You can understand the apprehension with the new Lexus IS F.  After all, the name sounds more like a kitchen appliance than that of a super sports sedan.  But, that’s what the IS F is: a super sports sedan.  Turning away from their comfort zone of producing uber comfortable luxury barges, Lexus has come up with their own BMW M or Mercedes-Benz AMG.  The question that remains to be asked is: is it worth it?

If the ‘F’ in IS F stood for Toyota’s Formula 1 team, then it’s not a good start.  So it’s just appropriate that the entire press kit skipped the matter of motorsport altogether.  The ‘F’ originates from ‘Circle-F’, Toyota’s internal code name for what’s now known as the Lexus brand.  Aside from that ‘F’ doesn’t mean anything else—just a letter appended to the IS name to connote a monstrous 5.0-liter V8 the under hood.

The basic engine is based off Lexus’s 4.6-liter unit also found in the LS and GS sedans.  For the IS F though, changes were made, the biggest among them is the extra cc’s of displacement.  The net effect is 416 horsepower at 6,600 rpm and 505 Nm of torque at 5,200 rpm.  Lexus is proud of the high specific output (83.2 bhp/liter) and high operating range (6,800 rpm) of the engine—highlighting the IS F’s core engineering.  Other changes in the engine bay include a dual air intake system, engine oil and transmission-fluid coolers and a cylinder head scavenge oil pump.  The scavenge oil pump forces oil from the cylinder heads back to the oil pan ensuring a reliable oil supply even during cornering (a more cost-effective solution than a dry sump-style engine).  All exhaust gases are expelled through dual 2.4-inch front pipes that join to a 2.7-inch single center pipe after which it splits again into two 2.1-inch pipes.

Mated to this manic engine is a innovative 8-speed automatic transmission (a world first) with sequential-shift override.  According to Lexus, the use of an extra-gear bridges the gap between an automated manual-type transmission and a planetary-type automatic by offering the response time and the smoothness.  The transmission box is ultra compact, fitting in the same length and width as Lexus’s own 6-speed unit.  In the cabin, paddle shifters on the steering wheel offer direct control when needed.  Additionally, there’s a ‘Sport’ button that allows the IS F to intervene less in terms of driving aids as well as a sharper throttle response, more steering effort and holding gears longer.

Based on the sharp-looking IS sedan, the IS F is clearly differentiated thanks to a trapezoidal-shaped front bumper fascia, V-shaped grille and a raised center section of hood (to make room for the V8).  The front fenders were also widened to accommodate the 19-inch forged alloy BBS wheels (225/40 R 19 in front, 255/39 R 19 at the back).  The upper and lower grilles both get mesh treatments, enlarging the cooling area for the engine.  Separate brake ducts are adjacent to the front fog lamps.  The rear view is equally strong not just because of its dramatic trapezoidal shape.  There are four exhaust diffusers two per side in a vertical arrangement, while above them is a set of LED tail lamps behind clear lenses and white LED license plate lamps.  Underbody panels and a subtle rear spoiler improve the overall aerodynamics as well.

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