The More F Sports the Merrier?
Daily Slideshow: Enter F Sport - Taking Lexus premium luxury auto to the next level.
F-Sport
This branding by Lexus represents the high-performance division of cars produced by Lexus. The F refers to Flagship and Fuji Speedway, the chief test site of Lexus performance vehicle development in Oyama, Japan. The Lexus IS-F was the first "F" vehicle to be introduced in the US in 2006. Shortly after, in 2007, the LF-A was introduced which didn't go into Production until 2009. Following this, the next two Lexus models to be produced were the coupe concept: RC F and the 4 door sedan, Lexus GS-F. With 467bhp and 389 lb-ft of torque, the RC F was the most powerful V8 that Lexus has built for a production model.
Present Day
The current offerings for the F-Sport line are limited to only the GS and the RC. Those models feature 467 horsepower. However, there is also the LFA. Their first and only supercar. With only 500 units produced between 2010-2012, this supercar boasted specs like a Yamaha-tuned exhaust note and 4.8-liter V10 engine belting out 553-horsepower.
10th Anniversary Edition
Earlier in 2018, Lexus debuted 2 Anniversary edition vehicles. One of them being the GS sedan and the other the RC Coupe. The manufacturer is tasked with offering something to compete against BMW’s M division and Mercedes-Benz’s AMG brand, as well as Audi’s S Line and RS Line and Cadillac’s V series. The brand will be releasing only a limited amount of units per model. The plan is to build interest in the marketplace to entice consumers, specifically the younger generation, to buy more into the F-sport sub-brand and enjoy many of the upgraded options for an additional premium.
Upgraded Offerings
For the 2019 10th anniversary editions, both vehicles will receive major enhancements to the interior, exterior and powertrain. Some notable features include the Nebula Gray matte exterior, standard polished black 19-inch wheels with Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires, and blue Brembo brake calipers. Inside, there’s blue carbon fiber trim and blue leather accents, plus an engraved numbered plaque.
Limited Edition
The release of the Anniversary edition will feature a mere 240 units of the RC F coupe and only 100 units of the GS F sedan. The Anniversary Package is combined with the Performance Package and features Triple Beam headlights and Intuitive Park Assist. The GS F 10th Anniversary Edition will be priced at $89,350, (a $5,000 increase over the standard model), and the RC F 10th Anniversary Edition is priced at $80,810, (a $16,160 increase over the standard model).
Brand Exclusivity
The goal of these high priced offerings is to give younger consumers a chance to choose an alternative to the European heavy hitters. While the packages included in the F-Sport/Anniversary packages aren't anything to write home about in terms of horsepower and performance, the curb appeal is a great start. Lexus has always been known for its luxury and comfort creatures and such. The brand now wants to envelop that around performance minded cars by giving each offering the F-Sport treatment. In Europe, the "LC Grand Tourer" was spotted as an F version prototype performing tests. This car is speculated to have over 600 horsepower with a 6 figure price tag. There's also the LF-1 Limitless SUV concept to consider as well.
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