#is-f

Rumors surrounding the next Lexus IS are abundant, and now it is becoming clear that the car will take a serious departure from its current form. 

Lexus will be bringing a fine collection of vehicles to this year’s SEMA Show, and AutoGuide has compiled a guide to all the ones we’re expecting to see. In addition to the previously mentioned GS 350 F-Sport, Lexus will also be showing off a custom GS F Sport and CT 200h by Five Axis, a custom IS 350C by VIP Auto Salon, a custom LX 570 by JT Grey Racing, while Lexus themselves will be bringing F Sport variants of their CT 200h, IS 350, and IS 250C models to go along with their IS F.

This past week, The International Motor Press Association ( IMPA) held a track day at the Monticello Motor Club in New York, where a number of automotive journalists from various publications gathered together to test cars, critique each vehicle’s merits objectively, and perform all the good work being an automotive journalist entails.

Japanese luxury car firm Lexus has, however, been less keen on taking the IS-F to racing circuits, but that hasn’t stopped some privateer entries from making race cars out of the brand’s most powerful sedan.

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.

A British police force, known for using high-powered Subaru WRX STIs, has just decided to add even more beefy power to its lineup by specking-out a Lexus IS-F to be its new high-speed chase car.

With the launch of the IS convertible, rumors started almost immediately that Lexus might build a high-performance F version of the retractable hard-top. Now it appears those hoping for such a drop-top beast will get their wish.

The upcoming Lotus Esprit may be powered by a 500hp Lexus V10 according to a report in the U.K.’s EVO magazine. Lotus has a long time partnership with Lexus parent company Toyota, using its Celica-sourced 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine for the Elise and Exige, as well as its the Camry-sourced 3.5-liter V6 for the Evora. According to EVO this relationship extends not just to the Toyota powertrain department but also to the Lexus division – and Lexus just so happens to be readying its LF-A exotic with a 500 horse V10. There is also the possibility that the IS-F’s 417hp 5.0-liter V8 could be an option, as well as an entry-level 300hp direct-injection V6 motor. 

For the second year in a row Lexus had a significant presence at the SEMA Show. To help continue to promote the IS-F, Lexus sent out four of the sport sedans to different tuner shops and media outlets for them to tune as they please.
The real gem from Lexus was, however, a modified GS model. Lexus commissioned Five Axis, which created the wild matte-black IS-F from the 2007 SEMA Show, to build a similarly-styled GS460.
Sporting a custom wide-body conversion, the Five Axis GS is coated in many layers of Satin Titanium Pearl paint with what Lexus calls “onyx and papaya” accents.
The wheels are a current Five Axis design called FIVE:AD ONYX R5:F (a name that doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue) and measure 20×8.5-inches up front and 20×10.5-inches in the rear. Yokohama got involved with the project providing tires, but these are no ordinary pieces of rubber. The Advan tires feature a concept design.
Inside the rollers you’ll find a big brake kit with six-piston calipers and 14-inch rotors up front and four-piston calipers with 13.6-inch rotors in the rear.
The suspension has also been tuned with a custom set of shocks and lowering springs, while performance is optimized (if only slightly) through the use of a performance exhaust system.

A FULL GALLERY of the Lexus IS-F SEMA vehicles can be found after the jump: