2009 Lexus IS F Road Test Review
Take one smallish sedan, drop a thumping 5.0 litre V8 in the snout, give it hard-core handling and tough, out-there style... been done before? Yup. But Lexus does it again and gives us its own howling 'Hound of the Baskervilles', the IS F.
It can be an exercise in futility splitting hairs over the performance margins of premium performance cars.
It's a bit like blokes standing around talking about the size of their dicks. As if there is something to be concluded from the information that is volunteered in these manly discussions. Wide? Thick? Yeah... good, good, huh-huh... great.
But you and I, we both know that it's not the implement. No, it's the expertise of the user behind the blade that determines its effectiveness. A sleek, racy implement used ham-fistedly (is that a verb?) will be beaten all-ends-up by a 'lesser tool' in expert hands. Or so I've been advised.
Now this brings me neatly to the Lexus IS F.
Rear: Independent, multi-link type, with castor locating rod, coil springs, monotube gas dampers, anti-roll bar Rear: Aluminium Brembo two-piston caliper, 345 x 28mm cross-drilled and ventilated discs Rear: BBS 19 x 9J forged alloy, 255/35 R19 96Y tyresEngine: 5.0 litre V8 Type: 2UR-GSE, alloy block, DOHC VVT 32-valve Displacement: 4969cc Bore x stroke: 94.0mm x 89.5mm Compression ratio: 11.8:1 Maximum power: 311kW @ 6600rpm Maximum torque: 505Nm @ 5200rpm Performance: 0 – 100km/h in 4.8 seconds Max. Speed: 270 km/h Transmission: Eight-speed Sport Direct Shift automatic, electronically controlled with lock-up torque converter (2nd to 8th speeds) Suspension: Front: Independent, double wishbone, upper A-arm, lower L-arm, coil springs, monotube gas dampers, ball-joint mounted anti-roll bar. Brakes: Front: Aluminium Brembo six-piston caliper, 360 x 30mm cross-drilled and ventilated discs Steering: Rack and pinion, power-assisted, electric DC motor. Wheels: Front: BBS 19 x 8J forged alloy, 225/40 R19 93Y tyres Kerb Weight: 1700 kilograms Safety: Switchable Vehicle Dynamic Integrated Management system links VSC, TRC and ABS, eight SRS airbags, including knee airbags, full-length curtain-airbags Fuel consumption: 11.4 l/100km average Price: $129,000 (plus dealer delivery and statutory charges)