In my opinion the IS with the V8 is what Lexus needs. The GSF is too big and now discontinued. The RCF is a heavy non dynamic car with an old interior and dated now. I had an 09 ISF and loved it but was dropped in 2014 as you all know. The Supra hype is over now, Toyota sales are way up, so its seems like perfect timing. The new IS tweaks to exterior and exterior are very nice, and with the dynamic package it handles so much better. Stuff the V8 in there and I believe you got a winner, and I would bye one right away....Cant wait for the reveal tomorrow!
That is quite an erroneous statement. RCF pulled almost 1.00 G on the skidpad in tests. Its lap times average within 1 - 2% of that of an M4. Only the LFA managed a better than 1.00 g lateral grip number. Yes, it is heavy, but that is the price of the added chassis rigidity, suspension work and big brakes, cooling, wheels etc., but the IS500 in all likelihood would not be lighter given an IS350 F-Sport is already 3800+ lbs with RWD. Besides, the new M4/M3 are also 3900 - 4000 lbs.
Combined with the TE, it is most track oriented platform right now based on GT class homologation for racing. An IS F-Sport is not about to outhandle a much more premium priced RCF unless Lexus gives similar power, suspension, big brake kit, TVD and chassis rigidity. At which point, it is pretty much a full blown new gen ISF and not an F-Sport. An IS350 F-Sport is already around $56K. If we added all of the bells and whistles, it is easily going to be a base price around $70K for this new F-Sport model.