First Drive: 2009 Lexus IS-F

Story, video and photo by John LeBlanc Calabogie, Ont.–Despite unquestionable success catering to the luxury classes, Lexus has never ventured into the factory hot rod part of the market, a segment autobahn-bred German makes have ruled for decades. But Toyota's luxury brand says its new $64,400 IS F super sports sedan, its first "truly authentic" performance car, was created to take on such sport sedans as the $69,900 BMW M3 and $63,500 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG – icons already firmly implanted in the performance souls of well-to-do driving enthusiasts, and all recently updated. Lexus says the IS F's intention is to broaden the IS brand, attract buyers who may never consider a Lexus, and maybe even snag some Lexus GS owners looking for a little more hardcore driving action. Ambitious? You bet. Based on the compact rear-wheel-drive six-cylinder IS five-passenger sedan (which starts at $31,900 for the 204 hp IS 250), the new high-performance iteration is the first Lexus to wear the brand's new "F" badge, an internal code for special Lexus vehicles that "fall outside the normal engineering and development process," says the carmaker. With a unique V8, transmission, suspension, dynamic safety systems, brakes, bodywork and interior, the first F-badged Lexus is anything but a quickie tuner chop-job. To match its German rivals, Lexus has stuffed a 5.0 L V8 under the IS F's bulging hood. It's an enlarged version of the 4.6 L unit found in the LS luxobarge. With a generous amount of aluminum in its build, and unique engineering – like an oil-scavenge pumping system that keeps the engine juiced even with the IS F in smoky doughnut mode – the basically all-new mill pumps out a competitive 416 hp with 317 lb.-ft. of torque. The only transmission available is an eight-speed automatic with paddle shifters. It can run in straight-up automatic, sequential, or full manual modes. As you'd expect, the IS F's suspension has been stiffened up compared to the more comfort-oriented IS specs. Within what Lexus calls its Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management System (basically, a big electronic brain that co-ordinates functions like ABS, electronic brake force distribution and assist, traction and stability controls), the IS F gains a Sport setting that extends the car's limits before kicking in. Compared to an IS, Lexus says most of the IS F's new exterior and underbody panels were changed for better aerodynamic and lift numbers. Like the headlight stickers on NASCAR racers, the four exhaust "resonators" hanging under the rear bumper are cosmetic only. Lexus claims they "streamline" the airflow from the exhaust to improve aerodynamics – except they aren't even attached to the muffler. The exhaust actually exits on the inside of the fascia. Inside, the F loses the IS's rear middle-seat cushion, replaced by an armrest and pass through, making it strictly a four-seater. You may have already seen spy shots of the IS F in development on Germany's popular Nurburgring circuit or from Toyota's home Fuji track in Japan. So it was appropriate that its Canadian debut was at Calabogie Motorsports Park, just west of Ottawa. Lexus claims that its new super sports sedan betters the 414 hp M3 in the 0-to-100 km/h run by 0.1 second at 4.8 seconds (the 475 hp C63 AMG is even quicker at 4.4). If you're beyond splitting tenths of seconds, the sound of the IS F's V8 at full throttle is an aural delight, as yet unheard of in any of the brand's quieter models. On the way to its 6600 rpm redline, there's a tonal change at a little more than 3000 rpm when the dual-path intake system opens the secondary plumbing. Sweet. Normally, "real drivers" would guffaw at an automatic. But if automakers like Lexus (plus Audi and Mitsubishi) keep making these quick shifting gearboxes – with properly placed paddle shifters – using a clutch may go the way of roll-up windows. Upshifts are shaved by a full second (1.3 to 0.3) compared to an IS 350, says Lexus. There's also a delicious throttle blip on downshifts to match revs that will make any driver grin in false self-satisfaction. As is the fashion with many automakers, Lexus called on aftermarket supplier Brembo for an upgraded braking system. Even at the end of an afternoon of lapping, they still had lots of bite, slowing the Lexus down from near 200 km/h speeds on Calabogie's back straight. For those with the appropriate level of driving skill, the IS F's VDIM can be shut down completely. We weren't allowed to run the track with VDIM completely off. But even in Sport mode, one could explore the car's handling limits, which are quite high and more than enough for legal speed limits on our public roads. But, then, Lexus already has a bunch of really nice IS sedans for that type of daily driving. So, when pushed harder on a closed circuit – as expected for cars in this class – has Lexus delivered a rocket sled or a rocker chair? Its steering is accurate enough, but the artificial electric assist still masks out more feel from the fat front tires than you'd ideally want. The instruments have chronograph-like detailing. But it's too small in proportion, and its blue-needles-on-grey-dial faces scheme was difficult to read at speed. Maybe the IS F's biggest issue is its wishy-washy suspension setup. When in full, puckered-buttocks driving mode, it can't handle the IS F's 1,715 kg curb weight. The nose dives on heavy braking, and the car moves too much laterally on tight corners. Conversely, when in full, arm-out-the-window cruising mode on public roads, there's a constant slap from the track-ready suspension over any road imperfections. Of course, a couple of tugs on the paddle-shifters, and a firm push in the back from the wailing V8 may be just enough to erase any such complaints about Lexus's first stab at the high performance game. 2009 Lexus IS F PRICE: base: $64,400 ENGINE: 5.0-litre V8 POWER/TORQUE:416 hp/371 lb.-ft. FUEL CONSUMPTION:City 13.1; hwy 8.5 L/100 km COMPETITION: BMW M3 Sedan, Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG WHAT'S BEST: Engine sound and performance, swift-shifting autobox, fade-free brakes WHAT'S WORST:Suspension, too-intricate driver instrumentation WHAT'S INTERESTING:First F-badged factory hot rods. Larger GS may be next

Comments