Hey Everyone,

I scoured a few pages of the IS500 threads and surprisingly didn’t see anything recent on topics surrounding IS500’s and people looking to boost them (but my apologies if I’ve missed it). I’ve been in talks with RR RACING and they assured me they are working on a supercharger kit presently on the IS500 but wouldn’t tell me much more at this time until it’s released (price, HP potential etc).

I’m going to be purchasing an IS500 this year, likely within the next few months, and am still really unsure if I want to go the “keep everything absolutely original” or to do a slow and steady complete build top to bottom and heavily swap parts out such as brakes, suspension, exhaust, and lastly, power of course.

From everything I have read so far about the 2UR-GSE engine, it’s a marvellous piece of engineering, an exquisite engine. But I do know it has a couple weak spots at least when considering forced induction. High compression ratio, cast pistons, and a very complex VVT system and computer software making it a bit tricky to tune.

Has anybody on here (or somebody you know) already boosted their IS500? If so please elaborate on what you had done to it, if you beefed up any components of the engine, and what kind of boost numbers and HP/TQ you attained.

If I do upgrade and modify this vehicle it would only be with the highest of quality and tasteful parts and I would start with brakes and suspension and chassis first and only towards the end of the build would I consider drastic power upgrades but am really curious to hear what others have done on here. And if so what amount of boost would be “generally safe” for this particular engine. I know typically *most* engines are safe for around 5-7 psi with zero modifications to the engine itself but perhaps this one being a beast of an engine is good for more?

Any info is appreciated 🙂🙏🏻

 

^^ Welcome to the forum and excited to see you will be getting an IS 500 soon. Personally, I would never have such modifications done to my car, especially while the powertrain warranty is still valid. This car has enough power/torque for most daily applications and unless you track this car, I think you should have enough. If you wanna track it, I think the IS 500 is not the best car for that and you should be getting more of a true F car that has been developed with this type of purpose in mind.

My 2 cents

 

Hi there, thank you for your reply.

Not at all looking to track it, or abuse the vehicle in any way. Just looking to make the vehicle better in braking and handling, and a bit more power, perhaps closer to 600-650 flywheel, which could be achieved quite easily on this power train with intake and exhaust work and a small amount of boost. My goal down the road is for it to be a sleeper but a better performer than a stock unit.

I may in fact just decide to keep it entirely stock, but I know there will be enough people out there especially in the states who will boost this V8 to spice it up a bit.

 

I’d buy a different car with more power. I like the fact you can beat the hell out of these cars and they remain reliable. Boosting a high compression engine can be risky when it wasn’t designed for boost. Even with boost you still have the so-so gearbox.

 

I haven't heard of any FI kits for this car until your post about RR Racing developing one. I am in the same boat as the others, I dont feel this is the right application for boost. But if they make a kit and you purchase you will have lots of fans 😁

If I didn't have crazy smog laws I would build a C6Z or even a newer ZL1 Camaro. The C6Z in NA form will outrun a boosted Lexus. The ZL1s will put down serious power as well with minimal mods, especially if you have e85 locally. Neither of those are sleepers, but they sure would be fun!

 

My Lexus dealer had a ZL1 for sale with the 1LE package someone traded in. That's a nice track toy.

 

For sure! I think with our terrible roads it would not be fun as a daily though.

 

That part. 👏🏽🤘🏽

 

I think that a boosted version of this car sounds fantastic, but also, I just don't see a need. I'd agree that I'd rather have something boosted from the factory, with a manufacturer warranty.

 

Fitting sufficient rubber under the fenders and the suspension bits for proper braking and acceleration on this car - if you leave the body panels stock - is the real challenge.

 

The 1LE package isn't a good idea for a daily. I had a 2017 ZL1 without that package, and it was a very comfortable car to drive, even on sub-par roads. Much easier to live with than my GT350 was.