Lexus IS wagon considered for Euro markets

Currently offered in sedan and convertible formats, a wagon variant of the IS would expand Lexus' competition base against such rivals as the BMW 3 Series Touring and Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate, both popular sellers across Europe.

Lexus offered its first-generation IS with a little-known wagon variant called the SportCross, but ditched the model after US buyers, then the manufacturer's main focus, failed to show interest.

It's believed Lexus aims to re-introduce a wagon variant of the IS when the next-generation model appears early in 2011.