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In The Need Of Street Cred: Will Lexus Track Days Change Public Opinion?

Realizing that public opinion can be difficult sway Lexus has decided in 2008 to stage driving events of the new IS-F at select tracks around the nation, in an effort to boost awareness of performance improvements in the lineup.

Brian Bolain, Lexus’ national manager of interactive marketing and automotive events.
said in an automotive news interview “The typical Lexus buyer is not going to be persuaded into an IS-F,” Bolain said. “It’s for someone who wants power and control. We are going to focus heavily on driving opportunities.”

This type of campaign was chosen in lieu of a massive marketing campaign as a way to reach the sport driver specifically.  No word yet on if they will allow side by side comparisons of competing models. So stay tuned for more details as they become available.

2008 Detroit Auto Show Photo Gallery

2008 San Diego Auto Show Photo Gallery


In The Need Of Street Cred: Will Lexus Track Days Change Public Opinion?



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528i528i - 12/17/2007 5:10:52 PMView My AgentSpace
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Lexuzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

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LexusLionLexusLion - 12/17/2007 10:33:40 PM
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Jealouzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz? :)


4x4rules4x4rules - 12/20/2007 12:10:40 PM
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I think it should have had quad pipes on each side!!!!!!!!


EL34EL34 - 12/17/2007 5:32:49 PM
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There's no doubt with gamers the Lexus IS-F/R700 has street cred!

:)

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MonkMonk - 12/17/2007 5:36:26 PMView My AgentSpace
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the problem is that lexus isn't known for driving capabilities...they will have to work very hard to get the usual attention, say, a BMW M3 gets

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stash84stash84 - 12/17/2007 6:14:02 PM
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i agree with you about not replacing the dark wood in the interior with that white carbon fiber looking material..but i dont think its a big deal that it has the quad exhaust that is not connected. its obviously for looks..most cars i see have a huge chrome tip at the end (which is always bigger in circumference than the rest of the exhaust) that has no real purpose either..not only honda and lexus/toyota...EVERY car manufacturer

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r15mohdr15mohd - 12/18/2007 9:15:52 AM
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"and something that could only possibly be appreciated by teenage boys who like to stick phoney body junk onto their cars."


so what would you to say to DINAN and their fake exhaust tips on the e46 M3 cat-back system?

the IS-F exhaust is REAL...take off the rear bumper fascia and you'll see and actual stacked exhaust.

the tips are cosmetic...simple as that

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4x4rules4x4rules - 12/20/2007 12:07:14 PM
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come on ksasdfdude

everyone knows the lexus fanboys on this site are those who are really driving around in "Hondas with ugly body kits that are popular with teenagers".



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KillBotKillBot - 12/17/2007 5:57:15 PM
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They kinda have to.....Lexus has been fighting an uphill battle with this car. Most people think that it's crap, including most of the spies on this site. So, to prove that this car has what it takes to run with the big boys they have to do something dramatic, or the "F" is going to have a very short shelf life.

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atomicbriatomicbri - 12/17/2007 6:08:43 PMView My AgentSpace
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It's nice that they will offer this cause I think they will need to for those of us who have driven M3's before... It has a hard battle ahead, since BMW has been doing it since like the late 70's early 80's... they have a bit more time to hone it. And some of the boy racer details I am afraid detract from the overall aesthetic of the car. I love the regular looks of the IS... but this is a bit... uhhh tacky to say the least.

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answeranswer - 12/17/2007 6:12:52 PMView My AgentSpace
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I think it is supposed to be street "cred", not "creed".

There is nothing wrong with Lexus trying to prove its performance abilities to the average consumer.

However, for the jaded car magazine writers and some internet fan boys, it is too late for the IS-F's image to be changed.

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pacotacololpacotacolol - 12/17/2007 9:21:40 PMView My AgentSpace
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i'm tired of this car!

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S4cabriofoxoneS4cabriofoxone - 12/17/2007 9:54:26 PMView My AgentSpace
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I'm sick of talking about the IS-F. It's there. It's good. Get used to it.

So are the M3, RS4 and C63 AMG.

CASE CLOSED!

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S4cabriofoxoneS4cabriofoxone - 12/17/2007 11:26:05 PMView My AgentSpace
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Okay, have fun bashing it, then. I've done it dozens of times, and now the light has appeared: the IS-F is an awesome car. I may not personally want it more than the M3 or RS4 or C63, but that doesn't mean other people won't. THAT's my opinion.

In other words: been there, done that.


xj13xj13 - 12/18/2007 1:28:16 AM
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I'm sick of it to and I thinks it's boring......Does nothing for me, give a beautiful RS4 anyday.


SevorbeupstryIsBackSevorbeupstryIsBack - 12/18/2007 3:39:36 AM
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Thank you!

The world doesn't revolve about Lexus!


XYZZXYZZ - 12/18/2007 4:53:42 AM
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oozeykaiserdude--

YOU'RE the one who needs to take a chill pill. s4 and i have had differing opinions, but here i FULLY AGREE with his post.

NOTHING the detractors can say will diminish the impact the is-f will have in the marketplace.

all your rantings are no more than gnat farts in the effectiveness they will have amongst potential buyers. whoever actually agrees with you is likely a german fanboi who wouldn't consider lexus ANYWAY.

openminded folk are gonna be blown away by this car.




4x4rules4x4rules - 12/20/2007 12:09:06 PM
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ISF=YAWN


RealitySmackRealitySmack - 12/17/2007 10:37:07 PM
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Well, than, you'd have people on here complaining about a 3.5L V6 vs. other 3's V8. So bashing it would never end...

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r15mohdr15mohd - 12/18/2007 9:21:44 AM
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nestling down a supercharger? let's be serious, none of you complain when BMW has a bulge in the hood. it's like a boomerang dented it, and BMW decided to leave it...at Lexus decided to make it taller and free-flowing...

and then SO WHAT, the bulge in the hood means is packing some power, 5.0L worth of it!

just admit it kaiser...you hate lexus. open your mind, they have many things to offer!

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BMWfan_AlfredoBMWfan_Alfredo - 12/17/2007 10:46:36 PM
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street cred?? it wont have ANY street cred until the next gen ISF comes out...this is just gonna test the waters. and we'll see if it was meant to be...BMW has street cred, ffs HONDA has street cred...NISSAN has street cred..lexus? maybe amongst middle aged rich women and guys...but not amongst the younger crowd...unless its with the IS300 and cars like that..even then, not enough CRED...but we'll see..

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M1k3M1k3 - 12/17/2007 11:47:41 PM
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It seems as if now Lexus is just aiming for m3 territory. Nice job Lexus, keep it comin. Ride looks nice anyone know what this will be running in terms of horsepower. look forward to buying in the lexus market if this can compete with the m3.

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XYZZXYZZ - 12/18/2007 4:42:59 AM
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yup.

NO WAY just adding a turbo- or supercharger is a better way to gain street cred than just having an engine with MORE power the NATURAL way.

boost is the CHEAP, EASY way to power. engineers --and the more informed public-- ALWAYS appreciates high output from naturally aspirated engines MORE.

does any ferrari have to resort to boost? NO!

the lesser japanese brands have boosted engines, but not lexus and acura. the latter only recently put a turbo on mdx, just as a "quick fix" for more power. the first boosted engine EVER for a street honda or acura. (and they do have DECADES of experience with boosted RACE engines. part of their rep, like ferrari's, is making high specific output NON-blown motors. which the germans seem unable to match WITHOUT resorting to boost.)

as for the enlarged hood, nothing wrong with that. BIG hoods as a styling motif is traditional, and goes back decades. in this case, it gives the IS-F a sorta "Lexus Locomotive" look, which is totally appropriate.

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Agent009Agent009 - 12/18/2007 10:01:08 AMView My AgentSpace
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XYZZ- Acura has used turbo charging more than once. The 2007 RDX has it as well as an example.

The problem not doing a turbo, it is that you have to use a larger engine which flows more air and fuel in the non aggressive modes. The without using boost turbo allows use to utilize the same amount of power while flowing less air and fuel.

So better mileage will result.

They days of turbo cars sucking gas went away in the 90's

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XYZZXYZZ - 12/20/2007 1:40:41 AM
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oo9, kaiser--

OK, i'll admit my info on turbos maybe could stand some updating.

i in fact did read an article that suggested the most efficient setup would be a small, MINIMAL displacement engine, with a turbocharger. (but this was just a theoretical proposal.)

in a way, this is sorta similar to the argument of small displacement ohc/dohc vs. big displacement ohv engines. and i DO personally favor ohc designs.


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r15mohdr15mohd - 12/18/2007 8:40:23 AM
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i think the best answer to this question is....

wait until the IS-F hits the STREETS to find out.


all this repetitive crap about the exhausts, styling, etc...guess what it WORKS!!!

the car has proven very good numbers and despite what any of our opinions are, the vehicle will sell (sell-out) and in the end this only opens the door to the "F" division and we can definitely expect more havoc to come from them.

another day on autospies, and its IS-F controversy. if the IS-F doesn't have a daily article...this board is dead!

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r15mohdr15mohd - 12/18/2007 9:32:34 AM
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seriously, tracking a family-oriented hauling sedan...a definite no.

track the is350, gs350...u'd enjoy it more

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2ndbimmer2ndbimmer - 12/18/2007 10:09:42 AM
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The track days are meaningless. Lexus sets up more of a striaght-line track so people can feel power. But, they dont set it up like a real track. I went to a lexus event for the IS and they had a BMW 330i sport there (2006). It made me run to BMW! They shot themselves in the foot.

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1evlaudi1evlaudi - 12/18/2007 12:52:06 PMView My AgentSpace
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Lost
Engineering,
Xtremely
Useless
S*^t

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1evlaudi1evlaudi - 12/18/2007 12:53:18 PMView My AgentSpace
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Lame EXcUSe, for luxury

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gsh23gsh23 - 12/18/2007 1:33:05 PM
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i agree with most of what was said. they need to do what audi did and rent out entire tracks. throw in about 20 isf cars and have 2 groups of people do a couple laps. think about it. goto audi and they wont even let you take the s5 out on the street, but corporate lets you do some hot laps! no lexus dealer will give test drives of the isf and corporate knows this. this is a good opportunity to actually drive it the way it was intended. plus its free, not sure what all the hate is for.

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XYZZXYZZ - 12/20/2007 1:53:46 AM
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"you can make a 2-door coupe look very aggressive without looking goofy, the same is not true of a 4-door sedan."

since the subie WRX and mitsu Evo series came out, this is NO LONGER TRUE.
the fact that many 4-dr sport SEDANS perform at the same level as coupes and even some true sports cars, further blurs the distinctions, about how sporty a 4-dr is "allowed" to look. at least in the marketplace, if not amongst stylists and critics.

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TargaTarga - 12/18/2007 2:52:03 PM
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I don't think this is a bad idea. At this point in time Lexus has the reputation of a Luxury car only. If they want to jump into the performance market, they need to get the word out and this is not a bad way to do it.

That said, it is not my personal taste, but I give them credit. This sounds like a great car.

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LexusLionLexusLion - 12/19/2007 2:56:28 AM
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Lexus has turned into this performance brand all of a sudden, which is really quite incredible. It all kind of started with the IS/Altezza, I think. This new phase Lexus has entered is exactly what Lexus needed: More focus on performance, less weight, etc., so I think this performance evolution will improve Lexus even more. Ferrari, look out! Forget BMB. -1LibLex

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Dr550Dr550 - 12/20/2007 3:52:52 PM
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NO, JUST PUT LARGE V8 IN SMALL SEDAN. MERCEDES DID THIS WITH AMG E500 ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO. BMW M DIVISION USES HIGHPUT ENGINES AND DECREASED WEIGHT. BMW HAD A 1980'S FORMULA ONE 1.5L 4CYL. TURBO THAT MADE 1000HP.


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