Video: Driving Northwest: The Lexus IS F

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Class, today we’re talking about Lexus. You have been doing your assigned reading, right? So you know they are the luxury division of Toyota? Good. They make some pretty darn good cars but enthusiasts have sneered at many of their offerings, calling them soft and numb. That’s about to change.

This week’s subject is a version of the IS sedan that has the distinction of being the first Lexus to get an F. That’s not a failing grade, but Bueller you’re working toward one. In Lexusese the letter F appears to stand for fast, fun and ferocious. Take notes because this is a Lexus like no other. The IS F a speeding ticket waiting to happen.

Why does Lexus feel the need to build a performance sedan like the IS F? Maybe peer pressure. The varsity squad includes Audi RS4, Mercedes C63 AMG, Cadillac CTS-V and the legendary BMW M3. Lexus has built the GS sedans and SC coupe for years but they never got into the same cliques as the competition. The IS F is hard to ignore though. It’s the likable kid who comes back from summer vacation as buff as an Abercrombie & Fitch model. Much, much more likable now.

Success requires proper preparation

Lexus had most of the go-fast parts on hand already, they just kicked the intensity up a notch or two. Possibly three. Put simply, Toyota engineers bored out the LS460s V8 to 5.0-liters, modified the 8-speed tranny from the same car and dropped them into an IS body (normally available in 250 and 350 designation). But they didn’t stop there. The suspension is firmed up. Brakes change to Brembos. 19-inch wheels with the appropriate rubber get bolted on. Finally, its wardrobe was enhanced with flared fenders and additional intakes and vents. That done, the car was taken to Fuji Speedway in Japan for finishing school. It graduates ready to take on the big boys.

A history lesson

Originally, the project that became the Lexus brand was known as Circle F. The logo, which is placed everywhere in the car from seats to steering wheel, gets its design inspiration from turns on Fuji Speedway. So the F designation doesn’t really mean fast. But it is. It really is. 

KING

The Lexus IS F

Let’s review the V8. You guys in shop class should like this: At 416 horsepower Lexus has put their most powerful engine into their smallest sedan. Torque is rated at 371 lb-ft at 5,200 RPM. You want tech? An electric motor is used to control cam phasing. The aluminum cylinder heads are designed by Yamaha. The crankshaft and connecting rods are forged, the intake valves are titanium. Push the keyless start button and savor the deep throaty sound as the enhancements do their thing. As you might imagine, this car is not the fuel economy valedictorian. The best I can get out of the IS F is 16.5 MPG. It drinks premium.  

Put your foot in it and there’s a great un-Lexus like baritone that erupts from the quad tail pipes (fake, but cool looking). With 0-60 times around 4.7 seconds according to my Dynolicious equipped iPhone, IS F is a serious student of speed. This is one of those vehicles that hurts to drive slowly. It strains at the leash, always wanting to go faster.

Grading on a curve. 

IS F is happy to carve up corners at high velocity. Be warned, there’s no trademark creamy Lexus ride here. My backside has been schooled by various expansion joints and potholes that this is a very stiff suspension. Every bump is felt. While a sport button adjusts things like throttle response, transmission shift points and the degree of stability control, ride quality is non-negotiable. This car has a mission and it’s to get the driver around a curve rapidly without any drama. Here the IS F gets an A.  Finding this car’s lofty performance limits on public streets is not wise. Move to a track for that or face serious detention. At highway speeds (with emphasis on high) IS F is on the quiet side.

IS F definitely aces physics. Those Brembo brakes at all corners keep speed in check. The gear box can be shifted manually by the console lever or steering wheel mounted paddle shifters. 8 rapid-fire ratios sounds nice but is it too much of a good thing? Driving my favorite stretch of undulating road, I find myself flicking back and forth between 3rd and 4th rather than just locking into gear 3 and driving. Downshift and there’s a soul satisfying rev match blip from the engine. OK, I’ll admit that’s partly why I’m indecisive. In manual mode, the computer doesn’t second guess the driver. It will hold the gear selection right up to the 6,800 RPM redline. 

Interior design 101

The cabin uses high quality materials and attractive shapes but the overall ambience is plain compared to Audi, Mercedes and Cadillac. Clearly the competition has done extra credit work on their interiors. There’s a fixed size cup-holder in the center console and a second one under the lid of the storage compartment there. All the expected electronics such as nav system, Bluetooth phone connectivity and keyless ignition are here. So are unexpected knee airbags and backup camera. The Mark Levinson sound system is terrific, but during my week with the IS F I prefer to listen to the V8.  

The seats are bolstered well enough to hold driver and passenger securely in hard cornering yet remain accommodating to the frames of typical Americans. In my tester they’re covered in white leather. A fashion question: Can you use them after Labor Day? Seriously though, it would seem hard to keep them clean. 

In the rear, the seats are sculpted for just two passengers. An average sized guy like me will fit just fine, but there’s not an awful lot of foot room. It’s also a little tight getting my size 11s in and out of the foot well. Figuring this car isn’t likely to be pressed into everyday family use it’s not too big of a deal.

Those rear seatbacks don’t split and fold to increase the cargo space. That’s common on performance models to increase body rigidity (though apparently none was needed for the transformation to F status). You’ll have to find another vehicle to get your giant project to the science fair. With mine, the Costco Toilet Paper Trunk Test, the IS F can handle 5 packs of 2-ply.  While it’s one bundle short of average in this size it’s hardly a deal breaker. Hinge arms take up space back here and probably keep this trunk from realizing its full potential.

Who will be homecoming king?

Enthusiasts especially want to know how IS F stacks up against the M3. Let me level with you, I do not test these cars on a track at 10/10th mode. Having fun but still driving sanely, all the cars in this class have heroic abilities. Most drivers will never come close to exploring their limits on public roads. My advice? Test drive them all to see which one clicks with you. The Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Lexus and Cadillac are incredibly well done and all of them will entertain you on your favorite twisty turning road. For those who intend to run their cars on track day, go to the library and research the buff books like "Car & Driver," "Road & Track" and "Motor Trend" for their full-on closed course reviews. Do your homework.

Like many kids at school it’s not just good grades that count, it’s about attitude and reputation. While Lexus has a terrific track record when it comes to building reliable luxury, its serene reputation doesn’t help this jock to get asked to the prom, if you catch my drift. The others have an established image with cheerleaders rooting for them. Still, this is IS F's freshman year and it’s clear it won’t be warming the bench. At $61,400 as tested it is not inexpensive, but neither is the competition. Being the new kid in school, the F manages to score very high marks.