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The AutoGuide News Blog is your source for breaking stories from the auto industry. Delivering news immediately, the AutoGuide Blog is constantly updated with the latest information, photos and video from manufacturers, auto shows, the aftermarket and professional racing.

19/10/2011 | By: Colum Wood

Don’t street race. We’re begging you. And not just for all of the obvious reasons, but also because we might have to watch another video like this.

Some doubts have been cast as to the legitimacy of the claims about this video, but regardless of the reason, you’re about to watch a rather shiny Lexus get crushed. This is no “regular” Lexus either, but an IS-F, with a 416-hp 5.0-liter V8 under the hood. What a waste.

Click here to read AutoGuide’s 2011 Lexus IS-F review

Watch the video after the jump:

Continue Reading…

13/05/2011 | By: Jason Siu

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Lexus‘ IS-F hasn’t quite become the popular performance sedan many of initially thought it would and the IS-F’s minimal presence in motorsports proves that it may not be the best platform to begin with. There are many enthusiasts out there that are open to proving all the skeptics wrong however, including MN Motorsports who built an IS-F for the Superstars International Series. Now another contender has thrown their hat in the ring as Maurer Motorsport has revealed their widebody IS-F race car to the world.

Not many details have been released yet on this particular IS-F race car, but Maurer Motorsport is no stranger to competitive racing. They currently participate in the Chevrolet Cruze spec-series ADAC Cruze Cup, though the IS-F is clearly a change in both size and power.

The widebody IS-F is undoubtedly awesome in the aesthetics department but with little details on everything else, we’llreserve judgement until it hits the track. Rumor has it that Maurer Motorsport hopes to campaign a total of three new IS-Fs and right now they are still debating whether they’ll participate in the European Production Series or V8 Superstars Series.

GALLERY: Maurer Motorsport Lexus IS-F

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[Source: Facebook via My.IS]

27/08/2010 | By: Derek Kreindler

Lotus will leverage their partnership with Toyota be equipping a variant of their new, flagship Esprit with the hand-crafted V10 used in the Lexus LFA.

This exclusive version would have some stiff competition from the “base” Esprit – said to be powered by the 5.0L V8 from the Lexus IS-F. Lotus cars in the past have used engines taken from more pedestrian cars like compact Fords, Renaults and Toyotas. The shift to serious high-performance engines comes as CEO Dany Bahar seeks to move Lotus from being a niche sports car maker into a legitimate rival to companies like Ferrari, Lamborghini and Aston Martin.

Since the Esprit is likely to cost far less than the LFA’s $375,000 sticker price, the theoretical V10 Esprit could be the cheapest way to get a bit of that Formula 1-inspired magic. We’ll know more when the car is unveiled at the 2010 Paris Auto Show.

Check out our Paris Auto Show preview page here

[Source: Inside Line]

23/06/2010 | By: Derek Kreindler

The Lexus IS is back for 2011 with a few minor tweaks that should make the car more enticing. According to a leaked Japanese-market brochure, the new models get a 15% bump in fuel efficiency, LED daytime running lights and a revised front bumper, while inside, a USB port for MP3 players is standard. F Sport models get a different bumper and rear spoiler, new wheels reminiscent of the LFA supercar’s rims, a new gear knob and sports seats. No word on whether North America will see all of these changes.

[Source: 4Wheels News]

10/06/2010 | By: Derek Kreindler

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Lexus has just launched a vehicle registry for the F-Sport product lineup, allowing owners to plot their locations on a map, and see where other F-Sport owners are hanging out.

The registry is open to owners of the IS-F, LS460 Sports, vehicles with F-Sport accessories and the LFA supercar. As of now, there are allegedly three LFA owners on the registry, but we suspect that anyone who actually owns this car wouldn’t register their public location, and would instead hang out with a super elite group of people in locations that are off limits to us common folk.

Hit the jump to read the official press release

[Source: ClubLexus]

Continue Reading…

25/05/2010 | By: Derek Kreindler

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Infiniti is set to launch its new go-fast division, Infiniti Performance Line, later this year, promising an enticing list of performance parts, set to include mundane things like air filters, and stretching all the way to “automotive engine parts, namely turbochargers and superchargers.”

The first IPL car is set to debut at the Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance, and rumor has it that it will be a G37 Coupe decked out to the nines. If the car ends up with forced induction, it could make for an interesting competitor to cars like the BMW M3 while serving as a 2-door alternative to the Lexus IS-F. Nissan’s NISMO division is one of the leading factory-affiliated tuners (Nissan even sells a NISMO 370Z), and we wouldn’t be surprised if they gave IPL a hand in concocting some very potent performance cars.

[Source: Autoblog]

Tokyo Auto Salon 2010: Lexus IS-F CCS Concept

Light-weight Lexus could foreshadow hard-core production model

14/01/2010 | By: Jason Siu

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Tucked away towards the back of Toyota’s booth at the 2010 Tokyo Auto Salon was this IS-F CCS Concept that looks to be a lightweight version of the performance-minded sedan. Not much details could be found on this CCS Concept, but we definitely fell in love with the bright orange shade and carbon fiber accents. The hood, trunk, and spoiler were all constructed on carbon fiber while the front bumper and side skirts got a mild trim accent and the rear bumper its own carbon fiber diffuser. A slightly different exhaust system also appears to be a part of the package, as do the light weight wheels. It also doesn’t take an expert to see that this IS-F features a significantly lowered suspension.

Looking at the IS-F CCS Concept, we can’t help but think of the equally-orange BMW M3 GTS, which debuted recently in Germany as a track-only club racer. Is Lexus thinking of offering a similar model, or perhaps a light-weight street legal version? We certainly hope so.

GALLERY: Lexus IS-F CCS Concept

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14/01/2010 | By: Jason Siu

IMG_3763.jpgShowing off Toyo Tires’ Proxes C1S rubber was a Lexus IS-F sporting a very innovative vinyl wrap.  From far the car looked to be a matte silver, but up close the wrap has a brushed aluminum theme.  Another interesting piece to this IS-F was the Hamann styling.  Famous for tuning European automobiles, it seems as if Hamann has taken a liking to the Japanese market.  It only makes sense, as many more European tuners are turning towards the Japanese vehicles and Japanese tuners are turning towards European vehicles.

GALLERY: Toyo Tires IS-F

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