strange the hp bump is for '18 and not for '17 when the model changed

 

Actually I thought it odd they didn't do it for 16, at the same time they did it for the GS350.

 

I'm still a bit confused, it says new for 2018 adaptive front lighting now available.

I just pulled out my original window sticker on my 2007 IS 350 I had the luxury pkg and it shows included was the AFS (adaptive front lighting) as I remember when you turned the front wheels the lighting would turn as well with you in a curve. So Lexus took that feature away on the 3rd Gen IS? Because now there saying it's available new for 2018.

 

Confirmed 3IS does not have adaptive lighting headlights, not even auto-level. The headlights in my buddy's Q50 are fantastic they have both turning and auto leveling.

 

The 3IS does have auto leveling, just not adaptive lighting until 2018.

 

Why would the Torsen® Limited-Slip Rear Differential only be available on the F Sport and not the non F Sport 350?

 

My guess would be drivers that are interested in the LSD are also interested in the other handling upgrades offered by the F Sport. Basically, wasn't worth the $$$ to offer it on the more luxury-oriented models.

I wonder if you could have it fitted to a non F Sport in the aftermarket.

 

Huh? The ratios can be "chosen" to be whatever they want them to be, and even with 8 ratios the gaps between 1-2 and 2-3 are too wide. It wouldn't be as bad if the engine didn't have such a narrow power bad. In first you have to bring to darn near redline before shifting, or you'll fall off the best part of the torque curve.

 

Not true, if you change one gear other will change too, there is no 8-degrees of freedom here, there is a very good video about this transmission (AA80E), very technical. Cadillac CTS uses the same transmission with the same exact gear ratios. Your differential gives you a capability to change multiplier and hence tweak gears at the wheel level (final drive) but you have no option to tweak individual gears. By the way, I think the gear ratios feel just right. There are some scientific/technical papers that deal with constraints you are facing when constructing planetary gear transmissions but they are very mathematical.

 

Any chance of the 8 speed making its way to the AWD IS350 at some point? Why was the AWD version saddled with the 6 speed and not the 8?

 

I had these lights in my MB CLK. One stopped working. It cost me almost $3000 for replacement. I don't want any more of them.

 

There isn't enough room to fit both the AWD hardware and the larger 8 speed transmission. It's only the 6 speed that fits.

 

Spoke with the dealer today. Lexus is still manufacturing several IS models through September. You can still get a MY17 order in. The line transition between years takes one month. By my calculations... they'll stop manufacturing 17's at the end of the month, line transition in October and start manufacturing in November. We should see the first MY18's late November to early December.
MY18's still aren't loaded in the system, so you can't order quite yet. Maybe several more weeks?
Judging by the incentives Lexus is offering, they want to purge all the 17's due to the 18's being a cut above.
They're offering 10 years of informant App support, but you'll have to pay for remote start after the first year.
I'm still trying to decide if I should wait for the 18's or take the $4k discount on the 17. They're really trying to sell me on the 17 for obvious reasons.

 

Thanks, that would explain that transfer case hump near the gas pedal. Do you think the new TNGA-L platform would solve this problem? I'm really wanting the 8 speed with the AWD, so I'm hoping for the future 4th gen IS to have this.

EDIT: The video above says that the 8 speed AT is more compact than the 6 speed AT (@35 seconds).