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" /> Lexus IS F SPORT with Rear Wheel Steering Now Available in Japan – Lexus Enthusiast | Lexus Enthusiast

Lexus IS F SPORT with Rear Wheel Steering Now Available in Japan


Lexus now offers the IS F SPORT with the Dynamic Handling System (DHS), which includes four-wheel steering — Motoring Australia spoke with IS chief engineer Junichi Furyama about the performance advantages this technology has over similar AWD systems:

“All-wheel drive tends to be heavier and the behaviour tends to be understeer,” he explained via an interpreter. “Also in the cornering, the vehicle doesn’t respond to the driver’s intention.

“So I think FR (front-engine rear-wheel drive) base is better and with this system you can turn the steering wheel at the corner more naturally.”



Intriguingly though, while DRS and LDH was judged suitable for F Sport models, Furyama said it wouldn’t feature on future higher-performance cars such as the next IS F.

“The objective of LDH is for a certain level of drivers who are enthusiastic drivers, but not necessarily professional drivers, and they should be able to drive well with LDH. On the other hand the drivers of F like to do the drifting while driving on the circuit. So what we are targeting is different.”

Here’s a video showing the same system equipped on a GS:

Lexus executives in Australia are pushing for DHS in the IS F SPORT mid-cycle refresh, and if successful, the country would be in rare company — Lexus International product and strategy general manager Matthew Callachor explains the dilemma for most markets:

“It’s one of the things we are looking at. It’s not to say it won’t come but it’s a model by model thing and we have to look at the cost as well. It’s not a particularly cheap thing so it’s a case of what the market is prepared to pay.”

Read the full story at Motoring Australia

F SPORTJapanLexus IS: Third Generation
Comments
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    corradoMR2
  • March 25, 2014
Would have loved to have this option available on the IS now...
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    jezze
  • March 25, 2014
man america is so left out on everything
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    Travis
  • March 25, 2014
Someone please review this car ! Epic addition to a cat that already handles well.
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    Levi
  • March 26, 2014
So does 2 questions: 1. Does the RC-F have rear-wheel steering? 2. Will there be an IS-F?
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    Andyl
  • April 7, 2014
Krew, actually I find your title a bit misleading and I think it needs to be clarified. Rear wheel steering or in a more broad sense, the LDH ( Lexus Dynamic Handling) has been available and is a standard feature on the F Sport IS350 RWD sold in Japan since Day 1. This is according to lexus.jp web site as well as on their IS brochure.

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