LexFather

I just pray the 8 speed auto is engaging, or reviews will be just like the IS 350.... "needs a manual"

Tekknikal

with lexus pricing i think its fair enough to compare the is-f to the m3, gt-r, etc. as a buyer you'd be considering the others anyway.

btw- 1sicklex- theyll say that no matter how engaging the auto is.

MPLexus301

iTrader: (3)

I wonder if or how it will differ based on the Japanese power ratings and emission standards.

Even if it doesn't, 417hp isn't bad. Wish it was higher, but it's better than the 409 people were throwing around for a while.

PhilipMSPT

iTrader: (5)

417 is good with me...

plex

iTrader: (11)

I hope the motor will respond well to mods

Ramon

I highly doubt it will give the C63 a run for it's money. Not with a 40hp deficit and 70ft/lbs less torque. Assuming roughly equal weight, my money is on the car with the additional 40/70 and one fewer ratio.

MMD

The C63 is just one of the cars that I'll seriously consider if the IS-F comes in at $60,000-plus (OTD).

Lexus may sell all the IS-Fs they can make given the limited quantities but I probably won't be an early adopter if the prices are that high. I have been planning on being one of the first but I'll wait and see the GT-R, the C63 and even the M3 and others before I spend that kind of money on a performance edition of the IS350.

AlexusAnja

I understand your point, that this segment is just one big "who can pee further" contest, but I'd rather see..

"The IS-F, with the least HP of the group, behind the C63, M3, and RS4, has the quickest 0-60, 1/4 mile, and slalom time of the group."

than

"The IS-F, although second most powerful amongst the four, was slowest to 60 and third on the track."

I think proving in performance number will turn heads and show "hey, this car is really ENGINEERED well..."

Ramon

I'm sure that's what you'd rather see, but that isn't going to happen.

05RollaXRS

p.s. Wearing the flame suit, but to explain how wheel torque works since HP is only the amount of work done over time.

That is a European/Japanese dynograph where M3 is rated at 420 HP.

So far the best tested numbers so far for M3 is 0-60 mph in 4.3 seconds and 1/4 mile in 12.5 seconds@113 mph by Auto magazine Italy, which is not bad for a 3610 lbs luxury non-supercar.

If you look at the dyno curve closely, it is spread-out so it makes the curve "seem" falling off steeply below 3000 rpm.

It still make atleast 365 Newton meters between 1800 rpm and 8100 rpm, which is 90% of it's total torque. 365 NM = 267 ft-lbs of torque. So above 1800 rpm uptill 8300 rpm, it will be making atleast 267 ft-lbs of torque to a maximum of 295 ft-lbs of torque.

That is what a massive powerband is called where 90% of the torque is being produced between 1800 - 8300 rpm for a 6500 rpm rev range.

Not to mention the 3.91 rear end final drive (thanks to the ability of manual transmission for handling high stress) while here is the equation:

Wheel torque = crank torque X (total transmission ratio i.e. gear ratios, final etc.)

Curb weight of the car.

That explains why a Porsche 911 GT3 with 299 ft-lbs of torque and 415 HP runs a 3.9 second 0-60 and 12.0 seconds 1/4 mile.

IS-F while the 373 ft-lbs of peak torque is very impressive for a 3750 lbs car, with a tall 8 speed gear automatic stack, 6800 rpm redline and 2.1 rear axle ratio, it will need to make best use of the crank torque to be fast in a straight line.

One more reason for me to be frustrated by Toyota/Lexus relentless efforts to kill all manual transmission cars by not even offering it as an option.

combfilter

iTrader: (3)

Does anyone know the official Redline? I am doing some calculations here.

btw the weight will be 3718lbs

NINEZeRO

maybe they are understating the hp like BMW

Hazelrah

Reuters claims 423 hp here: http://www.reuters.com/article/tnBas...17344420071004

Also this Motortrend forum post (which cites the Toyota press release) now says "Actually it's 423hp not 417" but I'm not sure where they're getting it from: http://forums.motortrend.com/70/6429...3-f/index.html

starfree

According to http://lexus.jp/models/isf/spec/spec.html, the weight of IS-F (without a moon roof) is already 1690kg (3755 lbs!!). The footnote said even more increase by 20kg (44.4lbs) when the moon roof is added. I am not sure that it will be also true for IS-F in US but this is a sad news anyway...

05RollaXRS

Figures on the toyota.co.jp are for Japanese local market. Cars in Japan are always rated a tad higher because of relaxed emissions regulation.

With the emissions equipment on to meet the regulations for US market, 417 HP in Japan/Europe will translate to around 409 - 411 HP.

p.s. Redline as per specs is at 6800 rpm.