Rendered: The 2021 Lexus IS F Would Have Looked Good

Posted by Kevin on June 21st, 2020

For all the rumours about a V8 powered IS 500, last week’s launch of the refreshed sedan made no mention of new engines whatsoever.

This didn’t deter the website Motor Illustrated, who have rendered a very convincing IS F design based on last week’s reveal.

Lexus IS F Rendering Rear

The 2021 Lexus IS has shaken the enthusiast community, who were hoping for more changes to the sports sedan. Instead, the existing model has been tuned on a race track, given a fresh new exterior, and little else besides.

Lexus IS: Third GenerationPhotochops
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Comments
Rydo
It looks mean, but do we think think Lexus will bother with the effort involved when some are considering this a stopgap vehicle until IS either makes transition to a Model 3 competitor or dies like the GS?
I
Provoking/pushing/proding Lexus with ideas via renders don't cost much.

And since when did a render get a car manufacturer's total buy-in anyway? :)
James
I feel like they just walked in and slapped me in the face with this..why Lexus? Why can't we have more F products...
L
One word, "Profit"!!! The F cars just don't make enough money to justify their existence. That at least is probably what the marketing and finance guys are saying. And that's where someone like Koji Sato should come in and teach them that without taking risks again and generating excitement behind the brand, Lexus will never reach its potential or even come close to competing with the Germans. Such a shame...
D
  • D
    DDas
  • June 22, 2020
James said
I feel like they just walked in and slapped me in the face with this..why Lexus? Why can't we have more F products...
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Right?! With the GS going, does it mean the GSF will go too? Or will the GSF ride as a Lone-F model? I doubt the latter, so when it goes, the RCF will be the only F model until we get the LCF. BUT that's two coupe F models. We need a sedan F. A crossover/SUV F. Come on, Lexus! What's going on with you? Bring back 2013-2014 Lexus that was creating new models and updating current ones so frequently!
corradoMR2
LordByronUK said
One word, "Profit"!!! The F cars just don't make enough money to justify their existence. That at least is probably what the marketing and finance guys are saying. And that's where someone like Koji Sato should come in and teach them that without taking risks again and generating excitement behind the brand, Lexus will never reach its potential or even come close to competing with the Germans. Such a shame...
Click to expand...

Agree. Buying a luxury car is really a non-sensible purchase, but the consumer's emotion is a very powerful "business case". This however is built over time from the brand continually creating excitement through an exciting and competitive product portfolio...
Rydo
LordByronUK said
even come close to competing with the Germans
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I've said that on another thread. It's like I want to love Lexus wholeheartedly, but when almost every product they put out is inferior to the Germans in all ways but reliability - it's sad. I'm not a spec-sheet obsessor, but I'd take a wager on 85%+ of car fans are.
Faisal Sheikh
Would have been nice to see an ISF coming into fruition. However, I doubt anything beyond an IS500 would happen and I think it will have the TT V6 at best. The days of high-revving V8 are numbered. The European emissions are getting more and more stringent. The RCF is barey legal in Europe with a de-tuned engine making 464 PS instead of 480 PS. Lexus will finish out the refreshed RCF, RCF track edition and LC500 and that will be end of it.
Faisal Sheikh
DDas said
Right?! With the GS going, does it mean the GSF will go too? Or will the GSF ride as a Lone-F model? I doubt the latter, so when it goes, the RCF will be the only F model until we get the LCF. BUT that's two coupe F models. We need a sedan F. A crossover/SUV F. Come on, Lexus! What's going on with you? Bring back 2013-2014 Lexus that was creating new models and updating current ones so frequently!
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GSF is discontinued already. 2020 was the last year. It did not receive the updates that the RCF received.
corradoMR2
Faisal Sheikh said
Would have been nice to see an ISF coming into fruition. However, I doubt anything beyond an IS500 would happen and I think it will have the TT V6 at best. The days of high-revving V8 are numbered. The European emissions are getting more and more stringent. The RCF is barey legal in Europe with a de-tuned engine making 464 PS instead of 480 PS. Lexus will finish out the refreshed RCF, RCF track edition and LC500 and that will be end of it.
Click to expand...

I agree. With all the emissions restrictions, I don't see Lexus putting the 5L V8 in the IS. Also, this engine is too exclusive to be in a non-F-labeled IS, as an "IS 500".

With this in mind, and seeing how Lexus' nomenclature strategy has evolved, perhaps rumors of the 2.4L T may actually be potent enough to honor the "500" badge. But the power numbers from that 4cyl , IMO, need to be in the upper 380+ hp / lb-ft torque which I'm skeptical.
Joaquin Ruhi
corradoMR2 said
...perhaps rumors of the 2.4L T may actually be potent enough to honor the "500" badge. But the power numbers from that 4cyl , IMO, need to be in the upper 380+ hp / lb-ft torque which I'm skeptical.
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The rumored 2.4-liter turbo will probably be badged "350", if recently-filed NX trademarks are anything to go by. Thus, the confusing situation where you have an LC 500 powered by a 5-liter V8 and an LS 500 powered by a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 will spread throughout the Lexus model range, which will next year likely see IS, ES, RC and RX 350s powered by the carryover 2GR 3.5-liter V6 and NX 350 as a 2.4-liter turbo 4.
krew
corradoMR2 said
Agree. Buying a luxury car is really a non-sensible purchase, but the consumer's emotion is a very powerful "business case". This however is built over time from the brand continually creating excitement through an exciting and competitive product portfolio...
Click to expand...

This is where I'm at, personally. There's no reason to buy a luxury car these days outside of aspiration or excitement, and Lexus is lacking in both outside of the LC. Mainstream cars are just so good now.
S
krew said
This is where I'm at, personally. There's no reason to buy a luxury car these days outside of aspiration or excitement, and Lexus is lacking in both outside of the LC. Mainstream cars are just so good now.
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The highlander platinum has been nothing short of near Lexus. 360 cameras, Toyota Safety tech 3.0, 12.3 HD screen, central expansive TFT display, Torque vectoring. the only thing lacking is cabin noise.
Trexus
Lexus should have never stopped producing the IS F. Lexus should have had the IS F and RC F performance vehicles as well as the GS F. Bring in the LC F as soon as possible. This would make Lexus serious about performance and credible...
I
krew said
This is where I'm at, personally. There's no reason to buy a luxury car these days outside of aspiration or excitement, and Lexus is lacking in both outside of the LC. Mainstream cars are just so good now.
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True. I know many here still prefer ICE but the only time I would go for brand new luxury cars ($70k CAD or higher) is when they're BEVs with electric torque vectoring and with longer battery warranties. After learning to DIY a few things here and there, the ICE still requires more babying to keep it running in tiptop condition. Also, because I'm frugal, I don't do a lot of spirited highway driving. That will change with BEVs lol.

At least I know with fewer parts, a BEV (outside of a Tesla) can probably easily last a few decades.

It's likely just my personal psychology/belieft that I don't want to pony up $5k/year on premium gasoline and would rather pay a $15-25k premium upfront to foregot that expenditure in a BEV because I do keep my cars for much longer than the typically 6-7 years.
S
IS500 is coming:
www.thedrive.com

Lexus Files 'IS500' Trademark for Potential V8 Sport Sedan

Our dreams of a true IS F successor aren't dead yet.
www.thedrive.com www.thedrive.com
Faisal Sheikh
'Drive' is jumping to conclusion saying it will be the 2UR engine. 2UR engine is not a mass produced engine for large volumes and probably have only 1 or 2 years left. IS500 would be in-line with the LS500 sharing the same TT V6 with probably a slightly detuned engine making around 380 - 400 HP. That is what my guess is.
S
Faisal Sheikh said
'Drive' is jumping to conclusion saying it will be the 2UR engine. 2UR engine is not a mass produced engine for large volumes. IS500 would be in-line with the LS500 sharing the same TT V6 with probably a slightly detuned engine making around 380 - 400 HP. That is what my guess is.
Click to expand...

i dont really know which one would be better in this application? Probably V8?
M
spwolf said
IS500 is coming:
www.thedrive.com

Lexus Files 'IS500' Trademark for Potential V8 Sport Sedan

Our dreams of a true IS F successor aren't dead yet.
www.thedrive.com www.thedrive.com
Click to expand...

Maybe it’s TTV6 from the LS instead? We will see...

M