Lexus to Introduce Manual Transmission RC F & IS F?

Posted by Kevin on June 23rd, 2014

Lexus may release a IS F and RC F with a manual transmission, according to recent Motoring Australia interview with Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG) business operations director Rob Leupen:

One project Leupen revealed was the development of what he called a manual-shift gearbox (presumably a dual clutch) for the new generation RC F/IS F drivetrain. He also mentioned development of hybrid technology for the next generation IS F using a manual-shift gearbox.

“That car might be two or three years away but when it does come you will find it has been developed by TMG.”

Considering the source, this could be a major new announcement — offering a manual transmission with the IS F & RC F would be a huge boost to Lexus’ performance credibility, especially if it’s a new dual-clutch gearbox. If true, this would be very exciting news.

(Also, did Leupen just confirm that there will be a new IS F?)

[Source: Motoring Australia]

Comments

C
codenamejanrei
June 23, 2014

Finally, they will be releasing a next-gen IS F!!!

W
Winston
June 23, 2014

it's only common sense

J
jezze
June 23, 2014

Dual clutch is fine enough, manual ruins the look with the leather cover or housing

C
Crux
June 23, 2014

Seriously?

J
Jason Guo
June 23, 2014

I used to not like that either, but I'm getting the hang of it, especially the way Lexus does it!

A
Ayo DocMkize
June 23, 2014

Yes Lexus yes ISF or RCF Manual option is 100% Welcomed. Hope their consider the RC200t first manual option for the Lex coupe.

C
Crux
June 23, 2014

This is big. Thank goodness!

H
Hamed Al Sayes
June 24, 2014

I feel like you're Lexus FAN but you're hiding it :3

C
Crux
June 24, 2014

Lol. I actually am. Huge TMG and Lexus groupie, even though i have Bavarian, Munich made cars. Just waiting for the right one (GS F, IS F) with comparable or higher powertrain to add. #PerfectCombo

K
kr_metal
June 24, 2014

Just be a fan of everything! You'll never be disappointed :)

C
Crux
June 25, 2014

Can't. Just like in sports you don't cheer for Arsenal & Chelsea, 49ers & Raiders or Giants & Dodgers. Anti VAG group, hard since they own lambo & porch. Greatest Fan on hating them.

H
Hamed Al Sayes
June 27, 2014

Than come on I'm sure you can change your picture :p

Z
z2cents
June 23, 2014

Good for a marketing story. I don't know anybody who would buy a manual luxury performance sedan.

A
Absolut Sabs
June 23, 2014

i would

Z
z2cents
June 24, 2014

right

S
saywhat
June 23, 2014

are you a senior?!

Z
z2cents
June 24, 2014

am your mom

W
wasapasserby
June 23, 2014

http://blog.caranddriver.com/bmw-confirms-stick-option-for-u-s-m5-victory—and-a-manual-gearbox—is-ours/

Z
z2cents
June 24, 2014

The BMW owners who cross shop Lexus rarely care about manual transmission. Plus, BMW is great at marketing and they will add a manual to any car as long as it drives their perception of the ultimate driving machine. Regardless, a negligible % of owners will buy a manual, not even all the ones who claim they will on forums like these. The market has spoken and I am never one to think that people posting on forums are a true reflection of the market.

C
Crux
June 24, 2014

Negligible perhaps, still relevant. Market has spoken loudly and manual transmission is staying.

Z
z2cents
June 25, 2014

Disagree. Lexus, Merc and Audi do not have manuals and never will. Porsche dropped the manual from the GT3. BMW does it to differentiate themselves and its a matter of time before that dies out.

C
Crux
June 24, 2014

Have them. Many of us here, will too.

Z
z2cents
June 25, 2014

I have one too, but not in my Lexus. Different applications for different cars. That was the point i was making. Do you have a manual Lexus?

D
DariusR
September 10, 2014

Shut up you fag.....go drive ur moms automatic. The only reason I have a german car right now is because of manual. If lexus gets it ill leave german behind.

D
D3w3y
June 29, 2014

I would. In a fkin heart beat :|

L
Lexus Cohen
June 23, 2014

That's confirmation that the ISF will be coming back.

R
Ray
June 23, 2014

Lexus is slow in developing its transmission system esp the dual clutch. when LFA is poorly equipped in terms of tranny compared with its cheaper rival Nissan GTR which has already adopted dual clutch tranny. The argument of Lexus at the time was single clutch has better performance than dual clutch. I admit I have little techical knowledge on this. But TMG development on dual clutch already debunk Lexus initial argument about dual clutch. The same story when lexus intro GS. GS too adopted 6 speed tranny, whereas cheaper competitors have been offering 7 to 8 speed tranny. Yet Lexus argued that 6 speed tranny has better response compared to 8 speed system. A few years later, Lexus did upgrade its 6 speed to 8 speed in GS. What is going on Lexus? Why not provide better equipment as standard to create more value in this cutthroat lux business. The rivals are catching up, the only thing that they haven't got is the realibility

С
Сафиуллина-Мохамед Рамазанов
June 23, 2014

Don't fix it unless it's broken and this made Lexus create a reliable but yet dull and soul less cars until Akio came

W
wasapasserby
June 23, 2014

The first gen IS and SC could hardly be classified as "soul-less"

С
Сафиуллина-Мохамед Рамазанов
June 24, 2014

the 1st generation IS & SC yes have some soul specially in the Engines but nothing in the way they handle and the way they drive

W
wasapasserby
June 23, 2014

The LFA started development in 2001. DCT was not on the drawing board at the time, hence the single clutch transmission. Lexus added the 8 speed to the 2014 GS (one model year in) at the same time as with the IS and RX, using the transmission from the 2006 introduction of the LS. 8 years later, the transmission is still plagued with the same problems -- poor shift points and constantly searching for gears. Rivals already beat Lexus reliability (see latest JD Powers report). Toyota has been lagging in powertrain development for a long time now, and it shows.

R
Ray
June 23, 2014

Indeed Toyota has been slowes in adopting higher speed tranny. Until now, there are quite a lot models that still utilise ancient 4 speed incl camry This really hurts Toyota and Lexus in the competition. Ford has its ecoboost. Toyota has not come up with new engine system other than tweak version of VVTi ie Dual VVTI and valvematic. What a shame. Hope this is a wake up call for Toyota/Lexus to better equip its car. We want more standard features.

M
MD
June 23, 2014

Lexus went to 8 speed automatic way before BMW, Mercedes or Audi so your claims are absolutely wrong. Also, there is nothing newer than dual VVT-i. Majority of the Lexus engines now use direct injection including the new RC-F so whatever you are saying makes absolutely no sense. Also, regarding dual clutch transmissions, like mentioned above, there is nothing more race-bred than a single-clutch automated transmission and it can handle 9500 rpm revs that LFA with ease and weighs half as much. LFA's transmission has been bullet proof with cars that ran only on the race track hard for over 40,000 miles. I could post tons of threads of how Ferrari 458 Italia are on their third DCT after the first two blew, the GTR transmission failures etc.

С
Сафиуллина-Мохамед Рамазанов
June 24, 2014

LFA started as Aluminium and then the whole project change from Aluminium to Carbon Fibre so they have the time to change the gearbox if they want i still see that the previous Toyota from '98 to '08 those 10 years are so nothing for Toyota, they was just doing what they know the best and nothing more than that maybe lazy maybe they afraid to take agile steps maybe lack of motivation which now found it in TMG & Gazoo Racing the motivation that turn the LFA from study case to production deal the motivation that turn to IS-F, RC-F & soon GS-F the motivation that will turn to at least 4 coupes by 2016 (LFA-II, RC, NG-SC, the BMW rumoured Z7 and Supra brother) the motivation that turn to 11 & 12 overall in Nurburgring with just SP-8 the motivation that make a lot of people in Le-Mans from Porsche and Audi crew said that if nothing wrong going with TS040 #07 we will never be in the top

B
B
June 24, 2014

The RX 8-speed is not shared from the LS. It is it's own unit.

F
ForTehNguyen
June 23, 2014

LFA powertrain is 10 years old, thats why it has SMG

R
Rick
June 23, 2014

Single clutch automated transmission is the gold standard when it comes to racing. Lexus LFA was developed initially to race in the Nurburgring 24 hours 4 years before it was put into production. Nissan GTR has nothing on the LFA when it comes to endurance racing where LFA truly shines. Even today, single clutch automated transmission advantages are undeniable. Majority of the top tier racing cars use single-clutch transmissions. Single clutch transmissions weigh half as much as double clutch, have much smaller packaging and can handle much higher revs. In short, Lexus picked the ASG transmission because it fit with their vision for the car much better and every owner I have heard from, has nothing but praise for the LFA transmission.

R
Ray
June 26, 2014

Then it is a good thing that Lexus sticks to Single Clutch transmission for LFA. I did not know the quality and durability of DCT. Thanks for the info>

L
Lexustechsa
June 24, 2014

Lexus never said that the single clutch gave better straight line performance. It is lighter so it improves the handeling.

D
DillonD
June 23, 2014

Sounds legit! Lexus knows they have to take huge steps in developing the perfect F model. The current ISF is great, amazing actually, but we all know it can be better. Lexus is probably developing the ISF to better beat the M3, and to do that, they'll need a lot of time. Waiting for another 3 years will suck, but it will be so worth it when it is so powerful it eats M3s for dinner, S4s for lunch, and C63 AMGs for breakfast. Manual transmission will also win a bunch of new buyers! I am so excited! The ISF will live on! (this is what Lexus planned to do to the SC too, they said it was never 'killed' they were just taking off the site/lineup for a few years to develop a better one, and that is what they'll probably do to the ISF: take it off the site/lineup for two-three years and reintroduce it).

Z
z2cents
June 24, 2014

Lexus will never release a proper manual. I bet they will release a dual clutch but not a manual. It is an insignificant market and most people who claim they would buy manuals, in reality will not put their money where their mouth is.

M
MT
June 24, 2014

Dual clutch is horribly unreliable. We have all those VW DSGs here and they keep rolling to the dealerships to fix software, and actuators and change fluids for the hundreth time and they still don't work properly. Just keep that **** piece of junk away from a quality car!!!!

M
MD
June 24, 2014

Exactly. I could post tons of threads where Ferraris, Nissan GTRs, Audis and VW etc, are on their second or third transmissions because they keep blowing. That is why, in racing they don't even touch double-clutch transmissions with ten foot polls and all of the major racing teams stick with single clutch transmissions for their reliability, compact size, lightweight and ability to handle high revs for hours without overheating. That all negates any small advantage the shift speeds can offer for DCT.

J
John Goreham
June 25, 2014

A manual shift gearbox and a dual clutch transmission are not the same thing. I enjoyed the report.

S
SlowDuckis
July 17, 2014

Lexus has to offer a manual transmission option for the RC-F and new IS-F in order to compete with BMWs Ultimate Driving Machine(s). It will definitely improve and complement the F-Sport driving experience. Or at least create something similar to BMWs SMG gearbox. This should be a no brainer for Lexus. "As a loyal Lexus owner ever since it's established presence in the market during the early 90s, I really hope Lexus will be very successful in their debut of the RC-F and get it right this time." I wonder if Lexus has considered adding turbo systems into their performance vehicles which would offer a good balance of fuel efficiency and performance. Something that I noticed BMW and AUDI are currently working towards these specifications. Just my two cents -loyal, anonymous Lexus Enthusiast

Lexus to Introduce Manual Transmission RC F & IS F?

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