Is Lexus creating a competition model of the new IS? These shots first posted earlier in the day of an IS refresh, seems to indicate they might just be doing so.
Take a look at the shots and notice the following:
It has the IS350 brakes, so this is probably an IS350.
It sits much lower than a stock IS350 does.
The exhaust is different.
There is an obvious bulge in the hood.
There is no sunroof (As far as I know you can't order an IS without one anywhere).
There is an obvious roll cage in the car .
Now it is no secret that Lexus has entertained the idea of entering road racing in the past. But most of these efforts have had limited success and funding. However what a better way to establish yourself than to go on the track and show you can compete toe to toe with the likes of BMW?
If this is indeed the intended test bed for such a car racing on there shores, then I would expect it to compete in the SCCA World Cup Challenge or perhaps ALMS or even some form of Rolex racing where Lexus already has a presence. However the intended audience for such a car may most likely be the World Touring Car Championship racing in Europe.
So have we stumbled on to something?