No, it was shared on Twitter six hours ago and has its own site.

It's also worth mentioning that the site says that this image is of a "concept vehicle shown" so ultimately it's irrelevant. It also says that it's more than one vehicle. I wonder if it has something to do with the Direct-4 AWD and the ES and PHEV/BEV's they've teased in wraps.

https://www.lexus.com/FSPORTPerformance/

 

Would be interesting to at least see a Silhouetteof the vehicle. At that point we could probably tell if it was a true 'concept', as Lexus as shown some really unusual concepts, or if it looked close to production ready, where it could be something that we could expect in the next few months/year.

 

Could be a badge on a carbon fiber wrapped 1NZ-FE engine cover.

 

I think Lexus reasoning is simple to follow. Previously for the IS, F-Sport was mainly suspension/wheels/brakes/LSD upgrades and not attached to power upgrades. Hence you could get IS250 F-Sport and IS350 non F-Sport.

Ever since the 2021 IS, Lexus has rationalized their optional packages regarding F-Sport. Now F-Sport must compulsorily connote a power upgrade as well as suspension/wheels/brakes/LSD upgrades. So only the higher hp IS engine models get F-Sport. Ergo, an F-Sport Lexus IS automatically means it's a higher hp, more powerful engine IS. So :

IS300 2L 4 cylinder turbo 200+ hp
IS350 F-Sport with AVS suspension/19 wheels/option of Forged BBS wheels/option of Torsen LSD plus 3.5L V6 300+ hp
IS500 F-Sport with better tuned AVS/further wheel upgrades/brake upgrades/LSD upgrades/further chassis improvements?? plus 3.4L TT V6 ?? 400+ hp

 

Thanks for the info! Hmm now that you mention it, the Direct-4 AWD is a good guess as well. Time will tell.

 

Gonna be cynical and say this is going to be a new gx fsport or some bs. No reason to believe otherwise so far

 

Pretty strange to put a new engine into a really really really really really really old chassis with new lipstick.

 

But cheap and easy and a lot of people would just suck it up...

 

not sure if “a lot of people” will be buying this.

 

I'm not so sure. I think most enthusiasts who buy cars like the ISF have wised up to Lexus' second rate effort on performance cars. Lexus does luxury and design well so cars like the LC500 are hits while the cars like the GSF are considered overpriced (not enough oomph for the money). I think adding sporty appearance packages is fine for Lexus as they seem to get better sales to the masses this way. I don't really believe Lexus will be competitive anymore on the performance front from now on.

 

It won't be a "F" car. It will just be F-Sport so perhaps IS500. The problem isnt that Lexus cant do performance right, they just overprice their cars. GSF has no reason being a $90k car when it pretty much uses old hardware through and through. If they price the new "IS500" at $60k starting, they have a shot. It will certainly outsell the RCF just based on usability alone.

 

I don't don't think some of you folks appreciate "F" aura as it applies to owners of Lexus F vehicles. My prior car was a full bolt-on ISF. Look at some oil the posts in the iSF forum and you'll see what I mean. There are owners over there that have owned three or four ISFs. I miss my ISF TBH. When I decided I wanted something new, I thought about the RCF for about a minute, The GSF way to big. So in the end I decided on an LC. Do I miss that it's not labeled with the "F" - yup I do. But, if the LCF was as rumored I would not have bought it. I'm an NA guy thru and thru

Lou

 

^
If Lexus can do this right which is a HUGE if - I can see IS500 having success for ppl wanting a NA V8. Past IS owners and BMW owners not on board with new M3 styling etc. It will be priced at over $70k so sales will be very small.

Personally I don’t like the IS and hope its LC Fsport model. LC is by far the best Lexus product and deserves an Fsport variant!

 

Lexus overpriced their V8s. Gone were the affordable Ls460, Ls430, GS430 and Gs460.

 

i submit that the LC500 is not overpriced.