Friday 1st November 2013

Lexus preparing 700hp IS for SEMA

Plus a yellow one and a car with a bike rack, if you're interested

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In case you hadn't noticed, SEMA is a fairly big deal over in the States. Even the mainstream manufacturers such as Ford and Hyundai spend plenty of dollars on collaborative show car projects. We won't cover all the cars, we couldn't cover them all, but a rather exciting Lexus has been announced today.

Looks quite subtle by SEMA standards...

Predictably the focus is on the latest IS, with a few different approaches to make it, well, a rather more interesting car. So the yellow car is from Vossen Wheels, riding low on 20s with LFA Pearl yellow paint and a Tommy Kaira (remember them?) bodykit.

The white IS features a load of carbon parts as it's the Seibon Carbon display car, whilst Gordon Ting created the IS AWD carrying the carbon Lexus road bike. The less said about the orange Paul Tolson/Gabriel Escobedo effort the better.

But we've only got eyes for one of the Lexus exhibits, the Philip Chase IS340. Based on an IS250, its engine has been swapped for a Toyota Supra 2JZ GTE, then stroked to 3.4-litres. Forged internals, bigger Garrett turbos, new injectors, an uprated intercooler feature in a huge list of tweaks to produce around 700hp and 500lb ft. In a Lexus IS.

... not under here though!

Other interesting spec highlights include a 'Custom hand brake system (for Drifting)', Brembo brakes, KW V3 coilovers, Sparco seats and an OS Giken LSD. Oh, and a five-speed manual gearbox. Yep, no whining CVT or sluggish auto here, the drifter's Lexus has a stick and three pedals. Excellent.

Of course these show cars have no direct relevance to any future IS variants made by Lexus, but hopefully another IS-F is in the works? The last version was far better than anyone expected, and we know it will at least have another M3 to compete with. Don't expect 700hp and a manual though... And whilst we're here Lexus, what about the 650hp LS?

[Bradderz352]

Long live the 2JZ.

[davepoth]

Confused. I know that engine has crazy heritage, but why would they want to say "You know what, we looked around but the best engine we have is one we stopped making 20 years ago"? It's not like the awesome Lexus V8 doesn't fit...

[Ved]

Even more confusing since it is just over a decade since that engine was laid to rest, not 20.

[Cotty]

Reminds me of Predator

[emicen]

Wow, a 3.4 stroker 2JZ with 700hp and 500lbft...





...where are the other 700 horses hiding?

[Remagel2507]

Am I the only one that thinks the new IS is a very ugly car?

[addzGU]

Bad arse!

[Ullevi]

Remagel2507 said:

Am I the only one that thinks the new IS is a very ugly car?

They do look very dubious in pictures, but in the flesh look really good.

Those front light arrangements look like they don't work in the pictures but I was very surprised seeing them in the flesh- they actually look good IMO.

[flyingscot68]

Remagel2507 said:

Am I the only one that thinks the new IS is a very ugly car?

No

[foxhounduk]

2JZ?! Isn't that the one you find in those old Supra's?

Oh well. Anything with 700bhp is good enough for me.

[emicen]

foxhounduk said:

2JZ?! Isn't that the one you find in those old Supra's?

Oh well. Anything with 700bhp is good enough for me.

Find on old Supra's what? Engine bays?

Yes, plus IS300s and of course LS and GS 300s.

[Kozy]

I like that a lot!

[LLR270]

If it had a V8 then they might as well of just turned up with an ISF, and no one would have battered an eyelid....?