As you may have heard, Lexus announced the IS500 F-Sport yesterday with the same engine as the LC producing 472hp/395tq. It is estimated to weigh 3890 lbs which makes it 500 lbs lighter than the LC! Physics tells me, that car may be faster than the LC. What do you think? Does this signal that the future LC is going to get a significant power bump? I know they are apples to oranges, but would this take away some LC sales? Curious to know what you guys think.

 

The rumor is that the next LC is going to be an LC F with a 4.0L V8 twin turbo engine making 660 HP, which should be ample enough to move the car to new level of performance. The rumor is it will do 0-60 in the mid to low 3 secs.

 

if the LC stays around, i would expect a power bump in the next year or two.

 

What caught my attention was why are they calling it a F-Sport and not a F. So given some thought here's my prediction. The "F" will be reserved for the LC-F and IS-F with V8 TT later this year or 2022

 

I am curious what would happen to existing LC500 values if the IS500 F-Sport comes out ....

 

2 totally separate vehicle classes.
So, not much.

 

^^^^Well not so sure I came from an ISF. When I was searching for my next ride I considered the RCF for about ½ a minute The GSF was too big If there had been an ISF at the time, I would have considered it The 2UR-GSE is a special engine IMHO and my engine of choice.

Lou

 

You are right, they are diff vehicles. But if the flagship coupe is slower than the small sedan (4 seats) and half price, would it not make a dent in LC500 sale and resale values? I would think so. Personally, I am waiting for used 2019 LCs which may be available the same time as the new 2022 IS500s late this year, so I will definitely test drive the IS500 too.

 

To me I was looking for luxury with gorgeous styling. I wouldn't care if the IS had 900hp it is not something I would ever cross shop

with the LC 500. I looked at amg gt 4 door , Audi a7, Porsche panamera and the bmw 8 series.. Ultimately couldn't be happier with my choice.

 

If you read the threads on Car Chat, the IS 500 may sell less than my NSX

I am intrigued at the idea of Lexus actually did create an F Sport with increased power relative to the other versions of the car

F Sport has been mostly a fashion statement and really low on substance to me.

I have no issue with not doing the boy racer bodywork and seats that uncomfortable for chubby old drivers like me

I actually prefer that they promoted Enkie branded wheels (likely the mfg of the other regular IS wheels) and didn't go with the in and out of bankruptcy over priced BBS stuff.

 

I completely agree here. Historically, F-Sport has been an aesthetic (and at times handling) upgrade. This time around, they decided to rename it into F Sport Performance (similar to how BMW went with M Performance and MB went with AMG line), and give it a power upgrade. This leads me to believe that there's additional room for the F branded vehicles now, as they cannot put the same engine into them. Therefore, it leaves the rumored 4.0L TT V8 to be potentially fitted into future F branded vehicles, which would include, LC F, LS F and LQ F? Unless Lexus doesn't have plans in continuing their F branded line of performance vehicles moving forward (which I highly doubt at this point).

 

with all due respect to you and anyone else, you're interested in a used LC which is of little value to lexus really. will the IS500 F-Sport Performance affect new LC sales? I doubt it. A) they're VERY different vehicles despite sharing an engine. B) the LC also has a convertible version. C) someone interested ONLY in the engine would never have bought a new LC in the first place.

 

there's article in the alternate lexus discussion group lexus enthusiast claims the LC and LS F versions will be offered up for 2022 with twin turbo 4.0 L V8 punching in at 660hp...
i'm not savy enough to know how to link, so maybe someone else is....

 

^^^^You mean this one from three weeks ago:

https://lexusenthusiast.com/2021/02/...uct-onslaught/


Lou

 

cool, louie, thats the one....660 in the LC sounds scary