Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Lexus
IS madness at Laguna Seca: Lexus IS-F flogged
Lexus seems to be pretty confident about the capabilities of its new IS-F, otherwise it wouldn't have allowed members of Club Lexus to unrelenting flog its newest entrant into the sport-sedan segment at Laguna Seca this past week.
The lucky participants posted a number of photos taken at the event, as the Lexus-lovers perpetrated all kinds of high-speed hoonage on the new 3-series fighter. You can check out more images over at the Car Lounge, here.
[Source: The Car Lounge via 0-60]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
paul34 6:55PM (8/17/2007)
mmm... the sounds of slushies on a track meant for real cars... mmm...
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Tim 7:11PM (8/17/2007)
I'm no pro-BMW, but I'd take the M3 every time. History does play a part. www.goodcarbadcar.blogspot.com
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JayP 7:23PM (8/17/2007)
Lexus has a club?
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Viv 7:24PM (8/17/2007)
They have an official name for it...the retirement village.
JD 9:12PM (8/17/2007)
Lol! And +1 on the M3 comment.
JT 7:24PM (8/17/2007)
autotragic trannies? DO NOT WANT.
-JT
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Kaizen 8:25PM (8/17/2007)
So sad to read these childish comments. Clublexus.com was fortunate to have members drive the IS-F which was FLOWN IN the night before to Laguna Seca. Flipside was priceless in making this once in a lifetime event happen. Lexus has been wonderful using him as a liaison to ask Clublexus members what they would like to see in the IS-F from colors, to options etc.
Its RARE an internet community gets an opportunity like this on a pre-production low volume car of this nature. Thank you to Lexus for the opportunity.
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Paul 9:44PM (8/17/2007)
I drove the IS350 and liked everything about except the transmission. Very restrictive and non responsive. "I" want to drive the car and shift when "I" want and not when the computer thinks I should. The car is handicapped with a slushbox. The true potential of the car will never be realized until a manual box is put in the car. And now an even more potent IS and still no manual? This is no sports car. If it has no manual transmission, I don't consider it a "sports" car.
MikeW 9:36PM (8/17/2007)
So when does the IS350 get the 8 speed auto?
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Trollpetrol 10:00PM (8/17/2007)
The car will be released late December early January from what I understand. The 8 speed is only available with the IS-F (V8 425 HP) version only.
Paul, I couldn't agree with you more. I considered the IS250 6 speed for a long time before I picked up my 350. I was anxious to hear the news about the IS-F and would've definitely ordered one had it come with the manual transmission.
This is one area that Lexus always miss the ball. I can't imagine how great the IS350 would be with a manual trans and if the IS-F offered that option it would be one of the great sport sedans, period.
I did hear a lot of good things about the 8 speed though. Shifts are 1/10 th of a second and the throttle "blip" function should be great in down shifts. Still it's missing the sole of a sports car with the auto in it.
MikeW 2:07PM (8/18/2007)
If/when toyota puts the 8 speed auto/LS460 rear axle ratio into the IS350, it should get 255 width rear tires standard (255/45 17)
Faster and better mileage.
1st-30mph, 2nd-60, 3rd-90, 4th-115, 5th-135, 6th-165, 7th-155, 8th-140.
What's not to like? BMW is still a year or two before installin the ZF 8 speed auto in the 335. Nissan is still playing around with 5 speed autos in the G37. (though they have them geared shortly for performance at the cost of mileage)
Ralph 10:45PM (8/17/2007)
Lexus is not alone. VW has introduced the 2008 Golf R32 as a DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox) only, so there goes the manual clutch :(. Fact is that less and less US drivers know how to use a clutch, so it is starting to make economic sense for car companies to concentrate on only one option. Europe gets both options since a much higher percentage of drives use and appreciate stick shifts.
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2004m3driver 11:01PM (8/17/2007)
DSG, TRIPTRONIC, SMG, and all the other clutchless shifting is progress. I probaly would get bashed for saying my M3 is an SMG, but of course I don't care. I've driven good ol manuals before, but living in LA traffic could be a real pain. Though the feel is not there clutchless shifting is where its at, even the new porsche turbo accelerates faster with the triptronic. (barely) Most premium sports cars are going for sequential shifting and probaly soon enough manuals will get phased out.
And also CVT trannies are on the rise, next thing you know there will be highpowered sports cars with CVT trannies. Its all a part of progress. Of course some will stick to the good ol days with gears. While our kids would be like wtf why would I want only 8 gears when my CVT has practically hundreds of gears?
zamafir 11:07PM (8/17/2007)
... we're talking about 400+hp super sport sedans here. The R32 need not apply. Instead we have the RS4 which is ONLY an auto and which is the current moving target all cars in this class must hit. I don't care how much hp this car has, or how many gears they imbue it's slush box with, I have a very hard time believing it'll best the RS4 on the track.
nosmas 4:53AM (8/18/2007)
i don't know how to drive stick - never was an option in driver's ed. and i don't have friends that have a stick car to learn :(
Phil 3:50PM (8/18/2007)
Lexus' transmission is not a dual clutch setup like the other's mentioned. The DSG from VW shifts in .02 seconds. The SMG also shifts quicker than the Lexus, but not as quickly as the VW R32 setup. DSG and the soon to be released SMG II are the leaders in the sequential clutch setup. The Lexus uses the usual torque converter, although it is pretty quick too.
zamafir 11:08PM (8/17/2007)
lmao, retarded typo of the night.
*only a manual.
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Ralph 12:01AM (8/18/2007)
Hmmm, I thought we were discussing the use of automatic-type gearboxes in sporty/sports cars. Whether its 250 or 450 HP the trend is the same. I think its rather obvious that a 250 HP VW is no match for a 425 hp Lexus in a straight line.
2004m3driver 11:27PM (8/17/2007)
yeah the RS4 deserves respect, but all I am saying is dont rule out slushboxes yet. If F1 drivers use sequential shifting then it can't be that bad can it?
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Ryan C. 1:50AM (8/18/2007)
There is a difference between an automatic transmission with controls versus a manual transmission with a computer-operated clutch.