Lexus has stopped production of European-spec IS models due to new crash safety legislations that goes into effect at the end of the year. The issue concerns the shape of the front-end, which does not meet the new pedestrian safety requirements.

Lexus has chosen not to make the necessary modifications to the current model as the all-new model is due early next year. The current IS will continue to be available at European dealerships until the existing inventory runs out.

The second-generation IS was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2005 as a pre-production model, with the production version debuting shortly after.

Lexus sales in Europe have suffered in recent years - with the brand selling 15,000 cars in 2007 before declining rapidly to 10,000 in 2008 and just 6,200 cars in 2010. The arrival of the all new IS saloon will give the firm the impetus it needs in the junior executive sector. The third-generation IS is previewed by the striking LF-CC concept, featuring the latest version of the brand