Lexus: Japan takes on Germany in Geneva
Toyota’s luxury division set to show performance modelsLexus is planning to add some Japanese flavour to the mix of European debuts at the Geneva show. On hand to represent Toyota’s luxury division will be the new IS flagship — aptly named the IS-F — which will take a spot beside the LF-A supercar concept and the latest iteration of the luxurious LS.
Both the IS-F and LF-A concept will be making their European debuts, having been first unveiled at the Detroit motor show in January. Lexus claims the ‘F’ designation identifies vehicles specifically designed and engineered for high performance and sports driving dynamics.
The F-badged vehicles will be the flagships of the brand, and further emphasise Lexus’s ‘pursuit of perfection’ mantra. With the IS-F, Lexus is aiming to pursue already firmly established rivals in the sport sedan category. The company’s competition from Ingolstadt already has a V8 fitted under the bonnet, and Munich’s M3 will have a V8 when it appears in Geneva.
Living up to expectations, the IS-F is powered by a 5-litre V8 engineers have shoehorned into the engine bay. It is claimed to deliver more than 395bhp and 369lb.ft of torque with sprints to 62mph achieved in 4.9 seconds, while top speed is governed to 168mph.
An eight-speed transmission, specially tuned for the IS-F, summons gear changes. The gearbox features what Lexus calls ‘sports shift control’ which allows manual shifting via ‘paddles’ on the steering wheel, or fully automatic gear engagement. The IS-F is also the first Lexus to feature a vehicle dynamics integrated management (VDIM) system, which can be switched between three arranged settings: ‘normal’, ‘sport’ or ‘off’; enabling the driver to modify the car’s reactions to steering and acceleration input.
The LF-A concept is Lexus’ second attempt at gauging public reaction to a forthcoming supercar. First seen at the 2005 Detroit motor show, this latest version has received certain styling tweaks reflecting the ‘L-Finesse’ design language. The supercar concept employs a racing-inspired 5-litre V10 engine claimed to generate more than 493bhp and giving the LF-A a top speed approaching 200mph. The forward/mid-engine layout with rear-mounted transaxle and radiators is said to give the car an ideal 50 per cent front/rear weight distribution for ultimate handling precision.
If both the IS-F and the LF-A demonstrate advances the luxury carmaker has made in developing performance technology, the LS 600h shows how a luxury vehicle can be refined to deliver power while retaining high efficiency. By combining a 5-litre V8 — fitted with two fuel injectors per cylinder and ‘intelligent valve timing’ on the intake — with a parallel hybrid system, the car manages to boost performance and reduce emissions.
Together with an electrically-controlled continuously variable transmission sending power to all four wheels, the LS 600h is claimed to deliver performance typical of a V12 while returning a combined fuel consumption rating of 29.7mpg and CO2 emissions of just 220g/km.
Both the IS-F and LF-A concept will be making their European debuts, having been first unveiled at the Detroit motor show in January. Lexus claims the ‘F’ designation identifies vehicles specifically designed and engineered for high performance and sports driving dynamics.
The F-badged vehicles will be the flagships of the brand, and further emphasise Lexus’s ‘pursuit of perfection’ mantra. With the IS-F, Lexus is aiming to pursue already firmly established rivals in the sport sedan category. The company’s competition from Ingolstadt already has a V8 fitted under the bonnet, and Munich’s M3 will have a V8 when it appears in Geneva.
Living up to expectations, the IS-F is powered by a 5-litre V8 engineers have shoehorned into the engine bay. It is claimed to deliver more than 395bhp and 369lb.ft of torque with sprints to 62mph achieved in 4.9 seconds, while top speed is governed to 168mph.
An eight-speed transmission, specially tuned for the IS-F, summons gear changes. The gearbox features what Lexus calls ‘sports shift control’ which allows manual shifting via ‘paddles’ on the steering wheel, or fully automatic gear engagement. The IS-F is also the first Lexus to feature a vehicle dynamics integrated management (VDIM) system, which can be switched between three arranged settings: ‘normal’, ‘sport’ or ‘off’; enabling the driver to modify the car’s reactions to steering and acceleration input.
The LF-A concept is Lexus’ second attempt at gauging public reaction to a forthcoming supercar. First seen at the 2005 Detroit motor show, this latest version has received certain styling tweaks reflecting the ‘L-Finesse’ design language. The supercar concept employs a racing-inspired 5-litre V10 engine claimed to generate more than 493bhp and giving the LF-A a top speed approaching 200mph. The forward/mid-engine layout with rear-mounted transaxle and radiators is said to give the car an ideal 50 per cent front/rear weight distribution for ultimate handling precision.
If both the IS-F and the LF-A demonstrate advances the luxury carmaker has made in developing performance technology, the LS 600h shows how a luxury vehicle can be refined to deliver power while retaining high efficiency. By combining a 5-litre V8 — fitted with two fuel injectors per cylinder and ‘intelligent valve timing’ on the intake — with a parallel hybrid system, the car manages to boost performance and reduce emissions.
Together with an electrically-controlled continuously variable transmission sending power to all four wheels, the LS 600h is claimed to deliver performance typical of a V12 while returning a combined fuel consumption rating of 29.7mpg and CO2 emissions of just 220g/km.
For more pictures of the IS-F click here
For more pictures of the LF-A click here
posted by Eric at 8:52 AM
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