Lexus IS F Powertrain To Change, But No Hybrid Tech On The Horizon

The chief designer of the new Lexus IS says that a high-performance halo model will likely stay in the IS lineup, but that its 5.0 litre V8 won’t survive.

“That V8 is a little difficult to meet Euro 6,” Junichiro Furuyama, the 2013 IS’ chief engineer told TMR, referring to the current IS F's 5.0 litre 2UR-GSE engine.

“The engine has a high performance focus, so the combustion condition is more severe than normal engines. It’s a little more difficult than making the V6 engines comply with Euro 6."

“To produce more power and torque it runs leaner. That is the problem. We probably need a new engine for the F model.”