“F” Marks The Lexus Spot!
January 8, 2007 – Detroit, MI – Over the years, Lexus has relentlessly
and passionately been at work pursuing perfection. It all started with the
first flagship vehicle internally known as Circle F, then evolved to Flagship
One or F1, which we all have grown to admire as the LS. Now, the gears have
shifted into a new direction and the ball is definitely in the Lexus court.
which the Lexus brand was unveiled to the world during the North American
International Auto Show (NAIAS). Eighteen years later, on January 8, 2007,
Lexus brought their cards to the table and unveiled their newest artillery in
the “
The “F” Status
The Europeans have always
been known for their factory tuned performance line. Over the years, our Lexus
enthusiast crowd has always envied and appreciated the European competition
with their “M” & “AMG” performance lines. Now Lexus has turned our dreams of
a performance line into a reality. Their interpretation of the upper echelon
factory tuned performance is the “F” marque of vehicles. Now what the “F” does
that stand for? We all can come to our own conclusions, but terms like but not
limited to “Flagship”, “Fast”, “Fabulous”, “Fantastic”, “Flying” and “First
Class” come to mind. The first of the Lexus “F” marque are represented by two
vehicles from each end of the spectrum. One a luxury exotic performance car
known as the LF-A and the other a high performance luxury sport sedan called
the IS-F.
The Experience
On Monday morning, the day
of the press release, we were invited by Brian Bolain of Lexus Marketing to get
a behind the scenes peek of the LF-A & IS-F pre-press release run through.
Upon entry of the darkened Riverview Ballroom, we first hear a distinct sound
of an engine being revved up several times coming from behind the black
curtains. At the same time, the stage crew perfected the volume for the music
and lighting for the cars. The stage crew cued the faux wall covering the LF-A
v.2. Bob Carter greeted us and walked us over to the new LF-A. No one outside
of Lexus knew about the unveiling of a revised LF-A and we sure were shocked
when we saw it for the first time. We knew about the LF-A being at the release
prior to arriving in
but we did not know what was to come about. We chatted with Mr. Carter for a
few minutes and then he had to get ready for the presentation. The stage was
reset and we were given choice of seating anywhere in the room before the press
was let inside the room. After choosing a spot left of center stage, the doors
were opened, and the once empty room was filled with press from all over the
world. The room quickly became standing room only as the credentialed press
were the only ones allowed to sit down, everyone else had to stand. It is very
interesting and enlightening to see the fast work of the stage crew and the
execution of the presentation from start to finish. It is definitely a first
class operation on its own.
During the press release, ooohs
and ahhhs echoed the Riverview Ballroom at the
during the unveiling of the LF-A and IS-F. The sound of camera shutters
chattering and the strobe flash effects of the press cameras filled the room. Photographers
and media from all over the world quickly jumped to the stage to take a closer
look of the new Lexus goodies after the presentation ended. I followed shortly
after the crowd slowly dispersed. Being the representative for the enthusiast
group in the room full of credentialed press, I was given the opportunity to
sit in the new IS-F while the press was only allowed to take photographs of the
vehicle. Upon my entry to the car, I was told by one of the stage crew that I
could not sit in the vehicle. Mr. Carter quickly turned around and said “No,
it’s okay!” and they let me proceed. I breathed a sigh of relief as I was still
in shock of witnessing a live Lexus press release and given the green light to
absorb and observe the new IS-F’s interior. That was truly a memorable moment.
After all the press left the room, we were given a special opportunity to record
the V8 sound of the new IS-F. The driver started the car and the IS-F’s 5.0L V8
came to life. He revved it a couple
times for us to hear. A healthy and burly roar came of the 5.0L V8 via the quad
exhaust tailpipes. It is hard to imagine that this idea of a V8 in an IS was
just a dream not too long ago.
LF-A
The luxury exotic concept
known as the LF-A was first introduced to us 2 years ago at the ’05 NAIAS.
Knowing how important it is to make a statement in the automotive world, the
engineers at Lexus unveiled a version two (v.2) of the LF-A. The new v.2 LF-A
was massaged and re-sculpted with a sexier interpretation of the L-Finesse
design language. More defined curves and lines accentuate the front fascia of
the car. The sculpted lines of the car blend smoothly across the sides. The
rear is defined with a wide beltline at the quarter panels. The signature
tri-tip exhaust remains from the original concept vehicle. Headlight
illumination is provided by high intensity multi-LED housings. With the
newfound aerodynamics, the styled air scoops funnel air into the mid engine V10
which will deliver 500 plus horsepower to the wheels. The F1 racecar-like, high
revving V10 will be able to effortlessly transport the LF-A into the 200 MPH
realm, a definite first for Lexus. Stopping power is aided by large diameter
cross drilled rotors and large caliper brakes. This luxury exotic performance
car is currently a concept which is starting to look more like reality. As we
hear and read stories of the LF-A in heavy camouflage testing in
to deliver the goods. We know this is going to be a reality, but it is now just
a matter of where and when the first production LF-A will be delivered.
The refreshed LF-A v.2 looks
a lot better than the first interpretation. The first LF-A concept was bold and
new but lacked a front fascia that translated into a recognized exotic. After
going under the knife, the new and more appealing and rounded lines gives the
car a lot more character. The rounded design almost gives a hint of the MKIV
JZA80 Supra. From a side vantage point, the LF-A looks as if the nose points
out more than the lower air dam section. Overall the styling has improved
dramatically since the first version and we can only hope the LF-A’s styling
will stay bold and exotic upon production.
What it IS
The IS has historically been
the sport sedan for the enthusiast. Superb handling, clean cut styling and all
around balanced performance were the key ingredients to a field dominated by
the BMW 3 series. Many have complained that the first IS has been underpowered
at the beginning. Lexus quickly remedied that by offering the 2nd
generation IS with a very quick 306 HP IS350 recently. The performance of the
IS350 has definitely been chart topping and record breaking from the start.
In the past, Lexus has
teased us with a Rod Millen Motorsports (RMM) prepped V8 IS, where a 4.3L V8
was transplanted from a GS430 sedan sporting a 6 speed getrag manual transmission
from the legendary MKIV JZA80 Supra was shoehorned into the 1st
generation IS chassis. Not too long ago, which was exactly about this time last
year, our friend Brad Nelson of Lexus Motorsports who was also in charge of the
RMM IS430 project hinted at, “interesting things to come” after the Team Lexus
prepped BASF Carizzma Blue Pearl IS350 was displayed at last years ‘06 NAIAS in
Detroit. The Lexus accessory HKS Exhaust & ground effects kit, large big
brakes, a custom suspension that gave a nice low aggressive stance, 19” BBS
wheels and a custom interior was a package that made everyone stand back in
awe. Then in 2006, the Lexus Daytona Prototype race program switched from the
workhorse 3UZ-FE 4.3L V8 to the all new 5.0L V8 which is a larger displacement
version of the 1UR-FSE 4.6L V8 in the all new LS460. That was another indicator
that kept us thinking of what was to come in the future.
Many questions that have
constantly come about were, “Why doesn’t Lexus offer this from the factory?”
and “Why can’t we have a real performance line instead of the now defunct and
weak L-Tuned line?” Knowing that the Lexus slogan is “The Passionate Pursuit of
Perfection”, which world class luxury vehicles are offered to the masses, the
enthusiasts felt as if their needs were not satisfied and would have to resort
to the European marques. The longing desire for a proprietary Lexus performance
line has been a dream of many enthusiasts and car lovers for many years. The 2nd
generation GS400 and the 1st generation IS was a great start, but it
still wasn’t enough to satisfy as there was still something missing. Today,
Lexus has ignited a new fire of enthusiasm with the “F” line. After the years
of hoping and waiting, Lexus definitely was listening. The wait is now over. The answer to the void
is the 400+ HP 5.0L V8 powered IS-F.
IS-F
In the mind of the hungry
car enthusiasts, more power in every aspect is better. Going along with the
American idea, of “bigger is better”, like car enthusiasts, we are greedy,
therefore we want more. It is comforting
to know we aren’t alone, and that there are also engineers who are also enthusiasts
that live in the corporate halls of Lexus. As Lexus Group Vice President and
General Manager, Bob Carter stated during his presentation at the press release
of the IS-F, “They developed this vehicle while endorsing the “Lexus Musts”…Must
be balanced. Must be authentic and most importantly, Must haul ass.” The new
IS-F proves to the world that Lexus is fully capable to build a true
performance product. This project was developed by a “Skunk Works” team of
Lexus engineers that had a desire to build something special. We can thank
Chief Engineer Yukihiko Yaguchi and his team for developing and making a long
awaited dream come to a reality.
The new IS-F is definitely a
vehicle of its own. Chief Engineer Yaguchi made that a point when designing the
IS-F. It is not to be mistaken as an IS500 or even an IS250 or 350 for that
matter. From an outside standpoint, the most obvious features that stand out are
the new larger and muscular front fascia and large air dam. The new side vents
aid the cooling power of the heat generated from the front of the vehicle. The
trick vent integrates smoothly into a side skirt to create a seamless sweep to
the rear. Those who have only seen this car in photos may think the larger
front end and side vents look out of place. In a three dimensional point of
view, the whole front end and sides actually compliment each other and make a
lot of sense.
The heart of this beast is a
5.0L V8 which will yield more than 400 horsepower with more than 350 ft/lb. of torque
and deliver a healthy sub 5 second 0-60 time. These are the best performance
figures given of any Lexus vehicle in history. Derived from the 1UR-FSE 4.6L V8
from the all new LS460, this new 5.0L V8 will satisfy. The new IS-F breathes
out of a free flowing quad exhaust system which gives a bone chilling and
aggressive sound that enthusiasts have been craving for years. A new 8 speed
direct paddle sport shift gear box will keep the new 5.0L V8 in its sweet spot.
The new 8 speed transmission features ultra quick shifts and responsiveness via
the manual mode. Downshifts and upshifts only take 1/10th of a
second to engage. The advanced transmission also will blip the throttle upon
downshifts so the engine RPM’s match the IS-F’s speed. This is something we’ve
definitely been waiting for since the old E-Shift system of the previous IS. We
have been told this transmission is one of the best if not the best that Lexus
has ever offered in their vehicles. Although not a real sequential
transmission, this new transmission should be good enough to rival the
competition. We are a little disappointed that the IS-F does not come with a
manual transmission variant and does not have a mechanical limited slip
differential ( LSD) to evenly distribute the newfound 5.0L V8 power. Knowing
that Lexus has spent countless hours engineering and developing the new 8 speed
automatic transmission and reworking the Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) system into 3 stages of controls which include a normal, sport and a completely off mode. It’s not likely they will mess up a recipe for success. Since we are
all used to the traditional features common in a high performance sports
vehicle (i.e. manual transmission, LSD and etc.), we will reserve our judgment on
the IS-F’s dynamics when we actually get a chance to sit behind the wheel and
drive it. It should be an exciting experience regardless.
The IS-F sits on a tuned
suspension that now finally has an aggressive stance that has almost NO fender
gap, which is a definite thumbs up for the discriminating enthusiast. The
stacked quad tips of the exhaust do look a little awkward for our tastes. We
would have preferred a larger diameter dual tip or even a traditional
horizontal quad tip exhaust. Being the hardcore enthusiasts, we love the feel
and full control of a car. Kudos to Lexus for the large 14.2” front and 13.6”
rear Brembo brake setup. An opposed aluminum six piston caliper front and two
piston caliper rear are necessary to stop the flying IS-F. The factory aluminum forged 19” made by BBS
allows the IS to stay panted to the ground with sticky 255/35R19 tires in the
rear and 225/40R19 tires in the front. This is definitely a stunning array of world
renowned performance modifications for an otherwise factory tuned vehicle
On the outside, the “F”
badges signify the vehicle’s presence on the fenders and the rear. The inside
is also unique to the “F” status, are the embroidered badges on the sides of
the front and rear seats and on the steering wheel. We did not see any floor
mats in the vehicle but we will assume the same embroidered “F” will make its
way for all four foot wells. Blue stitching can be found throughout the seating
surfaces including the steering wheel. There are two choices of interior
leathers for the new IS-F. One is in the traditional black and the other is a
two tone white & black to give a monochromatic look. The white interior may
seem a bit much for the enthusiast, but it is definitely a new, out of the box
interior color for Lexus. One may feel the white interior will be a lot harder
to maintain. There was evidence of that in the IS-F as you can tell the person
driving the vehicle was wearing blue jeans. A big noticable difference in the IS-F’s interior is the black headliner. A lot of enthusiasts have mentioned the traditional light gray headliner threw off the rest of the interior especially with all black leather seating. It will definitely be a hit.
The 4 passenger seat setup is standard on the IS-F. Originally, the 4 passenger seat setup was only reserved for the
Lexus SC and the latest LS460 with the Executive Seating Package. The front
seats are different from the regular IS variant. Larger side bolsters keep your legs and torso
in place during quick maneuvering in the twisties. The familiar heated and
ventilated seats are available with the perforated leather front seating
surfaces. Special chrome shift paddles accent the leather wrapped “F” steering wheel
which is also perforated. Available is a very clean weaved silver carbon fiber
trim accents which are found in the center console and door switch plates. It is definitely a new look for Lexus, but we
hope there will be other interior accent choices offered. Perhaps a genuine
brushed aluminum trim or a black wood option can be equipped. Special blue
indicator needles sweep the faces of the new Optitron gauges which glow nicely
to alert the driver. The usual Lexus luxury amenities are available on the IS-F
including the 5th generation navigation and the signature Mark
Levinson CD/DVD sound system. The IS-F’s interior is definitely comfortable and
intuitive, which is of typical Lexus tradition.
Conclusion
up to the plate and going all out with a specialty line. This car definitely is a great example. Lexus is listening folks! The pursuit began
eighteen years ago as “The Relentless Pursuit of Perfection”. Now it has
evolved into “The Pursuit of Perfection”. They now have produced a special line
that worldwide Lexus enthusiasts can finally be proud of and call their own. It
is almost safe to say Lexus is on the path of “The Pursuit of Performance”. We
can only hope the “F” designation will carry to the other Lexus vehicles in the
line up in the near future. How awesome would
that be when you can say, “Hey, I drive a Lexus GS-F or LS-F!” At the same moment you quickly pass up the
European competition in the lane right next to you. The LF-A and IS-F are
definitely a step in the right direction.
On behalf of Club Lexus and
the Lexus enthusiasts, I would like to personally thank Lexus Group Vice
President & General Manager Bob
Carter, Chief Engineer Yukihiko Yaguchi, Vice President of Lexus Marketing Deborah
Wahl Meyer, Brian Bolain of Lexus Marketing and the rest of the generous and
hospitable staff at Lexus. Thank you for the unforgettable experience and
opportunity.
GALLERY OF PHOTOS:
IS-F & LF-A World Debut – Press Release 2007 NAIAS
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO FOOTAGE OF THE IS-F REVVING:
IS-F Rev Final (YouTube.com)
PRELIMINARY SPECS – LEXUS IS-F (USE20):
(Courtesy of Lexus)
Powertrain
Engine: 5.0 Liter V8 (2UR-GSE)
Estimated Horsepower: More than 400
Estimated Torque: More than 350 lb.-ft.
Transmission: Eight-speed direct paddle sport shift gear box
Brakes
Large diameter cross-drilled discs
Front/Rear: 14.2 inches/13.6 inches
Opposed aluminum calipers
Front/Rear: Six piston/two piston
Wheels
Forged aluminum wheels
Front: 225/40R19 (19 x8)
Rear: 255/35R19 (19 x 9)
Performance
0-60 MPH Acceleration: Under 4.9 seconds
Fuel Economy: TBD
Emissions Rating: ULEV II
Dimensions (inches)
Overall Length: 183.5
Overall Width: 71.5
Overall Height: 55.5
Wheelbase: 107.5
More information:
Future Vehicles: 2008 Lexus IS-F
Article, Photos & Video By: Flipside909
Photos, Video & Article are property of Flipside909 & Club Lexus – A Lexus Owners Club ©
2007
