I know the rumors are currently saying that the 4IS is about 2 years away and supposedly will offer the B58 as one of the engine options at this point but I can't help but look at the G20. I used to have the E90 335i and it was a blast to drive but a monster to own. I got rid of it at about 125k miles. It seems that BMW has done a little better with reliability on the N55 in the E90 and in the F30 models and with the B58 as their forums don't seem to be littered with forums about reliability issues. I still have my doubts but maybe they've improved. I'm watching some of the review videos and walkthrough videos and the car seems pretty well developed with a nice jump from the F30. The infotainment system seems to be a huge jump and the 4IS needs to make a MASSIVE jump to keep up with BMW's infotainment system.

I'm looking forward to seeing what Lexus will do with the 4IS but if they don't take a big enough risk with the 4IS and the Supra doesn't do enough with the GRMN Supra, I might have to go back to BMW with the G20. The M340i hits 0-60 in 4.1 secs, same as the Supra. Another car that I might consider is the next gen RCF but that car is quite pricey and would only be in my price range if I found a dealer willing to knock some serious dollars off the msrp.

So I hope the 4IS grows some in size too because it's just too small for my taste right now. I would love to see the design take some risks and also see the power make a jump too. Besides using the turbocharged B58, I'd like Lexus to either use a new turbo engine that they introduce in the 4IS or maybe even use a returned version of the LS 3.5 v-6 turbo maybe for the top of the line 4IS or pump up the LS 3.5 v-6 turbo for ISF duty.

Anyway, so much is expected to happen in Toyota and Lexus' lineup within the next couple of years that many people are anxiously waiting for their product rollouts from the 4IS, next gen Landcruiser/LX570, 5GS, 3GX, 7gen 4Runner to name a few.

 

What next gen RCF, you mean the face-lifted right? Doubt Lexus will do a second gen for the RC series which may make this small sector of cars a good buy for the long haul since once they stop making the RC/RCF those will become even rarer on the roads than they are today.

I don't see a 4IS with a BMW engine, just a bad rumor. There's some probability Lexus may keep the antiquated 3.5 V6, which they updated for the 2018 MY. What most of us are hoping for is a 2nd gen ISF with the LS500 motor and at a better starting price than the current RCF which is severely overpriced.

 

No chance Lexus will keep the NA 3.5L V6 in the 4IS. Zero. even keeping it THIS gen was a stretch.

As far as the B58 being in the 4IS. I don't see why not.

I agree lexus needs to start taking chances. The competition already had a ton of distance in terms of tech and powertrain and the newest gen they increased that even further. So lexus will need to make HUGE strides to even be considered to be on the same playing field, let alone directly compete.

 

As the typical Lexus fanboy would say :" Lexus marches to their own drums" or something like that. I hope you're right but I don't see Lexus going head to head with the competition anyway. I know the ES isn't the IS but the ES has the same 3.5 liter engine that's been updated with higher output.

For the 4IS, all i expect to see is Apple Car-play, power folding mirrors and electric parking brake lol, Lexus deliberately held these options back to debut them on the 4IS. There is zero reason why they could not have updated the Navi in 2017 to the newer version when they did the facelift. The Germans would not have done this, look at the face lifted C class. Therefore, the fanboys are correct, Lexus really does whatever they want regardless of what the competition does or would have done in a similar situation.

The current IS350 is about equal in acceleration to the F30 330i; Look at the 8AR-FTS, it's a lousy engine, while it's turbo it can't hold a candle to the competition's 2.0 turbo motors. That alone should quell your hopes for a non "F" 4IS going head to head with the B58.