Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA, Lexus, Toyota
Lexus rolling out factory performance parts at SEMA
click above image for high-res gallery of the Lexus IS-F
Toyota is the official sponsor of this year's SEMA Show in Las Vegas, and Lexus, its luxury division, will be making its first appearance in Sin City at the end of October. On hand will be the Lexus IS-F, a very high-performance version of the brand's smallest model. What better place then to also announce a new line of performance parts and accessories for Lexus? We have no idea what the performance parts will be, but will find out at a press conference in Las Vegas on October 30th. We're guessing a performance exhaust and air filter are a given, maybe a strut-tower brace, and if we're really lucky a TRD supercharger to make the 400 HP 5.0L V8 even more fierce.
Along with the IS-F and announcement of new performance parts, Lexus will also bring along nine project vehicles to the SEMA Show. We're also expecting the all-new Corolla, Matrix, a heavy-duty Tundra and convertible FJ Cruiser from Toyota to be present.
[Source: Inside Line]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
sw 10:09AM (9/21/2007)
I think this is the perfect mid life crisis car, it gives you power and room in the back to cart grandkids around in.
Reply
El Calor 10:40AM (9/21/2007)
This years show is going to be awesome! Can't wait to see the IS-F in person :D
http://www.LexusF.com
Reply
RockStoneSteel 10:54AM (9/21/2007)
Add all the horsepower you want, the Lexus' is still just a friggin' 4 door sedan. My grandpa would probably be quite excited. Give me a call when Lexus decides to make 2 door variants of their current offerings with their current wonderful drivetrains. And no, I don't want no dufus ugly specialty coupes like their current SC offering.
So give me a normal looking 2 door coupe, and while your at it, let me opt out of that gaudy leather and wood grain. Give me a comfortable durable fabric like Alcantara or microsuede, and some stainless trim, and I'll take a look.
Reply
psarhjinian 9:02PM (9/21/2007)
I diagree: I see more coupes driven by 50+ and more four-door sports cars driven by 20-34. Take note:
Two doors: 3-Series/M3, 6-Series, CLK, A5, Solara, Altima, Accord coupe. You see the occasional Civic Si or Cobalt SS. By and large, these are luxury cars
Four doors: SRT-4 MazdaSpeed 3, WRX and STi, Evo, Si Sedan. These are more youthful models by far--note that Honda released a Si sedan because the coupe was selling badly, and that the Cobalt SS is going away, replaced by the HHR SS.
Small coupes with four seats are silly things and I think that, by the time you can justify one (if you can at all) you're a senior manager with a six-figure salary who's ten years from retirement, You're probably going to dinner or to a cocktail party.
RockStoneSteel 3:24AM (9/22/2007)
psarhjinian,
The only reason the 4 door Evo's, SRT-4's, WRX's and such sell at all is because they are cheap speed. Make 2 door variants, and I'll guarantee their sales would at least double. As for practicality, are you telling me these tiny 4 doors are somehow practical? Especially, in the case of compacts, I'd much rather have the 2 door coupe in which the doors are significantly larger and provide greater ease of entry and exit for the driver and passenger. Add to that, in a 2 door, the B-pillar is no longer pressed against your shoulder or blocking your side view in order to accommodate those 2 rear doors. Need I mention the added dead weight of the extra hinge hardpoints and window mechanisms of a 4 door?
Take a look at the cars on the road at any given time. By far, the vast, vast majority only contain one or two occupants. And you mention the 2 door Accord and 2 door Civic... At least here in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex, these 2 door variants make up a very significant portion of the sales for these 2 Honda models. In fact, I'd say the 2 door Civic sales exceed that of the 4 door.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that the 2 door vehicles should replace the 4 door, but it should be made available. If for no other reason, the pure aesthetics. I think few people would disagree that the lines and proportions of the 2 door vehicles are typically more pleasant and sportier looking than their 2 door counterparts. This is true for those that you mention such as the new Altima coupe, the Accord coupe, and especially the 2 door coupe. Nothing at all impractical about it. ...although I wouldn't mind those with a lift/hatch back option for greater versatility, but keep the same overall lines. And by the way, the most recent Civic SI 2 door sold poorly here in the states because it was dufus stupid looking and only came with a 6 speed manual. Here in the US, that just won't fly. And you are quite mistaken, it's not the senior managers making six figures that are driving the 2 door Civic coupes and 2 door BMW minis. It's the same demographic that got stuck wishing the Evo's and WRX's came in a 2 door version!
As for the Lexus, I guarantee their average age of buyer would probably drop a few decades if they offered 2 door variants of their popular sedans. Lexus would at the very least expand their market to those would not otherwise consider the brand.
Quattroporte 10:59AM (9/21/2007)
Out of all their new performance parts, they need to sell an OFF switch for the eletronic driving aids if the car does not have one already.
Reply
MKIV 11:30AM (9/21/2007)
The IS-F does have a three setting switch for the VDIM [traction control system] Leave it on and the electronics will fully control the traction and skid, setting two will give you a sport setting that will allow you to get sideways but will step in if you loose control to save your but. Then you can turn it completely off for those who know how to trow a car around under control and the electronics will not step into save your but.
MoonRover 11:22AM (9/21/2007)
They should have worried less about performance and more about a good designer. Toyota does not make cars that look exciting, they look very common, nothing outstanding to get the blood pumping.
Reply
PiCASSO 11:50AM (9/21/2007)
The standard IS250/IS350 with 18-inch rims looks sweet. I wished that Lexus didn't slap on that Fast & the Furious front/rear end, because this one makes it look like an aftermarket vehicle. Lexus should look towards BMW, Audi, or MB for their line of M, RS, and AMG vehicles. Imitation can be a good thing...
Reply
Majortom1981 1:06PM (9/21/2007)
Immatation is not a good thing. Toyota is a company people LOVE to bash. IF they immatated those companies then they would get bashed even more.
nezromatron 1:19PM (9/21/2007)
Is a third pedal part of the performance parts? Or is this too complex for the target audience to use?
Reply
narcszm 2:56PM (9/21/2007)
Toyota Racing Development = TuRD
Lexus Racing Development = LaRD ?
Reply
FLR 2:58PM (9/21/2007)
It's been said before and I'll say it again....
F is for F-U-G-L-Y!
Reply
MKIV 3:19PM (9/21/2007)
What does FLR stands for?
Fat Lazy Retard?? Just curious...
Valkyr 3:30PM (9/21/2007)
I think the car looks hot as hell, and I'm not really sure why people are bashing the fact that the car is a saloon? It's in the same boat as the S4, get over it, two doors doesn't make it go faster. The IS350 is a fantastic car, and can only imagine what this is like. I will admit that the absence of a straight up manual is a little disappointing, but that's as far as my disappointment goes.
FLR 4:10PM (9/21/2007)
It only took you 20 minutes to come up with that? Nice job.....your mother must be proud.
Who pissed on your Corn Flakes? I'm far from the only one who has called it fugly. Go take a look at Edmund's Inside Line review....they use the same word.
FLR 4:11PM (9/21/2007)
^^^^
Directed at MKIV.
Reply
Rick 7:02PM (9/21/2007)
Eww. I like suspensions but what's with the ghetto drop on a $35K+ luxury car? Lexus couldn't get the suspension right so they just cut the springs or something?
Reply