Tuesday 10th December 2013

Lexus: new F model to be 'gritty'

Lexus teases new performance model to steal Detroit limelight from BMW M3 and M4

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Lexus is teasing a new performance model due to debut at the Detroit show in the new year and, just possibly, rain on the parade of the BMW M3 and M4 that were hoping to dominate the headlines at the same.

We already know quite a bit about those two of course. All we have on the Japanese rival is that 'The Next Lexus F Amplifies Exhilaration' - their capitals, not ours - and that it's an "advanced expression of design and performance." Curiously Lexus goes to great pains to say that this additional performance is "not bolted on, but engineered within." Just in case we thought it was going to be a production version of one of the SEMA tuner cars we detailed not so long ago. Shame, that 700hp IS250 looked rather fun.

"Engineered from scratch, one performance layer at a time, the newest F model promises a bold, gritty, experience synonymous with the famed Lexus F heritage," the teaser release goes on, just in case you hadn't got the point.

Gritty? Curious adjective to choose there but we'll see what comes of it. And just what is 'it'? Well, we'll hedge our bets and say it might well be a hotter version of the RC coupe. A punt seemingly backed up by sightings of heavily disguised RCs at the Nurburgring - where else - bearing the diagonally stacked exhausts trademarked by the IS-F and prominent wing vents visible in both the spy shots and the teaser photo.

If you're that way inclined you can follow the official line on the new F model at #AsphaltUp on Twitter as the pre-show teaser campaign gathers pace.

[Sources: Lexus, Autoblog]

 

 

 

[redroadster]

Sales will be tiny, people love the bmw badge,even though lexus is a good brand.

[jeremyc]

Article said:

... the diagonally stacked exhausts trademarked by the IS-F ...

Point of order, please. Surely that's the diagonally stacked fake exhaust trims that made the IS-F a laughing stock.



Heck, you even wrote a blog post on this same subject Dan.

[loudlashadjuster]

Will they still insist on making it look like this?



Not getting my hopes up.

[kambites]

jeremyc said:

nono: Point of order, please. Surely that's the diagonally stacked fake exhaust trims that made the IS-F a laughing stock.



Heck, you even wrote a blog post on this same subject Dan.

To be fair, the quad exhausts on the M3 (possibly E9x excluded) might be more "real" but are equally form over function. Exhaust tips have been primarily a styling exercise on anything remotely "sporty" for a very long time.

[menoy]

"(...) famed Lexus F heritage"

ReallY? Heritage? Didn't the first F appear only in 2007?...

[Kawasicki]

menoy said:

"(...) famed Lexus F heritage"

ReallY? Heritage? Didn't the first F appear only in 2007?...

I thought that...what heritage?

[After_Shock]

If its got an N/A V8 in it then hats off to them for soldiering on with a breed of car that will vanish soon.

The new Coupe does look a very good styling effort from them, and a 5.0 V8 flagship will only help sales of the lower models.

[g3org3y]

kambites said:

To be fair, the quad exhausts on the M3 (possibly E9x excluded) might be more "real" but are equally form over function. Exhaust tips have been primarily a styling exercise on anything remotely "sporty" for a very long time.

I'd take either over that ridiculous Lexus 'quad' set up. At least the tail pipe trims are joined to the box!

Edited by g3org3y on Tuesday 10th December 08:48

[kambites]

I wouldn't, that E46 system (I assume that's what it is, it looks like one) weighs a bloody tonne!

[Bargenosenti]

Interesting alternative to an M3 though. IIRC evo rated them highly

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/l...

[Alfa159Ti]

Bargenosenti said:

Interesting alternative to an M3 though. IIRC evo rated them highly

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/l...

The £24k screen price in the pictures compared to the £19k advert price might suggest that demand for used IS-Fs is a little thin on the ground...

Well either that or the dealer was being greedy when they first bought it in.

Agree however that it is nice to have some variety in the sector other than the usual three.

[blasos]

menoy said:

"(...) famed Lexus F heritage"

ReallY? Heritage? Didn't the first F appear only in 2007?...

I was thinking the same thing. It borders on insulting, and is disingenuous at best. It's aimed at ignorant potential buyers, and really shows what Lexus thinks of its customers.

That being said, I quite like Lexus' designs since the original IS, and will be interested to see what Lexus pull off this time.

[Escort Si-130]

LMAO

loudlashadjuster said:

Will they still insist on making it look like this?



Not getting my hopes up.

[Bargenosenti]

Alfa159Ti said:

Bargenosenti said:

Interesting alternative to an M3 though. IIRC evo rated them highly

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/l...

The £24k screen price in the pictures compared to the £19k advert price might suggest that demand for used IS-Fs is a little thin on the ground...

Well either that or the dealer was being greedy when they first bought it in.

Agree however that it is nice to have some variety in the sector other than the usual three.

You're right. Some hard negotiating in the New Year could see that even cheaper I would imagine

[Escort Si-130]

Damn, I thought it was real, what is the point on a car of that calibre to put a fake exhaust trim, it just doesn't add up.

jeremyc said:

Article said:

... the diagonally stacked exhausts trademarked by the IS-F ...

Point of order, please. Surely that's the diagonally stacked fake exhaust trims that made the IS-F a laughing stock.



Heck, you even wrote a blog post on this same subject Dan.

[Escort Si-130]

True, but it is the things that makes you go hmmmm.....

kambites said:

jeremyc said:

nono: Point of order, please. Surely that's the diagonally stacked fake exhaust trims that made the IS-F a laughing stock.



Heck, you even wrote a blog post on this same subject Dan.

To be fair, the quad exhausts on the M3 (possibly E9x excluded) might be more "real" but are equally form over function. Exhaust tips have been primarily a styling exercise on anything remotely "sporty" for a very long time.

[Escort Si-130]

Doubt it, exhausts aren't that heavy. A sunroof cassette assembly weighs a fair bit though.

kambites said:

I wouldn't, that E46 system (I assume that's what it is, it looks like one) weighs a bloody tonne!

[Dan Trent]

jeremyc said:

Article said:

... the diagonally stacked exhausts trademarked by the IS-F ...

Point of order, please. Surely that's the diagonally stacked fake exhaust trims that made the IS-F a laughing stock.

Heck, you even wrote a blog post on this same subject Dan.

Absolutely right, and the Lexus was one of the worst offenders ever on that. But at least on the spy shot they look like actual exhausts, not just trims.

Point of order well made though!

Dan

[BILL PAYER]

The problem with Lexus is that they have always tried to make them look German and they are not. Im sure they are a fine car but lack the heritage of a BMW Mercedes or Audi.

[After_Shock]

BILL PAYER said:

Im sure they are a fine car but lack the heritage of a BMW Mercedes or Audi.

Heritage doesnt make a car good, its simply a marketing tool in order to help sell the things!