'F' is for 'Fast' - Lexus' new performance arm
About this time last month, Automotive News reported that Lexus would reintroduce their L-tuned lineup of vehicles in order to compete in the ever-growing, performance luxury marketplace. Well, it seems that the letter 'L' has been dispatched in order to make room for the real performance division of Lexus.'F,' as it turns out, stands for 'fast,' and will grace the trunk lid of Lexus vehicles that seek to do battle amidst the AMGs and Ms of the world.
The first F-inagled Lexus to make its debut will be a hotted-up version of the IS sedan, equipped with a 5-liter V8. What was originally assumed to be called the IS500, the newly dubbed IS-F will come with a revised version of the V8 that resides in the LS600h L and will produce upwards of 425 HP. Pricing is expected to come in around $50k, and is aimed squarely at the upcoming M3.
Other models expected to get the 'F' treatment include the GS sedan and a coupe version of the IS.
According to Automotive News, Lexus filed for a trademark on the IS-F and also for the 'F' logo above, however, Lexus has not confirmed the reports.
[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Howard Kerr 8:10AM (12/04/2006)
I'm not quite sure why, but that black and white picture makes me think of a toilet....must be too early in morning to be surfin' the 'net. Perhaps in chrome, on the trunk of a car, it will look WAY different.
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SherbornSean 8:17AM (12/04/2006)
So glad to hear Toyota decided to 'F' themselves.
Lexus has a lot to prove in this arena. Building performance cars is about more than just slapping on a badge, some side skirts, a sploiler and a V8.
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HardwareGuy 8:20AM (12/04/2006)
If the IS-F has a 3rd pedal and turnoffable traction control, I predict they'll sell a crapload of them.
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Ron 8:24AM (12/04/2006)
"F" as in too f'in much money.
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Steve S 11:27AM (12/04/2006)
Like Hardwareguy said if it's not available with a stick and a means to disable the electronic nannies it will go no where as far as sales. While there at it they should up the amount of road feel through the wheel.
Lexus will have to put out a serious contender if they want to go head to head with the next M3 or RS4. I for once don't think they will.
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Mike O. 8:58AM (12/04/2006)
#3, considering the 2007 IS has turnoffable traction control, I'm thinking the IS-F has it as well.
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LaughingTooHard 9:25AM (12/04/2006)
Actually the F stands for FanBoy and all of them will buy the F series in droves. As long as you can (POTENTIALLY) mod the heck of them, and there will lots of wicked rides in such quality magazines like "IMPORT TUNER" "SUPER STREET" and "D1", well then they will sell. And 17 year old punks will slide off the road or crash into utility poles, their Mommies will cry "WHY?!?"
At that point we can just shrug, point and just say "F"
Funny how a company touting their green cars are pushing ones that will not get 15mpg when you activate the secret "F" powers,eh? When a 200bhp Civic Si gets less than 20mpg real world testing, you can be sure the 300bhp Lexus will not do better...
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Michael Karesh 9:30AM (12/04/2006)
I think he means turnoffable by pushing a button, not by going through a top secret twelve-step procedure.
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Dr. Woo 9:37AM (12/04/2006)
"#3, considering the 2007 IS has turnoffable traction control, I'm thinking the IS-F has it as well."
I was going to post an analogy, but there really is nothing I can possibly think of that can even remotely compare to the bad design and unfathomably inconvenient procedure that is turning off TC in the Lexus IS.
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jscro 10:03AM (12/04/2006)
"Funny how a company touting their green cars are pushing ones that will not get 15mpg when you activate the secret "F" powers,eh?"
Yeah, it's called providing the market with what it wants. You can do both you know.
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k3vo 10:26AM (12/04/2006)
Toyota has applied for the trade-marks IS-F and "F" Design in Canada.
See http://my.is/forums/showthread.php?p=4580000#post4580000
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Gernby 11:35AM (12/04/2006)
The '07 IS does have a button to disable TRAC and VSC. Only the '06 requires the brake pedal dance to disable it.
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Tool 11:03AM (12/04/2006)
Lexus has been talking about having a performance division (or brand) for sometime now.
Automotive News reports that the engines will be tuned by Yamaha. If true, that is a little disappointing. In my opinion, Lexus needs to create heritage around this brand and it would have been better suited to either do it itself or use some iconic brand/source. Not sure who that would be, but Yamaha doesn't exactly inspire much excitement.
Then again, remember that (almost) every 1st generation Toyota/Lexus vehicle is understated--it's kind of the Toyota way. I'm sure the 2nd gen Lexus-F vehicles will be outrageous.
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Scott 11:37AM (12/04/2006)
Will this be another feeble attempt by Toyota (see IS350 auto-only) or the Real Deal (see Supra).
I'm going with the former. Maybe they'll surprise me.
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G. Snyder 11:45AM (12/04/2006)
Tool is true to his name and does not understand the capabilities at Yamaha - or what they have done in the past.
Also, anyone who says "turnoffable" again needs to be dragged out behind the shed and beaten silly. Have some self respect. Did any of you make it through 8th grade? Speak and type English.
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Chris 12:31PM (12/04/2006)
Yet another half-assed product offering from Toyota. "F" is the appropriate letter grade for that effort and for fart-cannon-loving fanbois.
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enthusiast 12:33PM (12/04/2006)
Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe Yamaha has been tuning and building parts for toyota for quite some time now. The 3S-GTE block found on the old school MR-2 turbo was built by yamaha for toyota.
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Dre 3:07PM (12/04/2006)
Yahmaha Actually tunes the heads, not the blocks, and they have been responsible for more advanced versions of toyotas best engines. The 1.8L 2ZZGE, the 1.6L 175hp 20 valve 4AGE blacktop and yes, the 2.0L 3SGE/3SGTE BEAMS engines come to mind
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Bill Maher is an Idiot 1:25PM (12/04/2006)
Road & Track reported in its Japanese sports cars preview back in the summer that Lexus was building an "IS500" to take on the BMW M3. I take it this F, L, or whatever the Hell IS edition it is will be the model. Wonder if a stick will really make it.
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Riker 2:11PM (12/04/2006)
"Automotive News reports that the engines will be tuned by Yamaha. If true, that is a little disappointing. In my opinion, Lexus needs to create heritage around this brand and it would have been better suited to either do it itself or use some iconic brand/source. Not sure who that would be, but Yamaha doesn't exactly inspire much excitement."
Yeah, try and tell a SHO owner that Yamaha doesn't build an inspiring engine.
Tool, this is your opportunity to take a look around the internet and discover all the incredible engines Yamaha has developed over its history... there's a longer list than you'd think...
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