#ModifiedLexus

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.

Last year Lexus used the SEMA Show to help promote the IS-F, but for SEMA ’09, the IS Convertible is taking the stage. Lexus shipped out three IS Cs to different shops and organizations, letting them be as creative as they liked. A fourth IS C was built by Lexus’s in-house F-sport performance division.

Looking more like something we might have seen at SEMA in 2002, Lexus has decided to showcase David Huang’s wild IS300 along with its collection of custom IS Cs, a TRD GS and the new LFA Supercar. Making about as much power as two LFA’s, Huang has dubbed the car the IS1000, due to its supposed 1,000-hp output. The modifications list would no doubt be as long as a dictionary but this gist of it is a 2JZ-GTE engine (from a Supra or Aristo) with just one massive turbo. Other modifications include some stunning 20-inch Work VS-XX wheels, Endless brakes, Zeal coilovers and a selection on Kansai and HKS goodies.

Unlike the past two years, Lexus will have a more low-key presence at the SEMA Show for 2009. In the past, Toyota’s luxury division had significant outdoor exhibits, centered mostly around the IS and IS-F performance sedans. Last year the automaker distributed four of its IS-F sedans to four different companies (Fox Marketing/Artisan Performance, MotorworldHype, 0-60 Magazine and Import Tuner magazine/TEIN). The year before that Lexus contracted Five Axis to build a very impressive matte-black widebody IS-F (shown above).

Mercedes tuner Lorinser has just announced that it is now tuning Lexus vehicles and the first of the Japanese Mercs to get a German makeover is the flagship LS sedan.

To coincide with the launch of the new IS250 C and IS350 C hard-top convertibles, Lexus is releasing a line of F-Sport performance parts for both models. Manufactured in-house by Toyota’s performance parts division TRD (Toyota Racing Development) the parts are essentially the same as those already offered for the sedan models.