Lexus IS250: the basis for IS-F
Lexus has announced that it'll launch the IS-F -- its BMW M3-killer -- at the Detroit motor show in January.
The nomenclature stems from the company's new badging system, where 'F' competes with BMW's 'M'.
Details are bit sketchy but it seems that it'll house the 4.6-litre V8 from the new LS460, which puts out 350bhp and 369lb-ft of torque in basic form -- though you can expect that it'll be tweaked to make more if it's to compete with the BMW.
Based on the IS250, the IS-F will probably get the new eight-speed transmission with paddle shifters along with the usual round of aero enhancements -- spoilers, skirts and diffusers.
Expect it to arrive in 2008.
In addition to the IS-F, Lexus said it'll also unveil "an exotic sports concept" in Detroit.