IS 500 F SPORT Performance Megathread

[James]

So you can get an S4 for 349 HP and a V6 and go 0-60 in 4.4 or a IS 500 F Sport with 472HP and a V8 and go 0-60 in 4.5...yeah give me the V8 all day! Besides lack of AWD vs RWD I think this will go very well for Lexus. Up here in IL I can see people leaning with the Audi but Lexus should be happy with this!

 

[meth.ix]

No one's talking about the Enkei wheels?

 

[GNS]

Ah thanks! That's why I love this site! Smarter people than me who can answer questions about things I have no knowledge on!

I wonder if there will be this F-Sport IS500 RWD with the V8, and another F-Sport IS500 AWD with a different powertrain (V35A-FTS). Lexus has done it before, with the IS300 RWD having a 2.0T and the IS300 AWD using the 2GR-FKS.

 

[supra93]

 

[internalaudit]

No one's talking about the Enkei wheels?
View attachment 4645

I don't like it (only paid attention to the image you posted) but at least they're light haha.

 

[meth.ix]

Wow, even Donut? Love how much Lexus is investing in promoting this car to actual driving enthusiast outlets.

 

[supra93]

 

[Faisal Sheikh]

So you can get an S4 for 349 HP and a V6 and go 0-60 in 4.4 or a IS 500 F Sport with 472HP and a V8 and go 0-60 in 4.5...yeah give me the V8 all day! Besides lack of AWD vs RWD I think this will go very well for Lexus. Up here in IL I can see people leaning with the Audi but Lexus should be happy with this!

RCF hit 0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds in C&D test (officially 4.2 seconds as per Lexus) so I assume it is going to be the same for this IS500 F-Sport. It won't be slower in a straight line. I think it is just for marketing since RCF is more expensive because of other reasons (brakes, suspension. carbon, TVD etc,).

 

[Tragic Bronson]

No one's talking about the Enkei wheels?

Because it isn't a full fledged F, no BBS for you!

 

[Levi]

The powertrain 2UR only was designed for RWD. That is why I was thinking it would be 3.5 Liter V6 TT since it opens up the door for AWD.

From what I understand the UR engine was designed for AWD too. 2UR is a longer stroked version of 1UR. 1UR and 2UR (hybrid) had AWD in the LS (XF40). The GS (S190) had AWD only in combination with 2GR engine. I guess no AWD not to internally compete with the bigger brother. Both these cars including the IS (XE20) were built on N Platform.

I think it is the newer New N Platform on which are based IS (XE30), GS (L10) and RC (XC10) that was not built for AWD in combination with UR engine or maybe simply not developed because of declining sales. LS skipped New N Platform and went directly to GA-L.

Adding AWD to 2UR would make the car heavier, but not accelerate faster. GR is the only option for AWD and is not built for performance as the Germans do.

 

[Levi]

Can't wait for reviews. Unfortunately this car might kill RCF sales.

 

[Gecko]

Personally, I am not interested in AWD for this car and am glad it's not a part of the package because of weight, complexity, price, MPG.

N/A V8 + RWD will be the last of an era. Period.

For what it's worth, I also think Lexus has seriously understated the performance figures. This car is down 500lbs compared to an LC 500 with the same motor, and LC 500 is quoted as 0-60 in 4.4. There is no way the IS 500 will be slower with that weight advantage.

 

[ssun30]

Yes BMW has also done this before. The E90 335i (4.9s 0-100km/h) was too close to the M3 (4.4s) so they heavily under-rated its performance to 5.5s.

Lexus does not want to advertise a likely sub-$60k F-sport to be as fast as a 70k+ full F car.

 

[Faisal Sheikh]

Yes BMW has also done this before. The E90 335i (4.9s 0-100km/h) was too close to the M3 (4.4s) so they heavily under-rated its performance to 5.5s.

Lexus does not want to advertise a likely sub-$60k F-sport to be as fast as a 70k+ full F car.

That was a different case since M3 had about 100+ more HP. In this case, the cars have almost identical power-to-weight ratio. Same power and at 3891 lbs, it is almost the same weight as the RCF. It will be the same 0-60 mph and 1/4 mile as the RCF. Around 4.1 - 4.2 seconds and mid-12s quarter mile.

 

[Faisal Sheikh]

Can't wait for reviews. Unfortunately this car might kill RCF sales.

That is true. Most people like 4-door sedans and the track specific stuff RCF has (brembo brakes, forged BBS wheels etc.) that the IS500 F-Sport does not, does not mean much to 99% of the buyers. Most people just want lots of engine and this seems to be giving them that.

 

[yiantony]

Pricing is the key. I speculate this car would start just below 60k. However, if Lexus wants to be more aggressive and pricing it at just above 50k, it would a killer to a lot of F sport competitors like S5.

 

[Gecko]

IS 350 F SPORT with the Lexus Dynamic Handling Package + Triple Beam LEDs is a $50k car, and that doesn't include Levinson, moonroof, or any other features.

IMO, we are probably looking at $58 - $62k base price for IS 500. I just don't see how it can cost less than that.

 

[Levi]

Pricing is the key. I speculate this car would start just below 60k. However, if Lexus wants to be more aggressive and pricing it at just above 50k, it would a killer to a lot of F sport competitors like S5.

Here in Europe a crappy FWD CUV with 4 cylinders cost 40K, some options not to look poverty and its over 50K.

 

[GNS]

No one's talking about the Enkei wheels?
View attachment 4645

I don't like them, too busy and the star pattern isn't what I think of when I imagine Lexus wheels.

 

[Gecko]

Also not a big fan of the wheels. However, that's the easiest fix of all with a new car, so I'm not thinking about it at all.