The 2027 Lexus IS Goes Envious Green—And Only 350 Will Be Built
Lexus apparently decided envy looks better in green. The 2027 Lexus IS is getting a limited Special Appearance Package dressed in a striking new exterior color called Envious, sitting on black forged BBS wheels and restricted to just 350 cars for the North American market.
There is no extra horsepower hiding beneath that green paint, but that is not really the point. Built from the 2027 Lexus IS 350 F SPORT, the package combines one of the boldest factory colors Lexus has put on the sports sedan with a loaded equipment list and genuine scarcity. For a nameplate celebrating its 25th anniversary, that might be enough to make an already familiar car feel fresh again.
The 2027 Lexus IS Gets a Color Called Envious
The centerpiece of the Special Appearance Package is undoubtedly its exterior. Lexus calls the new shade Envious, a rich green finish that immediately separates the car from the more conservative colors typically associated with luxury sedans. Lexus contrasts the green bodywork with 19-inch black BBS forged-alloy wheels, giving the IS a darker and more aggressive stance. The theme continues inside, where black NuLuxe-trimmed seats with Ultrasuede inserts are accented by green stitching and satin chrome-finished trim.
It is not an especially complicated formula, but it works. Green exterior, black wheels and subtle matching details inside give the IS enough visual drama to make this version identifiable without covering it in badges, graphics or other limited-edition theatrics.
Only 350 Are Coming to North America
The other major attraction is scarcity. Lexus says only 350 examples of the 2027 Lexus IS equipped with the Special Appearance Package will be assembled for the North American market. That number makes Envious more than another color added to an order sheet. Buyers interested in this particular combination will be dealing with a genuinely limited production run.
The strategy is also familiar territory for Lexus. Since 2022, the automaker has introduced a new 2027 Lexus IS Special Edition or Special Appearance Package each year, using limited configurations to give the long-running sports sedan another layer of exclusivity. This particular edition carries a little more significance. Lexus unveiled it in Miami at the final stop of the four-city IS 25th Legacy Tour, which celebrated a quarter-century of the IS nameplate.
The 2027 Lexus IS 350’s 311-HP V6 Stays Put
Anyone hoping Envious came with another hundred horsepower will have to keep hoping. Like every 2027 Lexus IS, the Special Appearance Package uses a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 producing 311 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. Rear-wheel-drive models pair the engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission, while all-wheel-drive versions use a six-speed automatic.
In other words, this is not a new performance flagship or spiritual replacement for the departed V8-powered IS 500. The Special Appearance Package is based on the IS 350 F SPORT and retains the performance already offered by that model.
What Lexus has done instead is bundle the car with equipment that should make the driving experience more interesting.
Lexus Didn’t Stop at Paint and Wheels
The 2027 Lexus IS’ Handling Package comes standard and includes a sport-tuned Adaptive Variable Suspension along with selectable Eco, Normal, Sport S, Sport S+ and Custom driving modes. Rear-wheel-drive models also receive a Torsen limited-slip differential.
There is plenty of luxury and technology equipment included as well. The standard Technology Package brings Traffic Jam Assist capability, Lane Change Assist and Front Cross-Traffic Alert, while the Special Appearance Package also includes triple-beam LED headlights, a moonroof, Intuitive Parking Assist and a Panoramic View Monitor.
A power rear sunshade, Mark Levinson audio system and Smart Access Key Card round out the equipment list. Taken together, the package feels less like Lexus asking customers to pay exclusively for special paint and wheels and more like a heavily equipped IS 350 F SPORT wearing a configuration only a few hundred owners will get.
Lexus Hasn’t Told Us the Price Yet
One number Lexus is keeping to itself for now is the price. The automaker has not announced MSRP for the 2027 Lexus IS Special Appearance Package, saying complete specifications and pricing will be revealed at a later date. The limited model is expected to begin arriving at Lexus dealerships later this year.
That price will ultimately determine how attractive the package looks next to a traditionally configured IS 350 F SPORT, particularly since the 311-horsepower V6 remains unchanged.
Still, Lexus may not need to reinvent the 2027 Lexus IS to find homes for 350 of them. The Special Appearance Package won’t make the sedan any quicker, but between the Envious paint, forged black BBS wheels, loaded equipment list and tiny North American production run, Lexus has given its 25-year-old sports sedan something arguably more valuable: another reason to look at it.
