The IS-F marks Lexus' entry into the high-performance sport luxury market, long dominated by the BMW M3. The IS-F is based on the standard IS model line, but gets a much more powerful engine and sport tuning.
The 5-liter V-8 uses direct injection and variable timing for the intake and exhaust, giving it 416 horsepower and 371 pound-feet of torque. It gets the IS-F to 60 mph in under 5 seconds.
Lexus also tuned the suspension for sport, tightening it up to minimize roll in the corners. In our testing, we found the Lexus engineers were very successful at this effort.
The transmission is an eight speed automatic, with a solid manual mode. The upper four gears help the car get impressive fuel economy, considering its engine.
Digital-music options are limited with the IS-F. There is an auxiliary jack, but an iPod connector is only available as a dealer option, which means poor integration.
