IoM GP2 - Lexus IS-F
Posted by Charlie Turner at 10:30AM on Friday 08 August, 2008 10 Comments
The IS-F arrived on the Friday before the Isle of Man shoot, which gave me a weekend to get a handle on it.
When I drove one back in January I was just blown away by the diversity of it, being a relaxed and refined - although stiff - saloon in town, but a gunnable nutter everywhere else.
The IS-F was crafted by a bunch of rebel Lexus engineers who presented their ideas to the board of Lexus after spending months hammering the prototype round Fuji Raceway (hence the F). A few more months after that, the IS-F finally took to the road with an eight-gear seamless auto and a five-litre V8 developing 417bhp, doing 0-60mph in 5.2 seconds.
Having spent the weekend getting familiar with the IS-F I was looking forward to the first early morning drive around the Isle Of Man on a deserted TT course.
Bill was up front in the GT2 and Horrell behind in the CLK Black. We trundled through the town then out along the bottom section, turned right at the lights up towards Ballach, and Bill nailed it.
Bill’s handy, so to keep up with him in a GT2 the IS-F was going to have to be good.
I was running in honourable F mode - which gives both paddle and lever shift a more aggressive change, and more importantly unleashes all hell in the sound department - and once I buried the throttle the IS-F just launched.
Gone was the poised saloon, we were in supersaloon territory. And that engine, my god. For my money it was producing the best noise of any V8 to date as it howled its way up to the redline.
Through the twists and on up the hill, the GT2 was quick but the IS-F was keeping it in view. Bill would profess later to not really trying, but the IS-F can live with this company. By the time we reached Bungalow on the open sections the IS-F had proved that it really was a supremely fast and hugely competent car.
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10 Comments for "IoM GP2 - Lexus IS-F"
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The IS-F is an astonishing car. The engine, the technology and all that... but why do you need eight gears?
Never driven this car... but I've heard it rev, and you're right. It's one of the best sounding things in existence.
Not surprising, really. No one, not even the Italians, can make an engine sing like Yamaha can... Never really understood why their engines never succeeded in F1.
If im honest the car is probably very good to drive and looks good but if you are going to go for a super saloon in that price market most will go for the BMW M3 saloon or the Mercedes C63 AMG and if they still made the Audi RS4.
The Lexus cannot beat the german badges. Their efforts are worthless (sorry you rebilious lexus mechanics, but i'm sure its a good car)
Being an IS-F owner in Canada I concur wtih Mr. Turner's summary. This car is the ultimate Jeckyl and Hyde, sedate on the highway or in traffic, then a truely thrilling sports car when the animal within beckons.
Looks great, it drives great and you can take your family with you.
It's an ok looking car. It's not ugly, and it's not gorgeous. But, the "best noise of any V8 to date," that is complete rubbish. Since it is not a cock's car any more the M3 sounds so much better, not forget the 430's and some Merc's and Audi's.
When I test drove this saloon, it was really quite competent, And the technology Gizmos inside are quite nice and easy to use (the Sat nav here is probably the easiest on in all saloons). But what's TG's verdict of this saloon compared with Audi RS4, M3 and C63AMG?
It is hard to find roads nice enough to compare them here in Canada. (all there is is straight north-american roads for big american cars that can't turn)
So the IS-F is for people who want to go fast, without buying an M3 or RS4 and looking like a clot. It does look good.
The IS-F definitely is an alternative to the German super saloons but I can't help feeling disappointed that those gorgeous stacked quad tailpipes are just for decoration and aren't really connected to anything. That anti-climax alone would make me sigh if ever I saw one on these Irish back roads.
still i don't think with that power that would match up with the M3! weren't lexus trying to compete with the new bmw m3 in the first place?! and after reading all about the new bmw M3 it doesn't stand a chance! yes lexus makes one heck of a car but they still have a lot of ground to cover to enter the world of bmws M series and mercedes AMG crack squad! but that's just my opinion hopefully i don't sound like a complete idiot.