The Kick Ass LexusLexus has been around since 1990. In all that time, not one Lexus car or SUV has been built around serious performance. It's time for a change. Here it is, straight from the Detroit Auto Show, wearing the innocuous sheetmetal of the IS sedan and packing enough V8 thrust to directly challenge BMW's upcoming new M3 for sheer speed. It should challenge that same car for the hearts, minds, and bucks of 28-year-old systems engineers willing to spend most of their income on a small, really fast, luxury sedan.
It's called the 2008 Lexus IS-F and its 5.0-liter V8 is what matters most. Lexus is still being coy about output, pegging it only at 400-ish horsepower. However, it's obviously a member of Toyota's latest UR family of V8s, alongside the 4.6-liter in the LS 460 and the 5.7-liter in the new Tundra pick-up. Our guess is that it will feature direct fuel injection like the LS 460 motor while also taking advantage of a (slightly) longer stroke, as in the Tundra, for better low-end torque. Lexus has promised it will be "topped with specially engineered heads fed by a two-stage intake system." Whatever, this will be the most powerful engine Toyota has sold in America and the first eight-cylinder engine the company has ever built (for road use) with high performance in mind.
Further back, Lexus promises a new eight-speed 'direct sport-shift' transmission. In Drive mode, the torque converter allows for fast standing-start acceleration that will register a zero to 60mph time in less than 4.9 seconds. The tranny also features an advanced Manual mode. Steering column-mounted paddles enable ultra-fast upshifts, while downshifts are accompanied by automated throttle blips to match engine speed with vehicle speed.
Naturally, the rest of the IS-F is fortified to work with this beast of a driveline. Brakes are upgraded to Brembos with cross-drilled 14.2-inch front discs and 13.6-inch rears. The fronts are clamped by six-piston calipers while the rears deploy two. Wheels are 19-inchers, built by BBS to Lexus' specs and suspension has been optimized. The interior is suitably redecorated with such finery as 'aluminized composite trim' (white fiberglass weave under resin).
Here's one piece of particularly good news: Lexus' latest version of its Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) system features three modes. The first mode is Normal, for puttering around town. The second mode, Sport, allows the car to be pushed further before engaging the braking, throttle and steering systems to avoid disaster. Then, third and best of all: Off.
The IS-F will hit dealers early in 2008.