Lexus IS-F

2007 marks not only the 100th anniversary of the Detroit Auto Show but also the 19th year that the show has held the ‘International’ title, competing with the likes of Frankfurt, Geneva and London. 19 years ago there were far fewer foreign cars on the showroom floor than there are today. The open and liberal market in the United States has allowed the influx of automobiles from all over the world to be sold provided they meet required safety and emissions regulations. And that’s not a bad thing.

Competition spurs innovation. That’s why Lexus, the luxury division spawned from parent company Toyota, unveiled a new vehicle sporting the ‘F’ designation designed to cater to enthusiasts. The IS-F, set to become the new sporting flagship of the IS model line, was the brainchild of chief engineer Yokihiko Yaguchi who went against company rules and broke the mold. In a bid to make the IS a competitor to its German rivals, Lexus shoehorned a 5.0 liter V8 engine - said to produce an excess of 400hp and more than 350 lb ft. torque - between wider front fenders.

But the large engine with specially engineered heads fed by a two-stage intake system clearly wasn’t enough. To get all that power down Lexus also developed the world's first eight-speed direct sport-shift transmission fitted with a torque-converter lock-up control The car is claimed to reach 60 mph from a standstill in under 4.9 seconds.

A car this fast also needs to stop well, so engineers fitted huge Brembo-developed 14.2-inch cross-drilled discs with six-piston aluminum calipers in front and 13.6-inch two-piston cross-drilled discs at the rear. Wrapped around the brakes are BBS designed 19-inch forged alloy wheels built to Lexus specifications and surrounded by high-performance sport tires.

Handling also being a chief concern, Lexus engineers tuned the lesser IS’s double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension which now rides a full inch lower to the ground than the standard car fitted with 18-inch wheels. It is expected to be in dealerships by this time next year.

Click here for more pictures of the car.