Lexus gives the mighty IS F a successor. The brand is adding this freak IS 500 F Sport Performance to the line-up of last year’s facelifted IS. Just like its illustrious predecessor, the IS 500 F Sport Performance gets a mighty V8 under the hood and sets its sights on the BMW M3.
The F-version that Lexus of the second generation IS delivered, was with its 423 hp and 505 Nm strong 5.0 V8 the absolute masterpiece of the IS range. The third generation IS never got a full-fledged F-variant and now that Lexus in Europe no longer supplies the IS in its entirety, there will be no more IS F coming to our country. We are forced to look at the American market with some jealousy. The IS thoroughly facelifted last year and no longer published in the Netherlands is now available as IS 500 F Sport Performance. Yes, just with 5.0 V8!
Lexus IS
The IS is the first Lexus model to be adhered to the new F Sport Performance label. The IS 500 F Sport Performance is in fact the spiritual successor of the IS F of yesteryear. Under the hood a 479 hp and 536 Nm strong naturally aspirated 5.0 V8, a modified version of the machine that is also used in the RC F. The special IS, which only comes on the market in the United States and Canada, has an eight-speed automatic transmission that Lexus also mounts in, among other things, the 315 hp strong sub-top of the current IS. The IS 500 F Sport Performance is able to blast to a speed of 97 km / h (60 mph) in 4.5 seconds. Despite its powerful V8 and additions such as a special exhaust system with historically accurate, diagonally placed tailpipes, the car is only 65 kilos heavier than the IS 350. Also very nice: the IS 500 F Sport Performance is simply a rear-wheel drive!
Lexus IS
Lexus gives the IS 500 F Sport Performance, among other things, an adaptive suspension, but don’t forget to add a limited slip differential when pouring out the F sauce. The rear silencers have been replaced for Yamaha and the king of the IS range is built on special 19-inch alloy with extra powerful braking behind it. Of course, according to Lexus, the steering is a lot more direct than that of the more conventionally set IS versions.
From the outside, the IS 500 F Sport Performance can be recognized by more than just its tailpipes and special alloy wheels. For example, the bonnet has been raised about 5 centimeters to make room for the eight-cylinder that is housed underneath. On both the front and rear we see sporty-looking bumper work, the chrome work has been replaced by black trim all around and on top of the impressive IS-butt we see a rear spoiler.
As mentioned, the Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance is not coming to the Netherlands and that makes the lack of the current IS on the Dutch market perhaps an even greater loss.