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More 2011 Lexus IS F Details


Lexus Europe has released further details on the 2011 Euro-spec IS F, which will be getting a number of exterior & interior design changes for the new year:

  • 5.0 litre V8 is now Euro 5 compliant
  • The HID headlights will get getting the arrowhead LED daytime running light strip
  • New Starlight Black exterior color
  • Dark silver fibre insets
  • Contrast stitching changed from white to blue
  • Revised seat design
  • New steering wheel
  • LFA-inspired instrument panel

Here’s the full photo gallery:

The biggest change has to be the new instrument panel, which is dominated by a massive tachometer:

2011 Lexus IS F Instrument Panel

With no way to swap the tachometer & speedometer dial position, I was somewhat lukewarm on the new IP — until I saw the digital speed display, a feature I absolutely love.

Great update — I’ve included all the European details after the jump.

• Euro 5 compliant 5.0 litre V8
• Enhanced exterior and interior design
• Revised instrument cluster for greater clarity

Powered by a Euro 5 compliant, 5.0 litre V8 engine generating over 300kW at 7000rpm and 500Nm.ft of torque at 5200rpm and mated to an 8-speed Sports Direct Shift (SPDS) automatic transmission with manual, paddle shift override, Lexus’ ultra-high performance sports saloon, the IS F, is capable of accelerating from 0-100 km/h in just 4.7 seconds and on to an electronically governed top speed of 270 km/h.

Building on a range of technical enhancements introduced last year, including the incorporation of a Limited Slip Differential which offers a marked improvement in traction and stability levels during high speed cornering, the 2011 Lexus IS F has been further enhanced through both exterior and interior upgrades.

It now features High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps with integral, arrowhead, LED Daytime Running Lamps (DRL). The choice of exterior colours has been expanded with a new Starlight Black GF finish.

On board, the IS F benefits from new dark sliver fibre inserts, and a change of contrasting stitching for the leather upholstery from white to blue. A revised front seat design offers improved driver support, and a new steering wheel improves grip and feel.

A new driver’s instrument design repositions the tachometer, speedometer and shift indicator within the binnacle for instant legibility and maximum clarity during high speed driving. The large, centrally positioned tachometer incorporates a rev indicator to help enhance gear shift operation characteristics. The rev indicator illuminates in three steps –at 5000 rpm, at 5500 rpm and at 6200-6550 rpm, depending on the gear step.

EuropeFeaturesInteriorsLexus IS F: First GenerationPhoto GalleriesUnited Kingdom
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  • J
    Jamil
  • September 17, 2010
"First Drive: 2011 Lexus IS F" "You'll have to look very closely to see the on-the-surface differences made to the refreshed 2011 Lexus IS F, which is slated to make its world debut at this month's 2010 Paris auto show. In fact the only revision to the IS F's exterior are newly fitted LED driving lights, supposedly added to make the Lexus easier to spot at high speeds (and not to follow the Audi-led trend). Working within a tight budget, chief engineer Yukihiko Yaguchi tells us that he was basically happy with the car's exterior styling and that he placed far more importance on "taking the IS F to the next level in handling and ride quality." Good idea, because the IS F was certainly in need of some next level work in that area. With its throaty exhaust note, the IS F is a beast, packing a 416 horsepower, 5.0-liter V-8 mated to an 8-speed, flappy-paddle gearbox. But pushed hard, the car's chassis would become unsettled, especially at the rear end. That is not the case with the 2011 revision, which squats nicely in the corners and hangs on like an angry pit bull. Behind the wheel of a pre-production Australian-spec model at Fuji Speedway recently, we were more than impressed at the improvements that Yaguchi and his team have made to the car's high-speed cornering stability. Although the powertrain and the car's 3800-lb curb weight remain the same, the suspension settings have been totally recalibrated. The combination of spring rate revisions and dampers, fitted with new high performance valves in addition to reinforced suspension member connectors and bushes, permit more front-end suspension stroke yet firm up the rear end. This generates greater traction and stability at high speeds. An unexpected byproduct of this revision is the car's more compliant ride, which Yaguchi says "was a bonus but something we aimed for." Adjustments to the steering power-assist mechanism made for more precise and accurate turn-in as well as greater feedback through the wheel. The results are that the 2011 IS F can now be pushed even harder into corners; it stays more composed under heavy braking, at turn-in, and while experiencing changes of road camber and elevation. The IS F also exhibits less understeer and more rear wheel grip and stability. In fact, the rear end is now so tied down that a slight enhancement of front-end downforce might generate even greater all-round traction and stability. The new model laps the 2.8-mile Fuji Speedway in 2 minutes, 3.4 seconds -- nearly two seconds faster than its predecessor -- thanks to Yaguchi's subtle, yet substantial, modifications. To elevate the driving experience even further, Yaguchi completely rethought the instrumentation layout and borrowed design hints from well-known sports cars like Porsche and Ferrari. As a result, the IS F now features a large, centrally located tachometer which spins to a 6800-rpm redline, along with a newly added gear selector and speed gauge. To the right of the tach is a smaller analog speedometer, which Yaguchi says is "...a novelty, just there to show potential buyers that the car is capable of 300 kmh (186 mph). Another idea borrowed from Europe's hottest sports cars (ahem, BMW) is the newly fitted shift indicator situated inside the top half of the tachometer. While accelerating hard and concentrating on nailing the right lines around a track, a row of lights illuminate within your lower peripheral vision and make it far easier to sense on-the-limit engine revs than in the outgoing model. This new system lights one orange LED at 5000 rpm, another at 5500 rpm and a "shift now" red light at 6500 rpm. "And don't worry, we did not fit automatic up-shifts. The driver has to change gears, even bouncing off the redline," stresses Yaguchi. Yet another strategic addition (that you won't find on export models, unfortunately) is the 'circuit mode,' a la the Nissan GT-R. It may not mean anything to you, but it does illustrate just how much effort Yaguchi and Co. have put into the revised IS F. Now fitted with a hi-tech GPS sat-nav device programmed with Japan's 14 registered race tracks, the IS F will automatically disengage its 180 kmh (112 mph) speed limiter (all Japanese domestic cars come equipped with such a speed limiter) when the vehicle enters a race track. After the track session, and only if the driver so desires, the system will send the vehicle's lap times to a central dealer database accessible by all IS F owners, thus setting up a platform for bragging rights to best laps. Neat trick... So, when will we see this bright-eyed, better-handling IS F? We'll likely know more during the Paris show press days (Sept. 30-Oct. 1), but we expect to see the revised model here soon. After all, Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda, an ardent racing fan who has piloted a Lexus LFA in the 24-hours of Nurburgring, says he wants to add more "fun" to his cars. And where better to start than with one of the company's highest performing vehicles?" http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/1009_2011_lexus_is_f_drive/index.html

J