Daily Slideshow: Wide Body Twin Turbo IS-F Might Be the Boogeyman
Though the Lexus IS-F has been discontinued a few years ago the car remains quite a beast for what started life a barrel-chested grocery runner.
We can rebuilt it...we have the tech
Brian Fox, owner of Fox Marketing and operator of a successful graphical design business owns this turbocharged IS-F. As a matter of fact, his graphical company is responsible for designing and building custom cars such as an IS-F to use at SEMA back in 2008. Then in 2012, Brian wanted another IS-F and this time it would be even crazier than the previous one he and his team had created. So right when a local dealership was able to source one it went straight from the dealership, sans test drive, to the shop to be stripped down.
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No one has ever complained about too much power
Upon receiving the car at the shop the first thing that got modified was the performance capabilities. From the factory, these sedans came with a 5.0-liter V8 with 416 horsepower but that only served to be a good baseline for what the car was capable of. The team went ahead and set out to implement a rear mounted twin turbo setup that was similar to the one that they had built on the 2008 SEMA car. So, in went a Turbonetics GTK-350 turbochargers that were installed in a custom rear mounted config at the back of the car with a pair of 38mm wastegates.
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So I don't need to cram everything under the hood?
Apparently running a setup like this gives you a response that's super crisp with an 8-speed automatic transmission as well as no heat issues or space constraints under the hood. Everything is out and contained in the back. To keep things cool is a Yonaka Motorsports dual-core intercooler while more Tonaka T-304 stainless piping is used throughout the turbo and intercooler system. That automatic transmission I mentioned a bit ago has been left unmodified aside from some well needed Amsoil automatic transmission fluid.
>>Join the conversation about this Wide Body Twin Turbo IS F right here in Club Lexus Forum.
You gotta look the part too
From the previous build that was done, Fox and crew had the old turbo kit that was updated to fit the 2012 car which facilitated a fabrication and installation time of about two weeks. When the Lexus gets gassed up with VP100 street legal racing fuel and running at 6 psi it puts out 550 horsepower from a stock block!
For the exterior of the vehicle, Brian handed the IS over to his go-to body shop R Miller Autobody for some needed aggression to match the new performance. R Miller then began what would become a complete overhaul that would include a modified front bumper, side skirts, and a rear bumper. The width and stance were changed by way of custom sheet metal fender flares at all four corners that widened proportions by 2 inches.
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This would look great in a showroom
The bumpers and side skirts were all plastic welded in order to match the new fender flares. “Whenever possible I like the idea of using the same materials as the manufacturer. We built the car to look as it should have from the factory,” Brian explained. After all the bodywork was completed, the IS-F got sprayed down in a deep hue of BASF R-M Onyx Black Pearl Paint.
For the wheels, Brian and Co. went with a set of 20-inch FS Flux from iForged with a flat-black face and gloss black lips. The wheel setup is a staggered one with a 9.5-inch wide pair in the front and a chunky 11.5-inch wide pair in the rear. To keep things planted on the ground are Toyo T1R Toyo tires at all four corners are wrapped around those FS wheels. For that nice ride height that you see the IS sitting on is courtesy of Road Magnet performance lowering springs that help to eliminate any fender gap that may have interfered with the stance.
>>Join the conversation about this Wide Body Twin Turbo IS F right here in Club Lexus Forum.
Living that South Beach life
When the IS-F was all done Brian posted some photos on the shop's Facebook page and almost immediately a message came through from an enthusiast who wanted to buy it. Brian at first was admittedly hesitant but as they say, everyone has a number that's too good to pass up. So, upon altering the interior to Alpine White at the request of the buyer the IS-F was buttoned up and sent off to live a new life down south in Miami.
>>Join the conversation about this Wide Body Twin Turbo IS F right here in Club Lexus Forum.
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