In the May issues of Car/EVO the IS-F with the diff is tested. EVO gives it 5 out of 5 stars, CAR 4 out of 5.

 

Speedy Lexus IS F won't be a Sleeper for Too Long

The 2010 Lexus IS F remains a sleeper.

Not because it can't blow the doors off most sport sedans: It can.

But it's a sleeper because it's still very early in its life, and no one associates Toyota Motor Corp.'s luxury brand with a true performance brand: They should.

In fact, it's an absolute hoot to drive. The first performance Lexus, introduced in 2008, is surgical in its precision. Every detail feels exact and plush.

For this model year, Lexus has even bumped up its offerings, including things like the first direct shift 8-speed automatic, a Torsen limited slip differential and connectivity for the driver's iPod or other personal music device. The additions improve the car's capabilities and its user friendliness, which make them exactly the kinds of things you want to add. Of course, the new 19-inch tire package is pretty nice too.

My Matador Red test vehicle might as well have come with neon signs that screamed, "Pull me over, officer," as this car looks almost as fast as it goes.

The 5-liter V-8 cranks out 416 horsepower and 371 pound-feet of torque at an incredible pace. But this is not a car in which Lexus just threw in a big V-8 and hoped for the best. The engine is refined and very high-tech.

Lexus included direct-to-port fuel injection, an electronic throttle system, dual air intake system that adjusts airflow depending on how hard the engine is running and a scavenge pump that forces oil into the cylinders even if the car is taking corners that surpass 1 G of force. These are serious, high-tech pieces that all play to this car's look and feel.

There's also the Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management system that can transfer power through the rear axle to one wheel or the other and limit an inside tire from spinning too much through a turn. The VDIM also allows a driver to select the type of performance he or she wants -- normal, sport or snow -- and the vehicle adjusts accordingly.

When you use the manual direct shift to feel all that torque, the car will make you laugh out loud it is so quick. In automatic mode, the car quickly clicks through its gears with hardly a noticeable shift. It even sounds incredibly smooth. Of course, having eight gears at my disposal was even more interesting because if I were in manual mode and on the highway, I often found myself in sixth or seventh gear and never thought to push it to eight -- the transmission equivalent of Nigel Tufnel's speaker that goes to 11.

But maybe this car has an 11 mode, as it always seems to respond faster than you expect. The independent suspension provides a sporty ride, which means you can feel lots of bumps, but there's very little road or wind noise inside the car. The only thing you hear often is the sweet rumble of the engine.

In every way, the car's performance matches its looks, which are aggressive and mean -- and very unLexus-like.

The exterior plays off the trapezoidal-shaped front and rear fascia. The lines all around the car are sharp and well-defined. While most Lexus vehicles tend not to stand out in the parking lot, the IS F begs people to take a closer look. From the rear, double, double-stacked exhaust defusers (there are two on each side) add to the car's muscular looks. The rear spoiler is discreet and adds to the car's mystique, as people in the know will wonder what's under the hood to have a car like this need a spoiler.

The car's interior is just as nice. The racing seats hold you in very snugly, and the space inside feels like a performance cockpit. Lexus uses lots of aluminum trim throughout the cabin instead of silver plastic that only looks like aluminum. The difference is noticeable and appreciated.

Like other luxury carmakers with a performance badge, Lexus decorates the car with lots of F logos.

While this car keys on performance, with everything from big brakes (14.2-inch front rotors) and taut electric power steering, it never skips the luxury side of the equation either. There are the expected features such as push-button start and passive unlocking, which allows you to unlock the car by pulling on the door handle with the key still in your pocket.

There are the other features, such as 10-way power adjustable seats and dual climate zones as well as a 13-speaker stereo system and the USB connectivity for your music player or for keeping your iPhone 4 fully charged. There's also an optional 14-speaker Mark Levinson package that includes a navigation system and the Lexus Enform with Destination Assist, which connects the driver to an agent who can assist him or her.

The one area the IS F lacks is space. While the front two passengers have plenty of room -- there's nearly 44 inches of leg room -- the second row barely has 30 inches of space for your legs. Additionally, the race seats may hold you in nicely during tight corners, but they also tend to squeeze you too much on straightaways.

Really, this car comes down to its driving. It bites through corners and begs you to go faster. Late at night, when no one else is on the road, you say to yourself, I wonder what this car can really do?

But then, after pressing down on the gas and feeling the car instantly respond with throaty acceleration, you lift your foot off the pedal. This car is scary fast and you know it. There's no reason to test any limits tonight; maybe tomorrow.

The IS F may be a sleeper right now. But eventually people will learn. They always do.

sburgess@detnews.com (313) 223-3217

 

1st Drive: 2011 Lexus IS F

You'll have to look very closely to see the on-the-surface differences made to the refreshed 2011 Lexus IS F, which is slated to make its world debut at this month's 2010 Paris auto show. In fact the only revision to the IS F's exterior are newly fitted LED driving lights, supposedly added to make the Lexus easier to spot at high speeds (and not to follow the Audi-led trend).

Working within a tight budget, chief engineer Yukihiko Yaguchi tells us that he was basically happy with the car's exterior styling and that he placed far more importance on "taking the IS F to the next level in handling and ride quality." Good idea, because the IS F was certainly in need of some next level work in that area.

With its throaty exhaust note, the IS F is a beast, packing a 416 horsepower, 5.0-liter V-8 mated to an 8-speed, flappy-paddle gearbox. But pushed hard, the car's chassis would become unsettled, especially at the rear end.

That is not the case with the 2011 revision, which squats nicely in the corners and hangs on like an angry pit bull. Behind the wheel of a pre-production Australian-spec model at Fuji Speedway recently, we were more than impressed at the improvements that Yaguchi and his team have made to the car's high-speed cornering stability.

Although the powertrain and the car's 3800-lb curb weight remain the same, the suspension settings have been totally recalibrated. The combination of spring rate revisions and dampers, fitted with new high performance valves in addition to reinforced suspension member connectors and bushes, permit more front-end suspension stroke yet firm up the rear end. This generates greater traction and stability at high speeds. An unexpected byproduct of this revision is the car's more compliant ride, which Yaguchi says "was a bonus but something we aimed for." Adjustments to the steering power-assist mechanism made for more precise and accurate turn-in as well as greater feedback through the wheel.

The results are that the 2011 IS F can now be pushed even harder into corners; it stays more composed under heavy braking, at turn-in, and while experiencing changes of road camber and elevation. The IS F also exhibits less understeer and more rear wheel grip and stability. In fact, the rear end is now so tied down that a slight enhancement of front-end downforce might generate even greater all-round traction and stability. The new model laps the 2.8-mile Fuji Speedway in 2 minutes, 3.4 seconds -- nearly 2 seconds faster than its predecessor -- thanks to Yaguchi's subtle, yet substantial, modifications.

To elevate the driving experience even further, Yaguchi completely rethought the instrumentation layout and borrowed design hints from well-known sports cars like Porsche and Ferrari. As a result, the IS F now features a large, centrally located tachometer which spins to a 6800-rpm redline, along with a newly added gear selector and speed gauge. To the right of the tach is a smaller analog speedometer, which Yaguchi says is "...a novelty, just there to show potential buyers that the car is capable of 300 kmh (186 mph)."

Another idea borrowed from Europe's hottest sports cars (ahem, BMW) is the newly fitted shift indicator situated inside the top half of the tachometer. While accelerating hard and concentrating on nailing the right lines around a track, a row of lights illuminate within your lower peripheral vision and make it far easier to sense on-the-limit engine revs than in the outgoing model. This new system lights 1 orange LED at 5000 rpm, another at 5500 rpm and a "shift now" red light at 6500 rpm. "And don't worry, we did not fit automatic up-shifts. The driver has to change gears, even bouncing off the redline," stresses Yaguchi.

Yet another strategic addition (that you won't find on export models, unfortunately) is the 'circuit mode,' a la the Nissan GT-R. It may not mean anything to you, but it does illustrate just how much effort Yaguchi and Co. have put into the revised IS F. Now fitted with a hi-tech GPS sat-nav device programmed with Japan's 14 registered race tracks, the IS F will automatically disengage its 180 kmh (112 mph) speed limiter (all Japanese domestic cars come equipped with such a speed limiter) when the vehicle enters a race track. After the track session, and only if the driver so desires, the system will send the vehicle's lap times to a central dealer database accessible by all IS F owners, thus setting up a platform for bragging rights to best laps. Neat trick...

So, when will we see this bright-eyed, better-handling IS F? We'll likely know more during the Paris show press days (Sept. 30-Oct. 1), but we expect to see the revised model here soon. After all, Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda, an ardent racing fan who has piloted a Lexus LFA in the 24-hours of Nurburgring, says he wants to add more "fun" to his cars. And where better to start than with one of the company's highest performing vehicles?

 

here it is:

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...ive/index.html

the writer does nothing but praise the car...the comments below are all hatin' on the IS-F. One guy thinks the IS-F is comparable to a base 335i...WTF... your thoughts?

 

There are just too many haters. Don't worry about them

 

This may be game changer for IS-F there was shoot done were M3 beat IS-F on the track by 2 or 3 seconds don't remember were I saw it, but if IS-F is now 2 seconds faster then early model around track this will give the M3 crowd something to worry about. Since there best argument has been that it beats ISF on the track, but now this may no longer be the case. It's been M3, track king ok street car, IS-F king of street more fun to drive on the streets and highway were 99% of all driving is done, but ok track car. Well there maybe a new all around King of road and that may be the upstart IS-F.

The F should be more like MMA fighter jack of all trades, that's what makes a great MMA fighter. I guy that has master several disciplines and combined them to become champion not just one punch artist such as focusing only on one aspect driving experience. No matter what there will always be fanboys that think BMW M3 and 335 are Gods chariots and that know other car is as good or better then bimmers but we all know better than that . Looking forward to future unbiased reviews from the other rags Road & Track, Automobile, BMW and Driver oops my bad I meant Car and Driver etc.

 

Thanks for the post.

Man I wish those headrests were a US option. Would save me the trouble of making them some day.

 

Hi everyone ,
Found this review of the 2011 ISF in Sportscar monitor:

http://www.sportscarmonitor.com/blog...f-drive-review

2011 Lexus IS-F Drive Review
Lyndon Conrad Bell January 4th, 2011 Lyndon Conrad Bell By Lyndon Conrad Bell January 4th, 2011

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* 346 Views
* comment now!


January 4th, 2011
In the zeal to praise Audi’s S4, BMW’s M3, Cadillac’s CTS-V, and the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG, the Lexus IS-F often gets overlooked. This is a mistake. Possessing a competitive degree of speed, handling, and cachet wholly in line with the “fire-breathing four”, the IS-F easily runs with those cars. Motive force is provided by a 5.0-liter version of the Lexus V8 tuned to deliver 416 horsepower and 371 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission, shifted by paddles on the steering wheel, sends the engine’s output to the rear wheels. For 2011, Lexus engineers have specified a limited-slip torque sensing rear differential to better harness the vortex of thrust generated by the V-8. Other mechanical tweaks for 2011 include revisions to the power steering system to improve feel and accuracy, and suspension revisions to improve ride quality. On the cosmetics front, (no pun intended) two strings of LED daytime running lights turn heads now as the IS-F cruises down the street. Inside, the driver is treated to a revised instrument cluster flaunting a huge tachometer placed front and center. Our test car featured the new orange and black interior treatment for the sport seats, laced with blue French stitching. With the introduction of the LF-A last year, the IS-F is no longer the top performing Lexus, but is still highly potent nonetheless. In our 0-to-60-mph runs, the 2011 IS-F consistently hit 60 mph before five seconds elapsed on our stopwatch. Switch off the traction control, pin the throttle and you can easily convert the back tires into billowing clouds of blue smoke. Despite this, the IS-F is more than just a hot rod. It is a highly competent sports sedan with exceptional balance, sharp (but accurate) turn-in, an amazing degree of roadholding, and outstanding braking ability. The robust bark of that 5.0-liter when the transmission blips the throttle on downshifts sends waves of excitement through everyone in the car. The sound of the engine under full throttle has an equally stimulating quality all its own. At speed, the IS-F demonstrates a degree of stability that enables it to be driven comfortably at triple-digit speeds for hours on end. Dynamically, there are very few cars that rival the experience provided by the Lexus IS-F. Still, there are a couple of things we’d change. The traction control system is a bit too aggressive, often bogging the IS-F in mid-corner—even though the car is more than capable of negotiating the turn. Happily, holding the traction control button for three seconds switches it off completely. Running the car in sport mode also broadens the threshold before it kicks in. Also, while the eight-speed transmission is great for fuel economy and smoothness, it often causes downshift delays because it has to go through so many gears to get down to the optimal one. Of course, over time you can adapt to those quirks, and when you do, the IS-F delivers—big time. While the Lexus IS-F has only one stablemate that goes better than it does, when it comes to comfort and convenience, it is 100-percent Lexus. Everything you expect to find in a contemporary luxury car is available, including a hard-drive-based navigation system with a back-up camera, real-time traffic and weather updates. Nav-equipped vehicles also come with a one-year subscription to Lexus' Enform, which provides on-call travel adviser. The one thing typical Lexus drivers might miss is the brand’s notable cloud-like ride. But in exchange for that isolation, the IS-F offers a degree of engagement typical of the most elite sporting automobiles. 2011 Lexus IS-F pricing starts at $59,760.

In the zeal to praise Audi’s S4, BMW’s M3, Cadillac’s CTS-V, and the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG, the Lexus IS-F often gets overlooked. This is a mistake. Possessing a competitive degree of speed, handling, and cachet wholly in line with the “fire-breathing four”, the IS-F easily runs with those cars.

Motive force is provided by a 5.0-liter version of the Lexus V8 tuned to deliver 416 horsepower and 371 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission, shifted by paddles on the steering wheel, sends the engine’s output to the rear wheels. For 2011, Lexus engineers have specified a limited-slip torque sensing rear differential to better harness the vortex of thrust generated by the V-8. Other mechanical tweaks for 2011 include revisions to the power steering system to improve feel and accuracy, and suspension revisions to improve ride quality.

On the cosmetics front, (no pun intended) two strings of LED daytime running lights turn heads now as the IS-F cruises down the street. Inside, the driver is treated to a revised instrument cluster flaunting a huge tachometer placed front and center. Our test car featured the new orange and black interior treatment for the sport seats, laced with blue French stitching.

With the introduction of the LF-A last year, the IS-F is no longer the top performing Lexus, but is still highly potent nonetheless. In our 0-to-60-mph runs, the 2011 IS-F consistently hit 60 mph before five seconds elapsed on our stopwatch. Switch off the traction control, pin the throttle and you can easily convert the back tires into billowing clouds of blue smoke.

Despite this, the IS-F is more than just a hot rod. It is a highly competent sports sedan with exceptional balance, sharp (but accurate) turn-in, an amazing degree of roadholding, and outstanding braking ability. The robust bark of that 5.0-liter when the transmission blips the throttle on downshifts sends waves of excitement through everyone in the car. The sound of the engine under full throttle has an equally stimulating quality all its own. At speed, the IS-F demonstrates a degree of stability that enables it to be driven comfortably at triple-digit speeds for hours on end. Dynamically, there are very few cars that rival the experience provided by the Lexus IS-F.

Still, there are a couple of things we’d change. The traction control system is a bit too aggressive, often bogging the IS-F in mid-corner—even though the car is more than capable of negotiating the turn. Happily, holding the traction control button for three seconds switches it off completely. Running the car in sport mode also broadens the threshold before it kicks in. Also, while the eight-speed transmission is great for fuel economy and smoothness, it often causes downshift delays because it has to go through so many gears to get down to the optimal one. Of course, over time you can adapt to those quirks, and when you do, the IS-F delivers—big time.

While the Lexus IS-F has only one stablemate that goes better than it does, when it comes to comfort and convenience, it is 100-percent Lexus. Everything you expect to find in a contemporary luxury car is available, including a hard-drive-based navigation system with a back-up camera, real-time traffic and weather updates. Nav-equipped vehicles also come with a one-year subscription to Lexus' Enform, which provides on-call travel adviser.

The one thing typical Lexus drivers might miss is the brand’s notable cloud-like ride. But in exchange for that isolation, the IS-F offers a degree of engagement typical of the most elite sporting automobiles.

2011 Lexus IS-F pricing starts at $59,760.

 

Another great review of 2011 IS F from MarketWatch.com:


2011 Lexus IS F
If you can’t afford LFA model, this car may be for you


By Ron Amadon, MarketWatch

Jan. 22, 2011, 6:00 a.m. EST

DAMASCUS, Md. (MarketWatch) — When the opportunity came to spend a week in the Lexus IS F there was no hesitation in saying, “yes.”

Consider a 5.0-liter double-overhead-cam V8, good for 416 horsepower at 6,600 rpm and 371 lb-ft. of torque at 5,200 rpm. With the slick-shifting 8-speed transmission with nice large paddle shifts, zero to 60 in seconds is, to put it mildly, almost as swift as Taylor Swift.

Top speed is electronically limited to 168 miles per hour should you get a track day in the IS F.

While some might object to the tight suspension and stiff ride, the trade-off is sports-car handling that will allow you to keep up with most anything on the road.

In fact, with one exception, the IS F is the most fun you can have in a Lexus /quotes/comstock/13*!tm/quotes/nls/tm (TM 84.90, -0.10, -0.12%) , falling short of only the LFA. Here, you would graduate up to a 560 horsepower V-10 good for zero to 60 times well under the 4-second mark and road holding in excess of 1 g. Your base price would also increase from roughly $59,000 for the IS F to $375,000 in the LFA. If nothing else, it is a set of figures to keep in mind if your spouse objects to the price of the IS F.

A double wishbone front suspension along with a multilink rear suspension and sticky 19-inch tires do the trick of fulfilling the handling needs of most exuberant drivers. Brembo brakes will put a big whoa to the proceedings any time you need them to.

Things quiet down substantially on the interstate, giving the driver and passenger a chance to enjoy the luxury car interior. Well fitted and formed, the gauges are easy to read, and there is more than adequate head and leg room for a 6’-tall driver. The rear seats are for storage of nonhumanoid-type cargo that might be lugged home from the office or grocery store.
2011 Lexus IS F
Base price $59,010
Drive RWD
Engine 416 hp V-8
EPA rating 16/23 mpg
Handling Outstanding
]RON'S RATING Superb


The front sport seats will have a lock on your bottom and back yet were all-day comfortable on trips. The blue ambient lighting also added to the sporty nature of the car.

If it matters, the car is rated at 16-23 miles per gallon of premium unleaded by the EPA. I got 18 miles per gallon in mostly back road, highly enjoyable driving.

The car earned a “good” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in its crash tests.

Audio wise, the car came with a premium, 13-speaker system that produced some crisp sounds. The so-so navigation system will also keep you up to date on traffic jams and the stock markets that can be equally frustrating.

Looking at the market as a whole, the IS F is often overlooked by those seeking a fun to drive sedan. Yet the combination of power, handling and luxury touches is hard to beat, not to mention the usual Lexus quality. In the end, this is a 5-star car on a 5-star scale.
Hubcaps

Nationwide the price of gas has hit $3.10 on average, according to the Energy Department. One Toyota sales executive predicts that customer buying habits will change toward more fuel-efficient vehicles when that nationwide average hits $3.50 a gallon. The average price of $3.38 a gallon in San Francisco, now leads the pack.

Vehicles tested in this column are on loan from auto companies through local distributors.

Ron Amadon writes about cars for MarketWatch from Washington.

 

Hi all! We just uploaded a new article written by Jean-Jacques Cornaert all about the IS-F. You guys were the first ones I thought of when I read the article, I think you'll enjoy it, and I'd love to get your feedback on it. Here's the link.

 

"And this is why Lexus customers always feel at home, whichever continent they find themselves on, and whichever model they are driving."

couldn't agree more!

 

Makes me feel all worm and fuzzy!!

 

Wow a very well written article. The IS-F never gets boring thats for sure. Every time you step on the gas pedal and shift into the gear car as it thrusts forward is an amazing feeling.

 

Sounds a lot like my Supra...

 

A nice personal perspective on the IS F. It is safe to say the F has created a new viewpoint for people to see what Lexus is capable of. I, as well as many if not all of you fellow F owners, cannot wait to hear the powerful nature of the V8 engine unleashed on the roads again.