Aloha,

I am back. I use to own a 2006 IS 350 Sport and sold it a couple of years ago. I now own a 2014 IS 350 F Sport. My question is about the four openings in the front bumper. It is easy to see that two are for brake cooling. Has anyone studied the two small openings to see what they actually do?

Mahalo,
Larry

 

Supposedly they are for brake cooling, as you said, and bringing air to the engine. Read that somewhere but forgot where. They don't seem pipe the air anywhere so at best brake cooling and cool looks.

 

I recall someone posting a photo of their car with the bumper taken off showing how the brake air ducts were routed. Can someone post the link to that? I cannot find that photo.

 

The two big ones are easy to look in and see the brake area but the two small openings you cannot tell where they go or what they do.

 

The two openings on the sides dont lead to anything and are used for fog lights. The openings on on both sides of the grill actually open up into the wheel wells, but don't lead directly to the rotors. They just pump air into that area. I guess they help a little, but I think it's mostly for aerodynamic purposes rather than cooling

 

My answer from Lexus:

Thank you for contacting Lexus Customer Satisfaction. Your concern is important to Lexus, and we appreciate the time you have taken to email us.

"The 2014 IS 350 F Sport boasts a distinct full-faced mesh grille and larger cooling ducts to help reduce brake fade. The smaller ducts are nonfunctional and simply cosmetic. Please refer to the following link for further information on the design of the 2014 IS 350 F Sport, http://www.lexus.com/models/IS/explore/"

It seems like such a waste of good space that could be cold ram air or something useful.

 

The front air inlet on this car is already a cold air intake. It draws air directly from under the hood.

 

Yes, I am aware of that so lets just force it a little more! Why waste those two vents!