the option of a new 2.0 litre turbo in the NX 200t.

Even Lexus sees the need to downsize their cylinder count, as well as offering hybrid options, to keep CO2 emissions as low as possible and keep avaricious government at bay, so the arrival of the 2.0 litre turbo for the NX is a sensible move.

But it now looks as though Lexus are looking for more uses for their new turbo engine, and it seems likely that the next recipient will be the BMW 3-Series rivalling Lexus IS.

Motor Authority are reporting that the ‘IS 200t’ trademark has been grabbed by Lexus in the US, paving the way for the more frugal, and more powerful, 200t to replace the current IS 250.

The IS 250 comes with a 2.5 litre V6 petrol producing 204 bhp and 184lb/ft of torque, enough to get to 62mph in 8.1 seconds and average 32.8 mpg.

The 200t’s 2.0 litre turbo – at least in the new NX 200t – comes with 235bhp and 258lb/ft of torque as well as the new torque-demand control logic for quicker responses.

Lexus hasn’t yet revealed performance or economy data for the new NX 200t, but it’s not much of a stretch to assume it will be a chunk quicker and – at least officially – a chunk more economical than the 2.5 litre V6 in the IS 250.

We also wouldn’t bet against a GS 200t either.