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Lexus Chief Engineer: BMW M3 provided benchmark for Lexus IS-F

omarrana submitted on 11/12/2007 Official Bell & Ross Timestamp: 8:48:27 AM

33 user comments | Category: New Cars | Source: | SOURCE: www.egmcartech.com

Tag Links: Lexus, IS-F

The Lexus IS-F will be making its debut around the world early next year to take on rivals BMW M3, Audi RS4 and Mercedes C63 AMG.

Powered by a 5.0 liter V8 engine, the rear-wheel-drive Lexus IS-F produces 417 horsepower and 371 lb-ft of torque. But what provided the benchmark for this superfast Lexus?

According to Yukihiko Yaguchi, chief engineer for the Lexus IS-F: Since we were coming after the M3, there were numerical targets we had to hit, but those were...

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Lexus Chief Engineer: BMW M3 provided benchmark for Lexus IS-F

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I hooked up my accelerator to my brake lights. I hit the gas, people behind me stop, and I'm gone.
— omarrana (View Profile)

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waiting for one of the other lexus haters to chime in with how this is just an excuse for failure...

waiting...

waiting...
— r15mohd (View Profile)

Posted on 11/12/2007 9:59:11 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3

well, first lexus says they didn't make the ISF to compete with the M3. now they say it was the benchmark but "there were numerical targets we had to hit, but those were not my target."

so which is it? M3 was or was not the target? you tell me r15.
— enthusiastx11 (View Profile)

Posted on 11/12/2007 11:30:53 AM | | Votes: 3

lexus said their goal was to make a vehicle close if not better than the m3, but with their unique variance.

it's the boards and posts here/elsewhere that made people think AMG/RS/M were all the key aspects of what lexus aimed at. yes they may have looked at the AMG and RS, but their main focus was on the M.

so now that they have been able to bring forth a vehicle which basically only lacks in "driver connection to the road" (something AMG and RS also do lack) i think they did pretty well.

so well, that they offer a vehicle which any idiot could possibly drive. and then most of you will say how the IS350 is for those non-drivers, etc.

but i can almost guarantee 50% of M3 sales go to idiots with badge envy, 25% with very little driving experience (road course), and 25% with true drivers (one's who've had ample amount of time to maximize an M3's potential)

so with all your doubt and mere hatred for Lexus, Lexus sure did get most things up to standards.

whether you can appreciate that is another story :\
— r15mohd (View Profile)

Posted on 11/12/2007 11:55:40 AM | | Votes: -1

"so now that they have been able to bring forth a vehicle which basically only lacks in "driver connection to the road" (something AMG and RS also do lack"

Wrong. The reason the RS4 and C63 AMG are such amazing breakthroughs for Audi and Mercedes-Benz is because they finally DO have that connection to the road that they have been lacking for so many years.
— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 11/12/2007 6:29:19 PM | | Votes: 3

Midengine, the Mazdaspeed3 destroys the GTI in every category, except the GTI is way overpriced for some reason. Also, the GTI is a 'coupe' hatch, so its really not the same car, is it?
— M35MT (View Profile)

Posted on 11/13/2007 1:31:17 PM | | Votes: 1

And then it goes the other way...by comparison, the 2005 3 series was way under powered compared to the G35, so does that mean BMW benchmarked the G?

...waiting
— M35MT (View Profile)

Posted on 11/13/2007 1:38:08 PM | | Votes: 1

I'm getting really tired of all these stupid articles..
— SevorbeupstryIsBack (View Profile)

Posted on 11/12/2007 10:07:12 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 11

I'm really tired of these stupid articles.
— Carboy (View Profile)

Posted on 11/12/2007 10:11:22 AM | | Votes: 4

I dont want to be the one that starts! ;p joking but thats something hard to admit really. Rarely happens.
— M53R (View Profile)

Posted on 11/12/2007 10:26:47 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Of course....
Is there any other vehicle Lexus could have used as a benchmark?
— AgentOrange (View Profile)

Posted on 11/12/2007 11:23:47 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

these "articles" are just PR efforts with no new information. lexus marketing at work!
— enthusiastx11 (View Profile)

Posted on 11/12/2007 11:31:57 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4

I am sure Mr. Yaguchi is very bright but the IS-F is just too kit-car. The IS-F does not look integrated.
— lyonboy (View Profile)

Posted on 11/12/2007 11:42:57 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

"Lexus Chief Engineer: BMW M3 provided benchmark for Lexus IS-F"

Of course it was, lol

If BMW had no M3, Lexus would be building a Matrix version to round out thier cars.

lol
— EL34 (View Profile)

Posted on 11/12/2007 11:55:42 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

I would think that all of the vehicles in the segment would be a benchmark. If they fail to hit that benchmark, then the vehicle will not sell. Its like the jaguar X-Type, too many competitors in the segment.
— 2ndbimmer (View Profile)

Posted on 11/12/2007 12:37:58 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

autospies should not be about stirring up debates. it should be about breaking automotive news.
— ThierryHenry14 (View Profile)

Posted on 11/12/2007 2:33:20 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

That was abolished many moons ago.
— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 11/12/2007 6:30:56 PM | | Votes: 2

I realize...
— ThierryHenry14 (View Profile)

Posted on 11/12/2007 11:36:07 PM | | Votes: 1

ThierryHenry14,
Agreed, the "Articles" that have Question Marks in their titles are for nothing more than drumming up page traffic to show their advertisers page hits and patronage of the site. Hey, I just contributed to it by replaying to this article, or what this article represetnts :)....

I agree this site should focus more on breaking automotive news than throwing dynamite into an ammo depot.

I want to hear about new stuff from all makers luxury or not; it's all cool to me.

I don't want to have every other article entitled with a loaded question.This just in from Autospies: "When is hitting your wife OK?"......
— jeeka715 (View Profile)

Posted on 11/12/2007 2:58:32 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

replaying = replying, sorry...
— jeeka715 (View Profile)

Posted on 11/12/2007 2:59:24 PM | | Votes: 2

This benchmarking happens all the time - I'm just reading a Top Gear article where the Porsche test driver gets out of a Ferrari 599 to compare to the Porsche.
I mean OBVIOUSLY Lexus benchmark the M3, not because they want the IS-F to be an M3, but because they want to match performance, pricing etc. Everyone benchmarks the leader at a certain time, I'm sure BMW are saying right now "The new 7 needs to be quieter to match the LS/S class" or "it needs to be faster/more fuel efficient/cleaner to match the competition".
— Rupert (View Profile)

Posted on 11/12/2007 5:16:33 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4

rupert,
Trust me No german is looking at a lexus as a benchmark, maybe a Bentley but never a lexus/toyota.
— xj13 (View Profile)

Posted on 11/12/2007 6:20:54 PM | | Votes: 1

Is this supposed to be breaking news?

It's not copying or anything like that. Audi, Lexus, Mercedes... they have all benchmarked (and are still benchmarking) the M3.
— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 11/12/2007 6:27:31 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

The M is the benchmark nobody has more experience save Mercedes,but their not the only ones that can build great high performance cars.If you have the money you can hire people who have the knowledge and can get it done.The bibbest problem german MFG's and their fan boys is their too cockey.Lexus has shown they are the new superpower in automotive business.
— autopro (View Profile)

Posted on 11/12/2007 7:43:51 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

But they aren't too cocky. They are moving forward at a frightening rate. They never rest on their laurels, because each one of the German brands knows that the next move that one of the others makes could be major.
— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 11/12/2007 9:49:31 PM | | Votes: 1

This isn't really a big surprise, in all honesty. The M3's horsepower was announced before the IS-F so naturally Lexus was going to make the IS-F more powerful. That's just one of the hints I got from it.
— lexusis350 (View Profile)

Posted on 11/12/2007 9:51:47 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1

BMW M3: 414hp SAE, 420hp DIN

The IS-F is right in the middle.
— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 11/12/2007 11:10:50 PM | | Votes: 1

Yeah, but it has more power than the M3, even if it's not by much. That's what I was saying.
— lexusis350 (View Profile)

Posted on 11/13/2007 12:14:10 AM | | Votes: 0

BMW HAD A FORMULA ONE 1.5L 4 CLY. TURBO ENGINE THAT MADE 1000+ HP. BMW FOCUS HAS ALWAYS BEEN MERCEDES.
— Dr550 (View Profile)

Posted on 11/13/2007 2:46:47 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

You know what I like about the Japanese they are very humble and not ashamed to say what influenced them in making a new car design. Nissan using Porche as a carrot on a stick for the GTR, and now lexus complementing BMW.

It takes a real confidence to admit who influences you, especially if it is your rival.
— astra09 (View Profile)

Posted on 11/14/2007 12:27:11 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

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Lexus Chief Engineer: BMW M3 provided benchmark for Lexus IS-F

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