Will the F Sport Continue To Be Inspired by Corvette?
After a lengthy interview with the chief engineer of the Lexus LS division, it became rather evident that his inspiration comes from the early Corvette C3.
The Exterior Design
When Toshio Asahi was asked about his favorite thing on the new Lexus F Sport, his answer was clear, he loved the exterior styling the most. He explained his fascination with the fact that it's a sedan that looks like a coupe. He also added that the exterior is emotional, and sexy, with a strong presence and structure.
When you think of Corvettes, you think about how sexy it is, and you definitely think about its presence, as you can identify one from a mile away.
Power
If the F-Sport is truly inspired by the Corvette, we would notice some serious power. Well, the LS F-Sport is equipped with a V6 Twin-Turbo engine, which produces 415 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque. This family car turned performance machine can go from 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. The 3.5-liter V6 engine produces similar power to the V8 engine, except it's more economical. Closer to the power numbers of the 2020 Stingray is the LC 500 which produces 471 horsepower and 398 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 RPMs.
While the F-Sport might not be as powerful as the Corvette, it's rather close as far as a sedan goes.
Bad Guys?
When Asahi was asked about the headlights, he explained that he and his team were going after a "bad guy" look. They didn't want a boring flagship model, instead, they gave the Lexus F-Sport an edgy look, just to make it a little bad. When we think of the Bad Boy of cars, we must pay respect to the legendary Corvette, especially its edgy headlights that have been a symbol of American-muscles for years.
F-Sport Sex Appeal
The interviewer asked Asahi about what he thinks will appeal to men and women about the F-Sport, and he replied that the men will appreciate the stance of the F-Sport, as well as its performance and presence, which is the very same reason everyone loves the Corvette. As for the women, he believes the sexy, flowing lines will be most appealing. It is becoming apparent that the reasons the chief engineer of the Lexus LS division thinks the car is most appealing are exactly what the all-American Corvette is famous for.
Toshio Asahi's Love for Corvette
When Asahi, was asked if he owns a Corvette, he said that he is unable to purchase one in Japan. However, his biggest automotive inspiration is, in fact, the Corvette C3. He explained that when he was in high school, his love for the Corvette meant that he is passionate about all cars and that he would one day have a career in the automotive industry. His high school dreams are a reality, and thanks to his Corvette inspiration, we now have a Lexus masterpiece. However, the dawn of the new mid-engine 2020 Stingray will there be an even more focused F Sport to keep up the Vette?
Check out the full interview with Toshio Asahi HERE.
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