DETROIT, 4:15 PM, FRI JUL 18 | 29 POSTS IN THE LAST 24 HOURS | tips@jalopnik.com | RSS
Posts Tagged “

IS F

”
jalopnik visits hennessey performance

Jalopnik Visits Hennesey Performance: Track Addicts, The Corvette ZR1 And Lexus IS-F

With the demise of the Viper looming, Hennessey Performance is setting itself up to continue providing tuning services well into the future. Surprisingly, Hennessey will be working on the 2009 Corvette ZR1, a car that the company acknowledged as the Viper's enemy. They're also working on offering a kit for the Lexus IS-F, set to include headers and a modified exhaust system to squeeze more oopmh from the eight-geared oddity. And what about that big chunk of land they're sitting on?

More »

5:20 PM on Thu Jul 10 2008
By Matt Hardigree
2,409 views, 17 comments

Latest by sizquik: I thought he was selling the IS-F. Change of heart or no takers?? more »

lexus is

Mystery Lexus IS: Turbo? Hybrid?

Let the Nürburgring mysteries continue! Today's super secret car out testing on the 'ring is clearly a Lexus IS, but the intel from our spies at BridgeToGantry is limited at the moment. Under that camo, there's some sort of faded paint job inspired by a '70s custom van which leads us to believe the car may be displayed to the public sans cladding at some point. But what would it be showing off? Well, there appears to be some strange lump in the hood, but the front bumper looks to be from a standard IS rather than the fire-breathing Lexus IS-F. We're being speculative, but we wonder if this is some sort of V6 hybrid and/or turbocharged model. The exhaust note does sound like a relatively quiet V6 to our ears, but you should have a listen for yourself. Make the jump for a quick video of action on the track.

More »

Spy Photos

4:20 PM on Thu May 8 2008
By Mark Arnold
2,993 views, 19 comments

Latest by layabout: Jumped up Toyota! more »

spy photos

Lexus IS Convertible Spied Testing in Germany?

One of the posters at Club Lexus managed to get their hands on a scan from some unknown German magazine with a shot of what is purported to be a Lexus IS convertible in light camouflage. The claimed horsepower numbers range from 177 to 423 horsepower, which covers the IS from the entry-level diesel (in Europe) to the Lexus IS-F. larger version of what could be a hardtop convertible Lexus IS below the jump. More »

Spy Photos

9:30 AM on Tue Feb 26 2008
By Matt Hardigree
4,105 views, 20 comments

racing news

Lexus Developing IS-F Racer for Super GT?

The surface for driving that is always circuitous has some tantalizing racing news for fans of Japans Super GT racing series. It seems the Lexus IS-F Racing concept that showed up at the recent Tokyo Auto Salon was a harbinger of things to come. Lexus is reportedly working on a mid-engined race car based on the IS chassis and engine. The car would be set to run in the fiercely competitive GT300 class for this years Super GT Championships. Lexus better be careful with that kind of craziness or eyebrows will be raising all over the production car world. [WindingRoad.com]

3:30 PM on Thu Jan 17 2008
By Ben Wojdyla
1,613 views, 16 comments

Latest by tripelt: @superbmtsub: Just the poor ones. more »

racing news

Team Lexus Entering ALMS GT2 With Lexus IS 350 GT2

Hoping to put the Man back in the American LeMans series, Lexus released pictures of their new Panoz-fighting Lexus 350 GT2. Powered by a V6 that should generate more than 470 horsepower, the new Lexus hopes to compete with the likes of the M3, Viper Competition Coupe, Ferrari F430 GT and eventually the upcoming Aston Martin Vantage GT2.

More »

10:15 AM on Tue Jan 8 2008
By Matt Hardigree
1,714 views, 13 comments

engine

The Importance of Underhood Styling: Audi RS-4 or Lexus IS-F?

I have a fair number of friends who work in design-related fields- architecture, industrial design, graphic design, that sort of thing. Each seems to feel real physical pain when some controllable element of their surroundings does not glow with an aura of quality design. Furniture, clothing, appliances, and so on- you're not going to see El Cheapo crap unless it's an ironic statement of some kind. Such a person will always have a Macintosh computer, and the car in the driveway will likely be German. I'm not saying this is a bad thing, of course, since pro designers are naturally drawn to attractively designed objects, but it's an easily observed phenomenon. While shooting some Engine Pr0n of the Audi RS4, and then later for the Lexus IS-F, I was struck by the differing design philosophies on display in the cars' respective engine compartments. Let's take a look (make the jump for more gallery goodness):


More »

1:30 PM on Tue Dec 11 2007
By Murilee Martin
7,555 views, 83 comments

Latest by Mr4Runner: @msheredy: I'd rather have 'Go' then 'Show'. The VW looks like it was designed in 1997. more »

jalopnik reviews

Lexus IS-F, Part 4

Why You Should Buy This Car:
Lightning-fast acceleration, massive globs of handling and most likely the finest brakes we've ever stomped. World-class performance from an unlikely source, and that equals stealth. The eight-speed transmission means even with performance on par with the competition, you 'll get better fuel efficiency. The (expected) price will undercut the competition, big time. In certain situations, when the road is just right, the paddle shifters are outstanding. White leather seats are high on my list of "likes." They should be high on yours, too. The stereo is out-of-control good and then engine sounds even better. You can amuse yourself for hours as the voice recognition system misinterprets every other word out of your mouth. Did I mention the brakes? Yes, they are that good. More »

Feature

11:45 AM on Thu Nov 8 2007
By Jonny Lieberman
5,136 views, 46 comments

Latest by jimb213: waitaminute... an IS for 60 grand? Every time I've gotten in one (granted, not too often) I've thought to myself, "this is really cramped. This sucks." And I'm a small guy, at 5'7". I like the exterior design quite a more »

jalopnik reviews

Lexus IS-F, Part 3

Exterior Design: ***
Among the people to whom I showed the IS-F, reaction was mixed. Some absolutely loved it. Others, not so much. I'm right in the middle. Not counting the fab-looking wheels there are three major differences between the steroidal F model and a regular IS. 1) Front end. The brake-cooling inlets both look good and work. The power bulge on the hood however, looks like a dolphin's skull. 2) The brake-cooling vents just aft of the front wheels are my favorite part of the design. 3) The stacked, off-center tail "pipes" look awkward. Worse, they aren't hooked up to the actual quad exhausts. Lexus calls them "sound resonators." We're scratching our head. The other factor to seriously consider is stealth. Unless you know what to look for, the IS-F looks nearly identical to the butch but anonymous IS 250/350. And that's a good thing. More »

Feature

11:00 AM on Wed Nov 7 2007
By Jonny Lieberman
3,716 views, 29 comments

Latest by natredde: @camp6ell: So I suck because I can't wait for the 500+hp AWD CTS-V? Lexus shows up late to the power party just as Caddilac is taking it to the next level. Oh yeah, I'm also 28 jackass. I'll more »

jalopnik reviews

Lexus IS-F, Part 2

The night following our first day with the Lexus IS-F, after our own Wes Siler managed to procure two trashcans full of beer, a bunch of us auto-journo types sat around telling war stories involving crochet mallets (don't ask). After we'd laughed most of the oxygen out of the room, I asked the question, "So, what do you guys think of the IS-F?" For a moment the room went quiet. People began blinking then looked to the person next to them. The towering Brian Scotto, editor-in-chief of 0-60, was first to speak, "Great brakes," he said. And within moments, all present were agreeing that, yeah man, the IS-F has absolutely killer brakes. And not much else. More »

Feature

12:30 PM on Tue Nov 6 2007
By Jonny Lieberman
5,299 views, 63 comments

Latest by Evander: @Novaload: I just think it all depends on which cars you're comparing. Some AWD cars, though not most, handle superb, with steering feel on par or better than most every RWD car. And it's called a Trunk Monkey! At least that's what more »

engines

Lexus IS-F Engine: Topless and Naked

I mentioned in today's Part 1 of the IS-F review that if you remove the engine cover you're, "Looking at Darth Vader's chest plate, an expansive jumble of wires, black boxes and even more wires." Well, I wasn't kidding. More after the jump.
More »

Feature

3:15 PM on Mon Nov 5 2007
By Jonny Lieberman
3,278 views, 38 comments

jalopnik reviews

Lexus IS-F, Part 1

Remember back 20 years when Mercedes and BMW scoffed at the idea of a Japanese luxury competitor? They weren't alone; basically everyone did. Well, we guarantee those companies are doing anything but scoffing now. This time around, with Lexus going after the Germans' most profitable niche - hottie factory tuners - those old hands and relative newcomer Audi are doing everything but scoffing. We bet they're wishing they've been doing what we've been up to for the past week. That is, driving the holy hell out of a Lexus IS-F prototype to gauge the threat. Well friends, we know the answer, while M, AMG and Audi's RS are (for now) left guessing. But first, let's look at what makes an IS-F more than a just an average IS, starting with what's under the hood. More »

Feature

12:00 PM on Mon Nov 5 2007
By Jonny Lieberman
6,765 views, 45 comments

Latest by Trackback: Nearly every time I turn in a review I get Farago hounding me that it's not manic and passionate as the RS4 review I wrote way back when. more »

special editions

Lexus IS F for the Neiman Marcus Christmas Book

If it's October, it must be time to see what automotive finery will grace the Neiman Marcus Christmas Book. This year ladies who lunch in West Palm, Dallas and Orange County had better hang on to their cocktail bags — it's the IS F Special Build Sedan. Neiman's $68,000 Lexus "fast" comes with an interior design of black with white accent stitching, a unique steering wheel with white leather accents, front headrests embossed with the F logo, hand-polished finish for the wheels and a sequentially numbered Special Build badge. But wait! There's more! You, or the real-estate developer hubby, also get a personalized half-day of pro-driver training compliments of the Skip Barber Racing School, so winding out the 400-hp, 5.0-liter V8 won't be a matter of downing six dirty martinis before turning donuts in the Breakers parking lot. The special IS F will hit the Neiman phone bank at noon (EDT) on October 18. Start dialing early, because these things are harder to get than a seaweed wrap at the Ritz-Carlton without an appointment. More »

7:13 AM on Wed Oct 3 2007
By Mike Spinelli
2,087 views, 14 comments

Latest by NovaloadMissesPolar: $68k (even x 2) is chump change for the N-M crowd. I don't get it.And is it really, really tall or is that Tom Cruise in the background--not actually leaning against the car but over by the fence? And what more »

pebble beach concours

Lexus IS-F Carves Raceway Laguna Seca

We really haven't seen too much of the Lexus IS-F since the meanish blue beastie rolled onto the fog-filled set at the Detroit Auto Show. This past weekend we not only saw a sweet pearl white IS-F, but we witnessed that same IS-F setting the pace for the vintage Can-Am and IMSA racecars on top of shredding some tires between rounds. A couple of IS350 sedans were also on track during the event, which was presented by Toyota. The IS-F, powered by a 5.0-liter directed-injected V8 producing more than 400 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque, carved well ahead of its tires barking Lexus brethren, and sang a sweet V8 song through the quad-tipped exhaust. It really did sound that good. It's a fine appearance of a car we'll likely see in dealerships by early 2008.

2:19 PM on Mon Aug 20 2007
By Mike Bumbeck
10,175 views, 9 comments

Latest by ZCaT: no such thing as perfection. i'm just enjoying the mere fact that we have more and more juicier options to keep the bar rising^^^^^^ i'm betting the new CTS-V will become the new king**** more »

Is an IS coupe in Lexus' future? [Dieselstation via Autoblog]

Comment

news

Yes, Brakes: Lexus Makes Deal with Brembo

If brakes were shoes, Italy's Brembo would be Bruno Magli. (Well, considering there's already a shoe element to brakes, substitute "handbag" for "shoes" and Prada for Bruno Magli. Now go.) Sure, they're quality stoppers, but they're also the best-branded specimens on the market. And Lexus knows it. So it's no surprise Brembo's gotten the contract to provide brakes for the upcoming Lexus IS-F, according to Automotive News. The contract means the production model of the IS-F will get the same clinchers as the IS-F Concept unveiled at the Detroit show this year. It's as obvious a choice for the Lexus F sports line as would be Riddell helmets for the NFL or Matfer baking sheets for the CIA (no, the other CIA). That's because Brembos are already found in the Subaru WRX STi, Mitsubishi Evo, Dodge SRT-8, Audi A8 and Cadillac STS-V. And since the deal's with Toyota, they'll probably end up in ToMoCo's high-end supercar, destined for early next century. – Mike Spinelli More »

2:45 PM on Fri Apr 13 2007
By Mike Spinelli
615 views, 9 comments

Latest by Evander: Brembo's are on the front brakes of Shelby GT-500's too. more »

news

Detroit Auto Show: Lexus IS-F In the Flesh

Our boy Bumbeck stuffed his meaty elbows into journo mugs all morning to nab some shots of the Lexus IS-F, as the company sent it into the entry-supercar ether. Set to arrive in early 2008, the 400+ hp, 5.0-liter V8-powered miniLex will get those Brembos (cross drilled) after all, along with 19" alloys and engine-oil and transmission-fluid coolers and a cylinder head-scavenging oil pump for high g-force driving. No word on price, but we hear ~$50,000 and a pair of Red Sox tickets. More »

12:29 PM on Mon Jan 8 2007
By Mike Spinelli
8,511 views, 15 comments

Latest by jonathanswaley: Nice post. I love the shiny car parts, the metalic blue. Lovely specs. Shame i will never be able to afford one. Jonathan (car parts enthusiast) more »

detroit auto show

Detroit Auto Show: Lexus IS-F Hits Early

It's still a couple hours before Lexus's press event to launch the mondo IS-F, and Automobile's gone and posted the shots and info (guess it helps to have a friend signing the checks). But the vitals on the BMW M3 / Audi RS4 challenger are decent — the 5.0-liter V8 will produce more than 400 hp (still no exact number yet) and 350 lb-ft or torque. But the major bit is the eight-speed tranny lifted from the LS460, with paddle shifters. Official zero-to-60 time is listed as under 4.9 seconds, and brakes are 14.2-inch six pots in the front and 13.6 two pots in the rear (though no word on the rumored Brembo-sourced action.) More to come.
More »

9:37 AM on Mon Jan 8 2007
By Mike Spinelli
3,002 views, 20 comments

Latest by Adam: I seem to be disagreeing with everyone on these concepts. My favorite part was the crazy vent... more »

gossip

The Lexus IS-F, in Glimpse Mode

Too bad we don't have CSI's supercomputer that de-pixelates low-res imagery into super high-res, which the agency relies on to facilitate awkward plot twists. Then we'd get a more accurate picture of the upcoming Lexus IS-F M3 fighter, due for unveiling next week in Detroit. Motor Authority clipped the shots not from some obscure BBS emanating from the Montenegro countryside, but from one of Lexus's own online ads. According to MA, the ad confirms the IS-F's ~400 hp, 5.0-liter V8 and a zero-to-62 mph time of under five seconds. The question is, will this blurry shot be all we see of the IS-F(ast) on the road? – Mike Spinelli More »

10:15 AM on Thu Jan 4 2007
By Mike Spinelli
283 views, 2 comments

Latest by iamjames: Call me when they confirm pricing. The IS has always lead Lexus as the cheapest Lexus car, I'd love to see this go for under 40k. but with my luck the 3.5 will be 30 and the 5.0 will be more »

next »