Lexus IS-F might have 415hp only

Still enough to kill the M3. Lexus has a lot of experience with quick cars and motorsport thanks to Toyota's legendary motorsport heritage.

— david989 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/6/2007 2:39:46 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -21   

huh? this doesn't make sense.

— enthusiastx11 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/6/2007 3:15:19 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

Dont worry, he's just blowing steam and nonsence because its UNDERPOWERED!

— BentleyGT (View Profile)

Posted on 8/6/2007 3:35:38 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

I agree the 8 speed transmission can allow more advantageous gearing. In the right situation the IS-F could be potentially faster in 0-60 but I doubt the gearing will allow it to keep in advantage in the 1/4 mile.

— Agent009 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/6/2007 3:40:16 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -8   

Does it matter?

— Brembo (View Profile)

Posted on 8/6/2007 2:58:00 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 6   

I have an '07 IS, and although I'm very pleased with the car, there are some refinement issues that need to be addressed if this car plans to compete with/exceed the BMW 3 series. I assume this will also apply to the IS-F.
The throttle is drive-by-wire and is not quite linear; sometimes it gives too much throttle, other times not quite enough. Needs some refinement and work.
The steering is lacking some road feel - an area where BMW excels.
The brakes are very strong, but the feel is not quiet up to BMW standards.
Should I have bought a BMW 3 series instead of the IS?
Heck no! A BMW 3 equipped the same as my IS would have cost $9,000 more than the IS in my city with only one BMW dealer. Also I don't mean to be too particular since the IS is a fine driving car that 95% of the competentcy of the BMW 3.

— BMW995 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/6/2007 2:58:00 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 13   

At least I was not happy to hear that. Lexus should know that now its competition is no longer the low power M3 but the power monsters like C63 and GT-R.

It is not that 415hp isn't enough, but for the first F, it should be better than that. Otherwise, it won't any attention outside Lexus fans.

So I hope the number is wrong. :)

— SupraNeverBack (View Profile)

Posted on 8/6/2007 3:14:47 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

why are you so obsessed with power?
as much as i appreciate the enormous power of the AMGs--they typically don't offer the handling or control of M cars.

what's the point of power without the ability to use it? on this matter, lexus has a long way to go. they go fast in a straight line to can't handle for shit.

— enthusiastx11 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/6/2007 3:20:01 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3   

I've explained why above.

— SupraNeverBack (View Profile)

Posted on 8/6/2007 3:36:29 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

To say Lexus cars can't handle for shit is avery ignorant comment. You should drive one and then you'll know.
As for the HP on the IS-F, who cares. It's good enough to compete.

— zorbeeze (View Profile)

Posted on 8/6/2007 6:18:24 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 7   

Lexus is smarter than you. That's why they know that they're chasing the M3. Again, why the hell would a company target the car in 3rd. place? The C's aggressive new horsepower stat is only a desperate attempt to take some attention away from the M3. The M3 and RS4 are the cars to beat here.
Why do you constantly rag on BMW? you sound stupid. And yet you love the Supra, Toyota's most legendary sports car (at least in the States), a car that wasn't popular enough to justify existence after 1997 (or whenever they stopped building those things.) Toyota wishes it could build a sports car as impressive and successful as the M3.

— pushrod27 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/6/2007 6:41:42 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -7   

I would say the C63, RS4 AND M3 are all the "cars to beat." When the M3 sedan comes out (and yes, I've seen spyshots, it's coming), the death match between the three will be something I'm waiting for.

— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 8/8/2007 12:59:18 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3   

power, power power, that's all that matters, right? Since when is "only" 414hp no good? The old M3 was less powerful than the C55, it still never lost in a comparison to one. My biggest concern about the M3 is that BMW has made the 335i sedan and coupe so good that I don't know whether the M is worth the premium. Hell, you could get a 135i, chip it, and run rings around ALL these cars and still have $30k in your pocket.

— JRobUSC (View Profile)

Posted on 8/9/2007 1:33:43 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

did they share any details on torque or weight distribution?

— enthusiastx11 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/6/2007 3:14:36 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

Lexus Admirer -

I had seen that article as well. I drove a 250 w/ the xpackage and it handled quite well (to the extent I could experience on the test drive) although it needed more power. It is utterly ridiculous that this package, and the 6spd man is not offered on the 350.

Althogh merc took the same route with the new C class. No man trans on the 350, only on the 300. Funny how Merc and Lexus parrallel each other, when most of the time everyone on this site compares the IS to BMW. Not the case. The IS is a C class competitor and the G35/37 a 3 series competitor.

— M35MT (View Profile)

Posted on 8/6/2007 4:04:37 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 7   

Both the ISF and new M3 should offer a "fanboy" package. It could just be a huge decal on each side of the car with all the performance specs laid out for all to see.

— answer (View Profile)

Posted on 8/6/2007 4:15:18 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 9   

415 should not be dissapointing. That is still a hefty amount of power and more than enough to allow the driver to punch pass slower yet capable cars if ever a situation arise.

— richardp996 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/6/2007 4:41:24 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

415 hp is plenty. I wonder how often do auto fans on this web site drive over 110 mph per day. I have used the bmw m5 500 hp rarely, early in morning on the weekends I gone over 120 twice and 140 once. Too much traffic and if i got caught i might have gone to jail.

— Larry (View Profile)

Posted on 8/6/2007 5:16:03 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

"Lexus IS-F might have 415hp only"

lol, what a puny little engine.

Why don't they call it the Lexus Corolla?

— EL34 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/6/2007 5:16:56 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

Well if that is true, my estimate was 413hp....

— M53R (View Profile)

Posted on 8/6/2007 6:14:33 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

hmm, if the IS-F really produces only 415 hps, then the 5.0 V8 is worthless. And yet this is considered a tuned up engine, the 4.6 V8 can be tuned to produce more than 415 hps.

— Designer1 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/6/2007 6:15:12 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

Hate to say I told you so...

Actually that's a lie, I'd love to say I told you so :P

Remember "The IS-F will have 450hp + for sure".
Those were the days...

— Rupert (View Profile)

Posted on 8/6/2007 6:22:31 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 7   

I like the story when Jeremy Clarkson called some women to find why they hated lexus:
========================================
To see if I could find out why, I did something unusual. I picked up the phone and rang a few girls who don’t know one end of a dipstick from their left cheque book. And all, curiously, said pretty much the same thing. “A Lexus? Eugh.” “They’re perfectly revolting.” “They’re for people who play golf.” And best of all: “They’re all driven by the sort of person I wouldn’t want to know.”

There’s an inescapable conclusion here. Buy a Lexus and you are demonstrating two things. First that you are a man, and second that you are not interested in a car’s power or handling. This, it seems, is not something women find attractive.

— supermoto (View Profile)

Posted on 8/6/2007 7:30:46 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

BTW, 415hp at the crank? What is that, 350hp at the rear wheel on a dyno? Less than a chipped 335i. LMAO.

— supermoto (View Profile)

Posted on 8/6/2007 7:32:41 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

Seems strange that it would be only 415. The IS350 with 306 = 87hp/liter. The IS-F with 415 would be 83hp/liter; If the specific outputs were equal, the IS_F would have 437.

Doesn't seem right that the "high-performance" version would make fewer hp/liter.

— sold2early (View Profile)

Posted on 8/6/2007 8:28:29 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

theres really no point in talking about the IS-F until the freakin thing is officially released.

— gsh23 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/6/2007 8:54:58 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 6   

I can rank performance cars with no first hand expierence also.

1 Audi RS4
2 BMW M3
3 Cadilac CTS V
4 Mercedes C63AMG
5 Lexus IS-F

— johnct (View Profile)

Posted on 8/6/2007 10:23:16 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

I highly doubt that the IS-F will defeat ANY of its competitors.
Lexus has absolutely NO experience in this area of the car market.
How will they change the boring, bland to drive IS into a car as fun as the M3 or even the C63?

— audirevolution (View Profile)

Posted on 8/6/2007 10:57:55 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

I seriously doubted if this were true, I belief it when the CEO of Lexus said so. They are not going to waste million of dollars, if not billion and give it only 415hp.

I betcha, when the Lexus IS-F is being release it will have 450hp-480hp for sure mark my words for it.

— Lexus (View Profile)

Posted on 8/6/2007 11:10:27 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

I don't want to beat the same drum but 415 hp is truly weak. Hyundai's new coupe will smash the is-f.

— xj13 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/7/2007 1:17:29 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

okay...

i think i should bring up american cars have been using like 5.0 liter V8s and 4.0 liter V6s in their cars, and they produce way less than 300 horses. lol

with that said, that means this car will have a lot of torque. big engine = more torque capacity.

dont worry so much, lexus knows it cant screw up this one since theres so much riding on its reputation. Cant wait to see the IS-f battle the M3 in magazines and in top gear.

tho i have a feeling since so many people are biased...that the lexus is going to lose.

— LexusKindaGuy12 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/7/2007 1:34:30 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

Its rare the Lexus misses a target but for only 415hp this car was way overhyped. The second dissapointing car to come from Lexus in recent memory (LS 600).

— no1listensanyway (View Profile)

Posted on 8/7/2007 1:51:46 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

I will laugh my butt off you German fanboys and Lexus hater, when the Lexus IS-F come with 480hp to 500 hp. Think about, Lexus already confirm that the Lexus LF-A is having 570+hp so it only make sense the IS-F have close to 500hp as well.

The Lexus IS-F will set a Horse Power standard in this segment, just like the Lexus IS350. The IS350 was the first in it category to have 306 hp, the most it category at that time. I wouldn't be suprise if the Lexus IS-F will have 480+ hp.

— Lexus (View Profile)

Posted on 8/7/2007 2:09:16 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -5   

I sure smell bs here, there no way Lexus will come out with only 415hp.

Supra do you have anything to back what you claim?

That like saying the up and coming M5 or M6 will only have 510hp when the new RS5 will will have 575hp. The new BMW M5 and M6 will probably to 600hp just like the new Audi RS5. I'm sure glad you're not the one running Lexus company.

— Lexus (View Profile)

Posted on 8/7/2007 2:16:25 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

lets just wait for car

no point in saying it will beat the m3, rs4 or the c63. if its good enough then it will and if its not then it wont.

i personally feel that it might have bhp around 430-450. but thats just what i think it will have

— cars4life (View Profile)

Posted on 8/7/2007 2:56:55 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

Does anybody have any idea what the IS-F will weigh? Surely with that big 5.0 litre V8 and 415hp it will need to be at least as light as the M3 to have a hope of keeping up with it. If this hp number is true of course

— Kinger (View Profile)

Posted on 8/7/2007 5:28:11 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

if the rep actually got that 415 figure from above, then lexus is playing a game of UNDERstating output.

the more to surprise everybody when the REAL figure is released.

— XYZZ (View Profile)

Posted on 8/7/2007 7:13:20 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

The bottom line is lets wait for the official release from Lexus on specs.

— david999 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/7/2007 7:40:11 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

the only problem here is for all the lexus fanboys that believe lexus cars are gods gift to earth.

unfortunately for them, the best thing toyota/lexus have put out for people who love driving is the IS....

now with the lf-a their argument that lexus makes gods chariots may be complete. but obviously that wont be enough for them because lexus is facing real competition in many other segments its trying to compete in.

its funny to me how they completely avoid the gt-r in all this discussion. m3 fans do as well but for a good reason- the m3 isnt about numbers. take performance numbers away from the is-f and what are you left with? that's the truth and the source of their fears.

they know lexus probably wont do very well against the gtr, m3, etc. they're just praying for specs that will give them hope... like 500horsepower or something silly.

in reality, toyota has tons of resources and may yet build a great car, but it wont kill the competition like their financial sheets do.

if what they want from the is-f is an m3+10hp they should just buy the real thing instead. you'll be ok without the 10 extra hp. its just like them going around begging for a 6 speed IS coupe with more emphasis on driving (just do it right and buy a g35)

those who are real IS fans should really be hoping the front end doesnt get too heavy.. and understand that with 8 speeds 415hp would be fairly competitive (provided weight is in check)... but at this point i don't think Lexus has many fans like that.

— tekknikal (View Profile)

Posted on 8/7/2007 8:23:52 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3   

Maybe it's 415 hp AT THE WHEELS.

— 7msynthetic (View Profile)

Posted on 8/7/2007 2:51:33 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

I'm no Lex-lover and I'm certainly not making excuses, but boy, am I glad to be in a world where the word "only" is in the same sentence as "415hp." LOL, the IS-F will be more than fast enough!

— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 8/8/2007 1:02:20 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 6   

Either way we know the IS-F isn't going to mount a serious challenge to the M3 or C63 or RS4. For one it is way too ugly and mutated looking compared to the basic IS350. What a ill-proportioned mess. The stacked tailpipes look like something a child designed. Then there is no manual. The Benz doesn't have one either, but its chassis is getting praise next to the new M3 so that tells you that isn't business as usual with AMG. Especially after the Black Series. The car is going to be hot for about 13 months and then watch if flop. It doesn't deserve to make it looking like something thrown together in a mental ward at a hospital.

— Mercedes (View Profile)

Posted on 8/8/2007 1:50:36 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -4   

Damn, I missed this thread! Must've overlooked it!

— Will_ (View Profile)

Posted on 8/8/2007 4:19:25 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

the very reason for Lexus/Toyota enetering this segment is to dominate the competition. so as far as all the biased comments on how the IS-F won't give the M/AMG/RS any competition, is completely false.

did the GS not alter sales from E-class and 5-series owners? did the IS not do the same for 3-series and C-class owners?

dominating the segment, i doubt lexus will do, due to the fact of loyal MB/BMW owners. but i see them at least taking away some fot he market share!

— r15mohd (View Profile)

Posted on 8/8/2007 4:23:51 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

***edit***

meant to say they won't dominate the market, but they will deter sales...plain and simple as they did when they entered with the GS and IS

— r15mohd (View Profile)

Posted on 8/8/2007 4:26:24 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

here we go with the is-f coupe rumors... lol... see my post above. if what you want is an edgy is-f why not just buy an m3? oh no, you dont want a bmw m3. you want a lexus m3. well that's not what lexus does.

btw just because its a coupe doesnt make it inherently better... it all depends on how it was designed to begin with. the civic si sedan for instance, is more rigid than the coupe.

regarding 407hp, that's fine. i think the real thing people are missing is the price. all the horsepower numbers sound ok to me, especially with the 8 speeds. lexus is coming from a fresh angle here.. but whether or not its worth it doesnt entirely depend on hp but also price. what stands out to me is not just the 415hp talk but also the $50-60k talk.

if the car's price carried a 4 handle it would have made a lot of sense. but at $5x? that's not exactly a bargain for what you get...

— tekknikal (View Profile)

Posted on 8/9/2007 12:45:22 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

IS3, you don't know what you're talking about. The E90 3-series outhandles the E46 3-series. It's not even close, and this is coming from someone who had an E46 330i and now has an E90 330i.

— JRobUSC (View Profile)

Posted on 8/9/2007 6:00:20 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

cars nowadays will only get more powerful, heavier, more expensive, and sloppier around corners. true bmw enthusiasts will talk about the e30 and e36. true toyota fans will talk about the ae86 and mr2. but then again, there were once true enthusiasts who really drove their cars.

dont make me laugh at your commute back home through the "backroads". if its not dante's peak then you might as well just play gt3 on the playstation.

— gsh23 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/8/2007 10:21:34 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

bulldogz - it gets better, now it seems the IS-F will have only 407hp. What a limp weakling. Forget out this playskool looking thing even mounting a challenge to the Germans.

— Mercedes (View Profile)

Posted on 8/9/2007 12:55:59 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

Hey, I don't believe it really work ?

— 24hnews (View Profile)

Posted on 8/17/2007 5:11:15 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

I currently drive an 2001 S4 Stage II, and I'm in the market for a new car.

I agree with tekknikal. PRICE NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED.
If this car comes in at the mid $50's it's competing with 335i and S4 (not M3 and RS4).

If all you've got is $55k (not $70k)- the choice is simple.

— S4tunato (View Profile)

Posted on 12/28/2007 4:28:57 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

The Lexus IS-F is "tuned" down from Lexus. Tekknikal is giving opinion's, not facts. The IS-F is the most advanced Sports Sedan being built period. The IS-F is great for someone that wants sports car performance, and Lexus Luxury in one car.

Give the IS-F a spin before you buy anything, and you'll be more suprised by how great of a deal it is. For $59,315, you get a IS-F with Navigation !! Heated and cooled seats, moonroof, and all the other Lexus amenities !!

— AMiodynski (View Profile)

Posted on 1/23/2008 3:56:20 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1