Hey Everyone I know it's way to early since the 08's are just getting in? Do you think it's better to hold til 09 while the bugs are worked out? Anyone see any changes like hp/tq increase, interior and/or exterior changes for the next model year? Honest opinions are welcome.....

 

well, it's about 6 months too early for this question imo... many dealerships have not even seen an IS-F yet. im gonna say they definitely won't be making any mechanical or cosmetic changes for 2009

 

with the rising gas prices.. i hope they come out w/ the IS-Fh for 2009.

 

Lexus very seldom makes changes in hp/tq, body, etc in the first three years. IMO the only thing you're likely to gain is fixes to any issues discovered once there are enough production cars on the road to identify them or minor tweaks (example on the 2IS is a traction control off button or antenna).

Only example I can think of that came about sooner than that is 3rd gen GS engine switching from GS300 to GS350 - that was more likely to align engines across models (cost reduction) once the IS350 was released.

 

I definitely wouldn't count on that. The word is that they want to eventually spread the hybrid technology across all of the models. If they were to do an IS hybrid, it would more than likely be based off of a normal IS250. Maybe different engine than the 250, but I doubt it would have the extra features that the IS-F has. If they were to do that, more people would buy the hybrid, and the normal IS-F would flop. Its all about marketing for them.

 

I would like the addition of a 5th seat.

 

If anything for the 2009 models....
more exterior colours
Tungsten Pearl
Glacier Frost Mica
Golden Almond Metallic
Breakwater Blue Metallic
Desert Sage Metallic
Black Sapphire Pearl

additional interior colours
Cashmere leather
Sterling leather

More Accessories Options
New Rims


As for hp and other engine related things, it should be the same for the next 3 years

 

+1 I'm not entirely sure why they did that (load reasons?) but it seems a silly concession. A family of 5 always gets the shaft whether at restaurants, hotels or in an IS-F.

 

There's always the trunk.

 

There's probably going to be minor exterior changes to coincide with a minor refresh of the IS250/IS350. The IS should be getting a refresh next year, midcycle just like the 08 GS got. So the IS-F should follow along and get whatever minor tweaks the IS line gets. This is speculation of course.

 

I would like to see the polished wheels, a tan leather interior and maybe a rear sunshade for the kiddies . I hope lexus is noticing that the US marktet has a good demand for the polished wheels! Just in time for my ISF purhcase hopefully

 

Lexus only included 4 seats, because they wanted the rear seats to be supported bucket seats as well, in order to keep all passengers firmly planted through hard turning.

 

Possible changes next year or 2010:


-More options for interior trim, possibly black carbon fibre, or even polished black

-An optional wheel choice


Aside from that, I can't think of much more that would change so soon.

 

Does the IS-F have air cooled front seats? I recall only heated, perhaps they'll add that for next year if the seats are heated only.

 

Heated seating only. According to Lexus, the sport seat by design was not made to have the ventilated portion available with the heating. For whatever reason, the Japanese engineers decided it wasn't something they can put together on the F sport seat.