The Car Enthusiast tests the LEXUS ISF
LE34 submitted on 3/27/2008 Official Bell & Ross Timestamp: 10:11:15 AM
27 user comments | Category: New Cars | Source: | SOURCE: www.carenthusiast.com
For Lexus, this section is key to the IS F being taken seriously as a performance car for real driving enthusiasts.
The competition is not only fierce, but established. Car nuts know what to expect from BMW, Audi and Mercedes in regard to focused performance cars, but until now Lexus will not have featured in their shortlist of sport saloons.
If our first inklings are anything to go by, that will change very quickly. At first, the engine dominates the experience, which is hardly surprising given the mouth-watering prospect of a 5.0-litre V8 that outputs 417bhp and 372lb.ft of torque. Though based on the design of the LS 600h's engine, so many changes were made for the IS F that it can be considered to be a new unit. As well as lightening components and strengthening the structure to cope with extended hard use, Lexus employs several innovations, all aimed at enhancing performance, as well as improving overall efficiency. The fuel delivery system for instance employs both conventional inlet port injection, in tandem with direct injection, the latter assisting with charge cooling, which allows a high compression ratio - resulting in greater efficiency in all conditions, plus enhanced performance.
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