Official 2008 Lexus IS-F Pictures

[Raza]

autoweek is claiming...

- 0-60 in under 4.9 sec 
- 200 mph top speed 
- less then 1,000 produced for the US 

200mph...I'd love to see how stable it is at that speed.

[JYODER240]

No way, this thing would proabably need atleast 500hp to reach 200mph.

[Raza]

No way, this thing would proabably need atleast 500hp to reach 200mph.

This is the very first 200mph car ever made, with a previously unreachable 400bhp and a never before seen RWD chassis.  The world's first sport sedan.

Another first from Lexus.

[mazda6er]

So, word on the street is that Car Zeus is in a Mexican jail.

[JYODER240]

This is the very first 200mph car ever made, with a previously unreachable 400bhp and a never before seen RWD chassis.? The world's first sport sedan.

Another first from Lexus.

Just the other day the salesmanager at work was saying how the ES350's partial glass roof was a industry first. I later proved him wrong

[ro51092]

200mph? BULLSHIT.

[Raza]

Just the other day the salesmanager at work was saying how the ES350's partial glass roof was a industry first. I later proved him wrong

Yeah.  It's called a sunroof, and the first one was in 1492, slightly before Columbus sailed the ocean blue.

[thewizard16]

200mph? BULLSHIT.

Lexus wouldn't advertise it if it wasn't capable of doing it, even if it has to be on perfectly flat ground with a 60mph wind pushing the car while being pulled by fighter jets.... The point is, there's SOME condition under which it'll do it, regardless of how ridiculous.

[Raza]

Lexus wouldn't advertise it if it wasn't capable of doing it, even if it has to be on perfectly flat ground with a 60mph wind pushing the car while being pulled by fighter jets.... The point is, there's SOME condition under which it'll do it, regardless of how ridiculous.

I wonder how high it could hit on a bowl. 

[Submariner]

I wonder how high it could hit on a bowl. 

[r0tor]

This is the very first 200mph car ever made, with a previously unreachable 400bhp and a never before seen RWD chassis.? The world's first sport sedan.

Another first from Lexus.

there are several 400hp cars that have hit top speeds in the upper 180's and low 190's over the years... and its probably more like 425-450hp

[Raghavan]

Considering they're only saying it'll do 60 in under 4.9... It's probably geared pretty high, and since it has 8 gears, it can have a ridicoulously tall 7 and 8th gears.

[JYODER240]

there are several 400hp cars that have hit top speeds in the upper 180's and low 190's over the years... and its probably more like 425-450hp

This isn't a sports car though, its a sedan. My bet is the Lexus claims it could hit 200mph unlimited but then governs it at 155.

[JYODER240]

Considering they're only saying it'll do 60 in under 4.9... It's probably geared pretty high, and since it has 8 gears, it can have a ridicoulously tall 7 and 8th gears.

Gearing isn't the problem it needs the horsepower to over come the wind resisitance on a sedan at high speeds.

[r0tor]

you need power, gearing, and aero for top speed...

They definately have the power, they should have the gearing with the 8 speed tranny, so that leaves us to if the aero is up the the task... i'm a bit skeptical but its no where near being too outrageous to believe


On the BMW M speed tv special the M5 hit something like 186mph and was still climbing before hitting traffic on the autobahn... Hans Stuck who was driving claimed somewhere around 200mph was possible 

[MX793]

This isn't a sports car though, its a sedan. My bet is the Lexus claims it could hit 200mph unlimited but then governs it at 155.

Nextel Cup cars with restrictor plates only make between 400 and 450 hp and they can hit 190 mph in that state.  They don't have particularly good drag coefficients either (around 0.34, the IS is under 0.30, IIRC).  200 mph out of the IS might be possible, but it's certainly the very upper-most edge of possibility, in my mind.

[Raghavan]

Gearing isn't the problem it needs the horsepower to over come the wind resisitance on a sedan at high speeds.

That's true, i'd expect more like 185 from this car because it has 8 gears.
The EVO IX MR FQ400 tops out at about 175 from its big  boxy body, so with a little more power and 2 more gears, i'd say 185...

[Raza]

there are several 400hp cars that have hit top speeds in the upper 180's and low 190's over the years... and its probably more like 425-450hp

I was riffing on Lexus's ad strategy that makes it look like they're the ones that come up with everything first.

[mazda6er]

I was riffing on Lexus's ad strategy that makes it look like they're the ones that come up with everything first.

I enjoyed it.

[thewizard16]

I was riffing on Lexus's ad strategy that makes it look like they're the ones that come up with everything first.

They're actually quite creative. They use the system of "if it's never been named in this specific way before, we can claim we invented it". It's annoying, but I guess if the potential buyers are gullible enough to believe it, it works.

[AudiMan2001]

To be totally honest, it kiijss no more aggressive than Audi's RS4 to me.  I think alot of the ricer comments are because this isn't what we expect to see from Lexus.  To my knowledge, Lexus has never built such an aggressive-looking sedan.  I think that alot of the aggressiveness is because of the color, I think this car would look more "appropriate" in lighter colors, like silver or pearl white.

Now on to performance, it is quite obvious that Lexus had the RS4/E90 M3 in mind.  Technically speaking, it has all the credentials ... 400+ hp V8, 8-speed tranny, RWD ...

Earlier, someone was saying that it is becoming harder and harder to defend traditional manuals.  That echoes my thoughts completely.  The most advanced automatics have rendered manuals almost superfluous and for nolstagia purposes more than anything else.  Lexus doesn't make really good manual transmissions, however they do make really really good automatic transmissions, so in this case, the use of an auto transmission is justified.  In fact, seeing that it has 8 forward speeds, with shifts happening in less than a tenth of a second, and throttle-blipping in manual mode, I think it can provide 95% of the visceral entertainment of a traditional manual.  I would also think that it is highly unlikely that a manual version would be any faster, which used to be the deciding factor not even 5 years ago.

If I had the money, I definitely would have this car on the list of potential sport sedans in the  > $50K bracket.

[cawimmer430]

There's a rumor flying around that this gussied up Toyota will be limited to 1,000 units only. Is that how they plan to make it more "exclusive"? 

"Yeah, we can't compete against the image of Audi RS, BMW M and Mercedes AMG, so were just going to limit the Toyota IS to 1,000 units because in our customers mind, this makes them exclusive. Hell, our customers think just because we offer leather seats for $100K less than the Europeans that we're just as pestigeous as the Europeans, image-wise! 

[cawimmer430]

200mph? BULLSHIT.

Here's a picture of the Toyota IS-F at 200 mph. 



POS. 

[Raza]

Wow.  I really want a Plymouth Superbird.

[r0tor]

I believe a 5.0L Lexus V8 powered the winning car at the 24hrs of Daytona last weekend 

[JYODER240]

To be totally honest, it kiijss no more aggressive than Audi's RS4 to me.? I think alot of the ricer comments are because this isn't what we expect to see from Lexus.? To my knowledge, Lexus has never built such an aggressive-looking sedan.? I think that alot of the aggressiveness is because of the color, I think this car would look more "appropriate" in lighter colors, like silver or pearl white.

It looks like a ricer lowered this car. It looks bad, especially in the rear. The fenders cover the tops of the tires and the tires need to be more flush with the sides of the car. Like the IS250/350 the overall design doesn't flow. Its very aggressive in the front and then it just looks bland and boring in the middle and then an ackward rear. The should pick a theme and then carry it through the entire car so you can see it from every angle.

Now on to performance, it is quite obvious that Lexus had the RS4/E90 M3 in mind.? Technically speaking, it has all the credentials ... 400+ hp V8, 8-speed tranny, RWD ...

Earlier, someone was saying that it is becoming harder and harder to defend traditional manuals.? That echoes my thoughts completely.? The most advanced automatics have rendered manuals almost superfluous and for nolstagia purposes more than anything else.? Lexus doesn't make really good manual transmissions, however they do make really really good automatic transmissions, so in this case, the use of an auto transmission is justified.? In fact, seeing that it has 8 forward speeds, with shifts happening in less than a tenth of a second, and throttle-blipping in manual mode, I think it can provide 95% of the visceral entertainment of a traditional manual.? I would also think that it is highly unlikely that a manual version would be any faster, which used to be the deciding factor not even 5 years ago.

If I had the money, I definitely would have this car on the list of potential sport sedans in the? > $50K bracket.

Its not a matter of how fast an auto can shift. Its that an auto or even a clutchless manual does provide the same level of involvement for the driver.

Lexus falls down when it comes to making cars that are fun to drive. I don't expect the IS-F to be much different relative to the competition. I think Lexus cares more about making the car look better than the competition when it comes to the stats and not the driving experience.

[Guy Legend]

Here's a picture of the Toyota IS-F at 200 mph. 



POS. 

Down with Lexus.  Long live Mercedes!  

[Raza]

Earlier, someone was saying that it is becoming harder and harder to defend traditional manuals.  That echoes my thoughts completely.  The most advanced automatics have rendered manuals almost superfluous and for nolstagia purposes more than anything else.  Lexus doesn't make really good manual transmissions, however they do make really really good automatic transmissions, so in this case, the use of an auto transmission is justified.  In fact, seeing that it has 8 forward speeds, with shifts happening in less than a tenth of a second, and throttle-blipping in manual mode, I think it can provide 95% of the visceral entertainment of a traditional manual.  I would also think that it is highly unlikely that a manual version would be any faster, which used to be the deciding factor not even 5 years ago.

Do you know how to tie a tie? 



Do you still wear a clip on?

[AudiMan2001]

Do you know how to tie a tie? 



Do you still wear a clip on?

All patronizing comments aside, I think that there are others out there who feel similar.  Perhaps you don't have to deal with traffic congestion, but with my job being in Seattle, it's a daily reality for me.  While I can definitely see the fun with the traditional 3-pedal arrangement, it doesn't outweigh the practicality that a high-performance automatic transmission can provide.  If I was to choose a between a traditional 6-speed manual or the 8-speed automatic on the Lexus IS-F, it would be the automatic, hands down.  Unless, I was filthy rich, and could afford two, which in that case, I could buy one of each.

As to your analogy, there's a saying "Never assume as it can make an ass out of u and me."  I can drive sticks fine, it's just not my preference in day-to-day driving.  Understood?

[AudiMan2001]

It looks like a ricer lowered this car. It looks bad, especially in the rear. The fenders cover the tops of the tires and the tires need to be more flush with the sides of the car. Like the IS250/350 the overall design doesn't flow. Its very aggressive in the front and then it just looks bland and boring in the middle and then an ackward rear. The should pick a theme and then carry it through the entire car so you can see it from every angle.

Oh I agree, it's definately not the most cohesive design (The IS series overall).  However, it certainly doesn't look any more aggressive than the M5.