Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance Headed To Japan

Going Japanese

While Lexus (and its parent company, Toyota) is a distinctly Japanese entity, the luxury brand created the V8-powered IS 500 F Sport Performance with Americans in mind. After all, we're the ones that love V8s and their rumbly performance, and that's precisely why we got this amazing machine. However, it seems as if Lexus will also be selling the IS 500 F Sport Performance it Japan, too.

Photos: Lexus

Big Power

Currently, the Lexus IS is only available in IS 350 and IS 300h guises in Japan, so this is big news for folks in that country who crave a bit more performance. In terms of power, the Japanese version of this sedan is essentially identical to its American counterpart, too, with its naturally-aspirated 5.0-liter V8 cranking out 472 horsepower and 395 pound-feet of torque.

Photos: Lexus

First Edition

Japanese buyers will be getting something extra special, however - 500 examples of the F Sport Performance First Edition will be sold to a handful of lucky customers that enter a lottery to win that chance, and that particular model gets a host of unique touches compared to its regular counterpart.

Photos: Lexus

Special Features

Those touches include matte black BBS 19-inch forged aluminum wheels, black side mirrors, Ash interior trim, black and brown perforated leather seats, and F Sport Performance First Edition door sill plates and other adornments.

Photos: Lexus

Solid Performance

Sending its power through an eight-speed automatic transmission, the IS 500 F Sport Performance is capable of ripping off a respectable 0-60 time of 4.5 seconds, though it sounds pretty amazing getting there, too. Now, those that live in Japan will get the chance to experience what makes Lexus' N/A V8s so special as well.

Photos: Lexus

Power and Sound

"In addition to the excellent maneuverability and high-quality ride comfort of the compact FR sports sedan IS, we decided to introduce the IS 500 in Japan to meet the expectations of customers who want power and sensual sound," said Lexus' head of international product planning, Naomi Kobayashi. "In order to realize the basic nature of the car that maximizes the appeal of V8, we drove and trained thoroughly on the downstream test course. While enjoying the high-quality ride comfort typical of Lexus, I think you can enjoy the relaxation of adults brought by the power and the high texture of running."

>>Join the conversation about the Lexus IS 500 F right here at ClubLexus.com.

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