Posted on Thursday 4 October 2007
Despite Lexus showing off its new sports sedan back in January at the Detroit Auto Show the company has been surprisingly tight-lipped about the number of horses kicking under the hood. However, today’s Japanese launch of the IS F allowed to officially state the figures as well as other details it hasn’t revealed before. The 5.0L V8 will develop 417hp (311kW) at 5,500rpm and 504Nm (372lb-ft) of torque, putting the IS F squarely in the same region as the BMW M3 and Audi RS4, its main competitors.
The engine will be mated to an 8-speed paddle-shift gearbox based on the one found in the LS460. Lexus has modified the transmission to offer a “M” mode for fast acceleration in first gear, while potentially limiting any damage caused by careless driving. The gearbox will also blip the throttle during downshifts to avoid jolts. The IS F has also had numerous suspension modifications, including new springs, shock absorbers, stabilizers tuned for the performance car. Sitting on 19in tires, the IS F uses large-diameter, wide 225/40R19 tires at the front and 255/35R19 tires at the rear for gripping the road and also gets a performance brake package.
Top speed is estimated by Lexus to be over 185mph, though the IS F will be limited to just 180km/h in its home market. Tellingly, the company forecasts just 500 sales a year in Japan but expects to sell over 5,000 in the U.S.
Limited to 180km/h WHAT!!?? tell me that is a typo…..
It’ll only be limited to 180km/h in Japan. Lexus hasn’t announced figures for outside yet.
Wow, what a cool car. I’m sure it’s a hoot to drive!
But I’d rather have an s2000…
Am I the only one that thinks that this car isn’t a threat AT ALL to the M3 or RS4?
I love Lexus - the self made brand for the self made man - but in this case I think they’re trying to hard… and missing the point…
Maybe it’s just me though.
Competitor to M3 and RS4?? That’s a joke, is it?
Some real bad things on the IS-F:
1. Torque converter slush-box (heavy, big losses, slow changes, no fun to drive)
2. Heavy. No figure published but I predict is heavier than the M3
3. Ugly
4. Boring, it’s a Lexus after all
2. Heavy. No figure published but I predict is heavier than the M3
3. Ugly
4. Boring, it’s a Lexus after all
1. I’ll give you that.
2. No figures cant really speculate on it but its likely to be true.
3. I happen to think its sweet looking. Def better than most of the things out there at this time.
4. Boring?….. thats your personal way of thinking.
wow..nicee