Lexus IS-F

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Lexus IS-F
Manufacturer	Lexus
Parent company	Toyota Motor Corporation
Production	2008–present
Class	Sport luxury car
Body style(s)	4–door sedan
Layout	FR layout
Engine(s)	5.0 L 2UR-GSE V8
Transmission(s)	8–speed Paddle Shift automatic
Wheelbase	2730 mm (107.5 in)
Length	4660 mm (183.5 in)
Width	1815 mm (71.5 in)
Height	1415 mm (55.7 in)
Curb weight	1714 kg (3,780 lbs)
Related	Lexus IS

The Lexus IS-F is a high performance version of the Lexus IS series of sport luxury cars. It is the first vehicle in the F-marque line of performance vehicles from Lexus, the luxury division of Toyota. The first generation IS-F, which premiered at the 2007 North American International Auto Show, features a larger, more powerful engine than standard IS models, improved suspension and brakes, body design enhancements, and other vehicle changes. The IS-F sports 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration in 4.6 seconds.^[1] The vehicle went on sale for late 2007 in Japan, in early 2008 in the United States,^[2] and in Europe in 2008.

Contents 1 History 2 Performance 3 Production 4 External links 5 References

[edit] History

In 2006, several automotive publications reported on rumors of a higher performance variant of the IS being tested at various stages of development. Spy photos of such a vehicle being tested in Germany and California were published in several magazines and websites. Among these spy reports, several photos were shown of a heavily modified and camouflaged IS sedan at the Nürburgring test track in Germany along with other disguised Lexus test vehicles. The previous generation IS 430 prototype vehicle was indicative of future possibilities for the IS series, including the likelihood that a second generation high-performance IS model could come equipped with a V8 engine. It was rumored that there would be a coupe and a convertible version for a 2009 model, as well as a convertible version of the V8-powered IS. [Note: Lexus dropped the hyphen in official press documents as of vehicle launch, referring to it as IS F. Several media sites continue to use the hyphen in error. ^[3]]

On 6 December 2006, Lexus officially confirmed the existence of the vehicle which they called IS-F in the press release.^[4] At the North American International Auto Show on January 8, 2007, the new IS-F was debuted to the public. The vehicle features a 5.0 L direct-injected V8 producing 416 SAE hp (423 PS, 311 kW) at 6,600 rpm, while peak torque is 371 ft·lbf (503 N·m) at 5,200 rpm.^[5] The engine also features a two-stage intake system, engine oil and automatic transmission fluid coolers and an oil pump designed for high-speed cornering. Images were leaked a couple of hours before the official announcement.^[6] At its press debut, Lexus revealed that a separate "skunk works" team designed the IS-F in a manner distinct from typical Lexus engineering efforts. The chief designer of the IS-F, Yukihiko Yaguchi, previously worked on the Toyota Supra.

The Lexus IS-F features an 8-speed automatic transmission with sequential shift (Sport Direct Shift, or SPDS), a new sport version of Lexus' electronic stability control system (Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management, or VDIM, featuring three distinct on-off modes), and was equipped with Brembo brakes stamped with the Lexus emblem.^[7] Other design features included a four-passenger cabin with carbon-fiber panels, steering wheel paddle shifters, and 19-inch BBS forged aluminum alloy wheels. The vehicle body was lowered by 1 cm (0.5 inches) compared to the standard IS.^[8] Noticeable about the IS-F's design are its faux quad exhaust tailpipes comprised of vertically stacked dual exhaust pipes not connected to its tips on the left and right rear.^[9] For 2008, the IS-F carried a base price of $56,000 USD.

[edit] Performance

Road & Track tested the IS-F in their January 2008 issue, attaining a 0-60 mph (97 km/h) time of 4.4 seconds, a slalom speed of 71.2 mph (114.6 km/h) (0.3 mph (0.48 km/h) adrift of a Porsche 911 Carrera 4S), and an electronically limited top speed of 170 mph (270 km/h).^[10]

[edit] Production

In October 2007, the IS-F premiered in Japan, with a 500-unit yearly target for that country, and a 5,000-6,000 yearly unit target for the U.S. market.^[11] Top speed was listed at 168 mph (270 km/h).^[11] An earlier Autoweek item had speculated that Lexus may build only 1,000 IS-Fs for the US market,^[12] and also suggested that the vehicle would have a top speed of 320 km/h (200 mph) (contradicting the generally accepted standard for this automotive class), which led automotive news sites to question the accuracy of their information.^[13] The editor and representatives of a major Lexus IS enthusiast website with Lexus press access further suggested that Autoweek's report may be referring to the LF-A supercar,^[14] which Lexus did indicate could reach 200 mph (320 km/h).^[15] In 2007, the head of Lexus GB stated in an interview that 150 IS-Fs would be allocated for the UK market.^[16]

[edit] External links

• Lexus.com IS-F
• Lexus.eu IS-F
• Lexus.jp IS F

[edit] References

v • d • e Lexus – a division of Toyota Motor Corp. – road vehicle timeline
Type	1990s										2000s
	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Compact									IS								IS
																			IS-F
Mid-size	ES		ES					ES					ES					ES
		GS							GS							GS
Full-size	LS					LS						LS						LS
Crossover								RX							RX
																RX Hybrid
SUV														GX
							LX		LX										LX
Coupe		SC										SC