Big 5-litre V8 engine and intake necessitate the unsightly bulge on the bonnet.
The kind and polite Lexus has used the “F” word.
Or at least that’s what you will be left thinking after getting acquainted with the IS F and discovering what it can do.
Lexus marketing boffins would like us to take their official word that “F” is for “Fuji Speedway”, the iconic track that was acquired by Toyota three years ago.
And the car takes its blue “F” logo from the track. Incidentally, Lexus had used “F” before, as the prefix to identify its concept cars internally.
One would think that with the considerable might of Toyota behind Lexus, a specialised model like the IS F should be available in vast numbers, albeit not in Corolla Altis-challenging proportions.
But as heroic tales go, this was not the case for the IS F. In fact, this project would not have even seen the light of day if not for a fortuitous chain of events.
The good news is that Lexus has given the okay to build a right-hand-drive version of the IS F.
First of all, the standard IS is based on an abbreviated version of the GS300 platform. In the United States, Lexus offers the GS450, which features a V8 engine.
Also, Toyota has plunged headlong into motorsports fever with its involvement in Formula One and the Japan Super GT series, among others.
The bigwigs were rather intrigued with the idea of a BMW M3 challenger when they were shown a “tuned” F IS300 based on the previous generation IS model five years ago.
Lexus just didn’t know how to go about it without upsetting the bean counters.
The final piece of the IS F puzzle is a passionate engineer by the name of Yukihiko Yaguchi.
He sowed the seeds of interest when he made the F IS300, and he has been yearning for a special project like this for the last 15 years.
But so cautious was the official stand on his “F” project that he did not even get a dedicated team.
Yaguchi could handpick no more than 300 technicians and engineers from the 2000-strong Lexus engineering complement, and this crack team was restricted to working on the car only in their spare time.
The Lexus IS F parts list consisted of components that exist in the Lexus range. And, with a little massaging, this would produce the desired results without increasing the cost too much.
The V8 in the Lexus IS F belongs to the UR engine family used in the LS range of cars.
So, with a little help from Yamaha (another Toyota group company), power was brought to a respectable 416hp without having to resort to a stratospheric 8000rpm redline.
In fact, the high output was achieved within the original operating range of the V8.
Coincidentally, the V8 comes attached to a state-of-the-art 8-speed automatic that was just waiting for this sort of application.
Careful tweaking of the gear ratios and shift programs, to deliver a thump at every gear change under full-bore acceleration, makes driving this beast distinctly different from the hushed and quiet ways associated with the Lexus brand.
So direct are the sensations that it leaves one to suspect that it’s not a conventional automatic but a robotised manual transmission underneath.
Treat the IS F throttle a bit more gently and the box will deliver the shifts in the best Lexus fashion.
Of course, there is the de rigueur gearshift paddle located on the back of the steering wheel.
But these are not fixed to the column like in a Ferrari, so they will twirl along with the steering, which can be confusing to use mid-corner.
Smooth-shifting 8-speed automatic can work like a maniacal race ‘box at the tug of a paddle.
Response from the system, though, is beyond reproach: It’s lightning-quick, matching the best of the semi-automatic camp.
Hardware changes include a pair of sports seats, bespoke 19-inch alloys, 360mm 6-pot Brembos and 345mm 2-pot ones in the rear.
Rather unfortunately, the Lexus IS F carries bulkier bumpers and a gawky-looking bulge on its bonnet that ruins the sharp lines.
The jury’s still out on how the vertically stacked exhaust look. But there’s no debate over the sound the pipes make: Simply glorious.
A Lexus sounding like a proper sports car? This must have caused major consternation back at Lexus HQ.
But credit must be given for going against the grain to deliver such a wonderful (Yamaha) tuned exhaust.
Naturally, the IS F also doesn’t ride like the usual Lexus. But to the engineers’ credit, the car is still pleasantly sorted.
Despite the 25mm lower-ride height, stiffer springs and damper rates – necessary for the Lexus IS F’s sportier handling brief – in the realm of sports cars, this one is rather comfortable and seems to yield better results than even the much-lauded M3.
On the helming front, there aren’t many electrically assisted power steering set-ups that we approve of.
Thankfully, the one on the Lexus IS F is one of the few. It is no heftier than a typical Lexus but seems more connected to chassis and road.
Customised 19-inch alloys are needed to accommodate the gigantic brake discs and callipers.
In almost all fronts, the Lexus IS F chassis feels more communicative and responds well to inputs.
With the active damping in Sport, the IS F’s handling is simply brilliant, with the electronic nannies leaving enough room for play.
The car also gives plenty of warning before things go pear-shaped. And even when the tail starts to slide, it happens at a rate slow enough to allow the driver to dial in the appropriate response.
How Lexus has programmed the Lexus IS F stability management program to be lenient enough for spirited driving is a surprise.
Even better is how the system is able to recover from the driver’s tomfoolery without appearing too ragged.
But for the truly skilled, adventurous or just insane, the Lexus IS F’s VSA stability control system can be completely disengaged, allowing for all manners of tail-out slip angles you care or dare.
Budgetary constraints meant there is no special mechanical limited slip differential.
But the engineers have devised the next best thing to get maximum traction out of the rear axle – an electronic one based on the car’s standard ABS function.
For a company without a true motorsport division – like AMG is to Mercedes-Benz and M Division is to BMW – and one with an extremely conservative disposition and no sports car pedigree whatsoever, the Lexus IS F is a mighty surprise.
In fact, it’s no exaggeration to consider the Lexus IS F as a bona fide contender in the class of the C63 AMG and the M3.
But just as we are getting the impression that the shy and quiet Lexus is revealing a more extroverted side, the company isn’t committing to making it available here.
Just how will the Lexus IS F, a rock star of a car, fit in the carmaker’s otherwise prudent line-up?
Lexus IS F 5.0 (A)
DRIVETRAIN
Type V8, 32-valves
Capacity 4968cc
Bore x stroke 94mm x 89.5mm
Compression ratio 11.8:1
Max power 416hp at 6600rpm
Max torque 505Nm at 5200rpm
Power to weight 244.7hp per tonne
Gearbox 8-speed automatic with manual select
Driven wheels Rear
PERFORMANCE
0-100km/h 4.8 seconds
Top speed 270km/h (governed)
Consumption 8.8km/L (combined)
SUSPENSION
Front Double wishbones, coil springs, active dampers
Rear Double wishbones, coil springs, active dampers
BRAKES
Front / Rear Ventilated discs
TYRES
Type Bridgestone Potenza RE050
Size 225/40 R19 (front), 255/35 R19 (rear)
SAFETY
Airbags 7
Traction aids ABS, VSA
MEASUREMENTS
Length 4660mm
Width 1815mm
Height 1415mm
Wheelbase 2730mm
Kerb weight 1700kg
Turning circle 10.2m
BUYING IT
Price incl. COE To be announced
Warranty To be announced
+ Progressive, easy to handle, V8 sound and performance, secure steering feel
– Huge front hood bulge, stacked exhaust pipes, no official decision on local availability
