Thursday 18th December 2014

New Lexus 'F' concept at Detroit

Place your bets now - there's a new fast Lexus coming but they won't say what it is

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Despite a few flaws, the Lexus RC F has rather endeared itself to those people who have driven it so far. More than just a V8 bruiser, there's a real depth of talent to suggest Lexus does take performance cars very seriously.

Can you tell what it is yet? Can we still say that?

Therefore the news of another Lexus 'F' model for January's Detroit motor show is rather exciting. As experienced with the RC, Lexus is employing the excruciating drip feed of information in the weeks prior to the debut. All we know from this first release is that it's blue and it will be 'track ready'. Having said that, January 13 isn't that far away so we won't have to wait long.

So what could it be? Well the RC replaced the IS F and it seems unlikely the LS will be getting a performance variant, pointing inevitably to the GS. As niche segments go, the supersaloon is not only one of our favourites but also a densely populated one: Mercedes, BMW, Jaguar and Audi all have a fast four-door model, indeed some have more than one, that a GS F could battle. Will the 5.0 V8 (assuming that's the engine) be tweaked to take on those 550hp+ big hitters?

Until January or another update from Lexus it will be a game of conjecture. But consider us intrigued by the next Lexus F model. Can't really have enough V8 saloons on sale, can you?

[Escort Si-130]

I love the wheels, but it would be a pain in the ass when it comes to cleaning them.

[soad]

Escort Si-130 said:

I love the wheels, but it would be a pain in the ass when it comes to cleaning them.

Mobile car valeting.

[Denorth]

other sources claiming that it's GS-F that is to be presented after GS facelift

[mr_fibuli]

A GSF would need a bigger engine than the RCF though...

Time to resurrect the V10 from the LFA for a bonkers modern day E60 M5 replacement!

[AmitG]

Denorth said:

other sources claiming that it's GS-F that is to be presented after GS facelift

Yep. And the GS really does need a facelift. It's superbly made, with a real feeling of quality, but the exterior looks a bit untidy IMHO. This one looks promising.

Lexus seem to be on a bit of a roll. The new IS is apparently doing well, I'm seeing a surprising number of NX's around even though it's only been out for a few months, the RC-F seems to have filled a niche, and now this.

[JohnG1]

mr_fibuli said:

A GSF would need a bigger engine than the RCF though...

Time to resurrect the V10 from the LFA for a bonkers modern day E60 M5 replacement!

Yes please! But not going to happen at a sensible price point (i.e. - comparable with the current generation M5) - the LFA V10 engine is incredibly expensive to manufacture with lots of very lightweight exotic materials to allow for really fast throttle response...

[FastRich]

It perhaps goes against their (attempted) brand values - class, "a step above the rest", quality and comfort but the Lexus performance division could do worse than spicing up the CT into a hot hatch to rival the A45, M135i and RS3....

[After_Shock]

JohnG1 said:

Yes please! But not going to happen at a sensible price point (i.e. - comparable with the current generation M5) - the LFA V10 engine is incredibly expensive to manufacture with lots of very lightweight exotic materials to allow for really fast throttle response...

I don't think the V8 will be at a sensible price point either (assuming this uses the V8) might as well make a cheaper V10 and go the whole way, be shocked if it happened despite how good an effort it would be.

[Raman Kandola]

I hated Those split headlights that lexus have been doing recently but they really have grown on me after seeing them in the flesh a few times.

Must say these lights look really good and aggressive.

+1 to the comment about the wheels looking awesome but ahrd to clean