I've been waiting a long time to drive this car. What you see is the Japanese middle finger to BMW's M3 and the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG. It's called the Lexus IS-F (think IS250 on steroids) and is the maker's first F-car to reach our shores.
F is the performance side of Lexus (like Merc has AMG and BMW has M), its name derived from the Fuji Speedway in Japan. In fact a part of the logo is modelled around turn one of that circuit.
The IS-F is being delivered to dealerships as you read this and we're first with a full-on driving impression - and there are lots of juicy bits behind this Samurai warrior's armour that you need to know about.
Let's start with its five-litre V8 fighting spirit. At 311kW, the IS-F claims two kW more than the M3 but 25 less than the C63. Likewise on the grunt side, the eastern warrior's 505Nm is 105Nm more than Bavaria's brute but almost 100 less than Stuttgart's stormer.
The F's Yamaha-tuned and hand-built engine has race-bred technologies such as a high-flow cylinder head and titanium intake valves, a scavenger pump (read dry-sump) for oil flow under extreme lateral acceleration and special direct-injection and variable valve timing systems.
More obvious to the driver, however, is the eight-speed direct Sport Shift transmission that, according to the Japanese, is one of the world's fastest (it shifts in 0.1sec). It's aluminium to save weight, with a special torque convertor that locks up in every gear except first "for manual-like changes", and has its own breather system to avoid overheating in hard race-track usage.
Development, we are told, was partly carried out at research facilities such as the Nurburgring, Paul Ricard and Laguna Seca so being handed the keys to the end product and told to go away and play for a few days was an exciting prospect.
Press the Start button and the IS-F comes alive with that characteristic V8 burble - bearing in mind that this is still a Lexus so it's more purr than growl at low speeds. But when you get to about 3800rpm, a bit of the IS-F's dark side comes out when a secondary port on the air intake opens; think switching from Classic to Five FM.
I thought the eight-speed 'box would be a bit on the lazy side but it's actually quite responsive to right-foot input. And using the paddles behind the steering wheel, in proper manual mode, gives you full control - it won't override you at the limiter, which I like, and subtly blips the throttle on downshifts.
For the most fun I recommend Sport mode, which is a function of the vehicle dynamics integrated management system. It's operated by a little switch behind the steering wheel, while another button next to it switches it off completely.
SPORT-TUNED EVERYTHING
Yes, the settings tweak gearbox, stability and traction control systems, and Sport lets you be the driver, overlooking those fun indiscretions but ready to save you should everything go completely pear-shaped.
The suspension has been lowered by 25mm from that of the IS250 on sport-tuned everything, underbody fairings (from F1) suck the car down on to the track and a limited-slip differential reduces wheelspin.
The IS-F handles; it's hard, it grips, its steering is direct and very accurate - and if it gets tail-happy a quick flick does the trick!
I'm not going to dwell on the looks, except to say that I liked the 19" Samurai-sword rims (that are directional, by the way), the aggressive bonnet and the huge air-intakes - but I'm not sold on the stacked tailpipes, though they are IS-F's biggest giveaway.
VERDICT
Here lies the problem: The performance figures. Up on the Reef the best 0-100km/h sprint we managed was 6.19sec (versus a claimed 4.6), well off the sub-six seconds of both the C63 and the M3 (which has 105Nm less torque).
We had the car checked for system errors but none surfaced and we even put it up against another IS-F, without much difference.
At R766 900, however, it's very well priced, cheaper than an M3 sedan with dual-clutch transmission and far cheaper than the C63. It also has features that aren't standard in the Beem (though the four-year or 100 000km Lexus maintenance plan falls short of both).
Overall, a great package, but targeted more at a Lexus-type driver wanting to play than hardcore M3 or C63 buyers. - INL Motoring
PERFORMANCE
(tested at Gauteng altitude)
Top speed:
270km/h.
Acceleration:
0-60km/h - 3.2sec, 0-100km/h - 4.6sec (claimed), 6.2sec (tested).
Quarter mile (402.3m):
14.3sec.
Overtaking acceleration:
60-120km/h in Drive - 5.1sec.