Artisan preparing turbocharged IS-F for SEMA

Posted Tue Sep 30 2008 8:44 AM by James Martinez

Artisan’s SEMA IS-F show car boasts a 600hp (450kW) output

The annual Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas is a little more than a month away but already we have a number of details for several of this year’s highlights. We’ve already seen renderings for a widebody Mercedes Benz GLK, as well as a street racer Hyundai Genesis Coupe, and now we have the first details for a twin-turbocharged 2009 Lexus IS-F developed by Artisan Performance.

The Texas-based tuner has not only added a custom twin-turbo set-up to the IS-F’s 5.0L V8 engine, but has also upgraded some of the internals. The list of aftermarket components includes JE pistons, Crower connecting rods, a Mishimoto radiator, and a custom Artisan exhaust. The end result is a healthy 600hp (450kW) developed at the rear wheels. By comparison, the standard IS-F develops 416hp (310kW) at the flywheel.

To match the car’s powertrain performance, Artisan has added a new bodykit consisting of unique front and rear bumpers, sporty side skirts, pumped fenders and an integrated rear diffuser. Other features include 20in iForged alloy wheels, Toyo T1R tires, and blacked out headlights.

The new exhaust system featured on the kit will go on sale as early as next month and will be followed by some of the more serious upgrades soon after the car’s unveiling.

Gallery: Artisan 600hp 2008 SEMA Lexus IS-F

Reader Comments

Tue Sep 30 2008 4:36 PM
azlan says

for lexus to make the sport model ranges they really need to look to their japanese friends to not fall into the american way of just plonking a huge engine in the front but to engineer the crap out of a small one to keep it light and funner to drive, (like the honda type r's etc) the isf is cool but i think they could have got more attention and had better competition with the m3 if they found a new way to give awesome power. well thats what i think i could be talking crap lol

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