SEMA Preview: 600 hp, twin-turbo Fox Marketing/Artisan Lexus IS-F
by Damon Lavrinc on Sep 4th 2008 at 7:59PM 
UPDATE: We've added three more pics to the gallery showing off the blacked-out logos, grille, headlamps and color-matched front emblem.
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Fox/Artisan Lexus IS-F.
The 2009 Lexus IS-F is slated to get some serious attention at SEMA, and Fox Marketing and Artisan are out to prove that show and go aren't mutually exclusive.
The plan is to create an IS-F that has the power to match its presence, and to that end, Artisan developed a twin-turbo setup that huffs compressed oxygen into a 5.0-liter V8 equipped with JE pistons and Crower rods. With a Mishimoto radiator, an Artisan exhaust, a healthy amount of boost and a thorough tune, Artisan is estimating over 600 hp at the rear wheels.
Aesthetically, the team sought to compliment the stock IS-F's styling, so they've fitted a bespoke body kit consisting of custom front and rear bumpers, and a set of side-skirts that cleanly integrate into the blistered rear fenders. iForged rollers fill the wheel wells, sized 20x9.5-inches in front and 20x11.5-inches in the rear, and wrapped in Toyo T1R tires (255/35R20 front and 305/30R20 rear). The Glasurit Sunset Orange hue is courtesy of BASF, and according to Brian Fox, they'll be blacking out the headlamps, grille and emblems to tie everything together.
Artisan plans to have its IS-F exhaust on sale next month, and when we check out the Lexus booth this November, we'll be able to see Fox/Artisan's efforts in person, along with a handful of other tuned and tweaked IS-Fs.
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Fox/Artisan Lexus IS-F.
The 2009 Lexus IS-F is slated to get some serious attention at SEMA, and Fox Marketing and Artisan are out to prove that show and go aren't mutually exclusive.
The plan is to create an IS-F that has the power to match its presence, and to that end, Artisan developed a twin-turbo setup that huffs compressed oxygen into a 5.0-liter V8 equipped with JE pistons and Crower rods. With a Mishimoto radiator, an Artisan exhaust, a healthy amount of boost and a thorough tune, Artisan is estimating over 600 hp at the rear wheels.
Aesthetically, the team sought to compliment the stock IS-F's styling, so they've fitted a bespoke body kit consisting of custom front and rear bumpers, and a set of side-skirts that cleanly integrate into the blistered rear fenders. iForged rollers fill the wheel wells, sized 20x9.5-inches in front and 20x11.5-inches in the rear, and wrapped in Toyo T1R tires (255/35R20 front and 305/30R20 rear). The Glasurit Sunset Orange hue is courtesy of BASF, and according to Brian Fox, they'll be blacking out the headlamps, grille and emblems to tie everything together.
Artisan plans to have its IS-F exhaust on sale next month, and when we check out the Lexus booth this November, we'll be able to see Fox/Artisan's efforts in person, along with a handful of other tuned and tweaked IS-Fs.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Kumail891 8:03PM (9/04/2008)
this IS F>>>>>>>> Lexus IS F
'nuff said.
Reply
Kumail891 8:04PM (9/04/2008)
if we could pick our color, add two more ">'s"
lol
Tim 9:33PM (9/04/2008)
Wow Lexus take notes. This is a case where less is more. Hate the color but cmon its a car show.... Instead of quad pipes how about a central with two on the side.
Torrent 8:07PM (9/04/2008)
Oh lord. That color is brutal. Stick to gray.
Reply
stevereportdotcom 8:26PM (9/04/2008)
Has anyone actually spent money to get an IS-F?
Reply
zamafir 8:31PM (9/04/2008)
there's something about cutting so many corners your exhaust tips don't even attach to the exhaust that speaks volumes about a car in terms of the big picture... maybe that's helping to disuade a few.
Terry 9:24PM (9/04/2008)
Just so you know that the Lamborghini LP640 and Bugatti Veyron also have tips that aren't connected to the exhaust.
Terry 9:26PM (9/04/2008)
It has NOTHING to do with cost cutting. If they were connected to the exhaust then the tips would melt the bumpers pretty quickly.
zamafir 9:48PM (9/04/2008)
i'm aware, yet the m3's exhaust is fine, as are the s4's, s5's and rs4's.
Terry 9:58PM (9/04/2008)
Then what is your point?
Scott 10:00AM (9/05/2008)
Comparing the IS to a Lambo or Bugatti is already ridiculous, but since you went there the difference is those cars are not pretending to have quad exhausts. They have a SINGLE tip. The IS comes off as a poseur-mobile by putting quad tips on a dual exhaust when no other car does this. The fact that it's detached isn't the (main) problem here.
The "bumper melting" comment is laughable at best. 99.9% of cars have no such problem, even high end sports cars.
Terry 12:48PM (9/05/2008)
I guess the Ferrari California is a poser too? Nevermind, it's a European car!!! They are the best!
Sam 8:29PM (9/04/2008)
I completely agree about the color.
However, the body kit is actually decent (which is pretty unusual), and given the Crower and JE components (along with the others), it sounds as if they actually built the engine to handle the boost. It'd be interesting to know if the platform/chassis can actually handle 600 horse.
That's a sick car. Just repaint it.
Reply
psarhjinian 9:26PM (9/04/2008)
Enough with the exhaust tips, already. Far more expensive cars than the IS-F are guilty of using such gewgaws.
JDMlover 8:44PM (9/04/2008)
RUN M3 RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HAHAHA
I love the IS-F....this is just B.A.D.A.S.S....
Reply
Yar 8:57PM (9/04/2008)
I'm tired of people comparing aftermarket vehicles to stock vehicles. Sure, this will (probably) whoop a stock M3's ass, but that doesn't prove anything.
JDMlover 9:10PM (9/04/2008)
@ Yar
No correction..this WILL outrun a M3...the stock IS-F out runs it...imo i think the IS-F is a all round better car then the m3.
zamafir 9:17PM (9/04/2008)
all around better? Have you driven both? On a track?granted I understand it's your opinion I'm just curious where you're coming from. Ice tracked them both and couldn't find anything substantial ( looks inside and out, handling, poise, etc that weighed in the is-f's favor.
Terry 9:28PM (9/04/2008)
How about the fact that the IS-F is $10k cheaper, will have better resale value, and better reliability?
Mobius_1 9:37PM (9/04/2008)
In a recent test by MotorTrend, M3 outpaced both the C63 (by like 2.8 seconds) and the IS-F (by like 3+ seconds) around their test track. Sure it has less power and torque but around a race track, it rules.