All this controversy and criticism has gotten so old it's just complete entertainment .

The "F" won't stand for "fast", simple as that.

 

Name me another automaker that uses Formula 1 as a connection to a high performance sub-brand sporting "F" emblems.

 

M5 has a V10 rated at 500HP @7750 RPM, but only 383 lb-ft torque @ a rather high 6100 RPM. It also revs to 8000 RPM.

The IS-F's 5.0L V8 revs lower, and makes more torque at a much lower RPM.

The 2UR-FSE can easily be tuned to 450HP, rather than the 425HP that the IS-F is supposed to have. And pushing the revs higher, it can also hit 500HP quite easily too.

Don't assume that a GS-F will have the same power ratings as an IS-F. Expect some different tuning, or perhaps even a different engine.

 

So they bail on Team Lexus, and now launch the F division. Might they go racing with the new cars?

I can think of at least a dozen things I'd like to see different and aimed at the enthusiast with the new line. Simple dumb stuff like adjustable alignment (something the IS lacks - the FSM says replace parts until the alignment is good.) More exotic stuff like California smog legal performance mods (a la Scion with the TRD supercharger), not just a cat back exhaust with marginal gains in performance and a large price tag. How about a valet key that restricts the car's power so the valet won't be doing donuts in the parking lot while you're inside?

How about Lexus sponsored track/driver training days like Porsche and BMW do?

The worst thing that could happen is for it to turn out like TRD. A few parts, not much for any real performance gains unless you buy a roots blower, and mostly apparel unless you are a real racing team.

C'mon Lexus, do something different or do something the same, but whatever it is, do it right and do it well.

 

Well they need to be serious this time!!! If they mess this one up the brand will suffer, but if they succeed the brand will benefit. As it should be.

I am hopeful that Team Lexus will return next year...?

 

My first ring to it was FORMULA also.
I think that Lexus wants F1 association with F letter. Maybe they should have went with the whole word instead of just a first letter.

 

Why can't Lexus use the old suspension set-up that was in the Supra I know it is old tech. but the Supra TT was the best handiling car I ever drove.

 

because its old tech like you mentioned, I wouldnt want 15 year old suspension designs on a 2008 car

 

What difference does it make how old the suspension is (within reasonable limits)? What matters is how well the suspension does its job. If anything, I think many older suspensions are better than the new ones because mfg's have been switching to cheaper and cheaper setups to save money (can you say McPherson struts?).

 

This has been done previously with the Chuck Goldsboro Team Lexus. It was called the Lexus Performance Driving School. It is a comprehensive 1 day class for $500.00. You were taught techniques in brand new off the boat IS300's (at the time), hotlaps in the Team Lexus GS race car, SC430 Pace Car and also got to flog an LS430 as well. The last time they offered this was in 2004 here in CA, at CA Speedway. It's also been held at the Texas Motor Speedway in Texas. Many of our members previously attended these events.

https://www.clublexus.com/gallery/sh...ry.php?cat=541

Here are also some of the events Lexus has hosted for us at CA speedway as they hosted the Grand Am Cup events at CA Speedway in the past:

2002:
https://www.clublexus.com/gallery/sh...ry.php?cat=510

2003:
https://www.clublexus.com/gallery/sh...ry.php?cat=555

2004
https://www.clublexus.com/gallery/sh...ry.php?cat=605

I have talked to Lexus about bringing it back. Right now it's not forgotten, but not an immediate priority due to budget constraints.

 

Nevermind, I read another article posted on another forum that made it more obvious to me that they won't be including the LS600h's powertrain - just the 5.0L motor itself, minus the hybrid hardware.

Thank goodness - the IS did NOT need that extra weight and complication.

I've read some places that Lexus might get yamaha to help them tune the 5.0 for even more power but it seems strange that they'd need an outsider's help to make a 5.0 version of the 380hp 4.6 make only 45 more ponies. I mean while increased displacement of course doesn't automatically equal a proportional increase in power... it's still typically something close enough, and if the 5.0 made as much power per displacement as the 4.6 made it would already be outputting 413 horsepower.

Oh, by the way, the more I think of about, the more I don't like "F". In the US a lot of people will, instead of saying "f__k" will say "eff" or "f"... like "f that guy" or whatever. I guess it was used in the movie "2F2F" for the word "fast" but I'm not sure that movie has the best connotations for Lexus to want to be associated with, either...

I mean BMW already has "M", Caddy has "V"... maybe Lexus should innovate and not stick to the "add a letter to make it high performance" trend?

 

Toyota has done ventures with Yamaha in the past. I think they might have a stake in Yamaha as well.

 

Ahem... Nissan's VQ.

 

Yeah they've done some stuff with Yamaha in the past, in fact I think they have historically and still do supply most (if not all) of their interior wood components from Yamaha's piano division, right?

Then again Ford has done some collaboration with Yamaha as well - including the Taurus SHO.

 

Well the basic design for the Lexus car V8 has gone unchanged since it was introduced for the 1990 model year... that's 17 model years of the LS that went by using the same basic motor design.. and the SC will be using it for at least the 18th consecutive year.

Granted it has seen lots of tweaks to the materials, packaging, attached accessories, valve train technology, fuel delivery system, and more... but underneath the motor has been inherently just a revision of itself for quite some number of years.

People would be amazed how many transmission, engine, and suspension designs have remained inherently, at the most basic level, the same for decades, yet are still vastly superior to what they used to be back in the day, are still extremely viable in today's market, and more importantly are a tried and true and very proven design... no surprises as might be very much so the case in the first years of a new design.