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Lexus's first 'F'-ort in its category is a good one
For some time, Lexus has threatened to launch a performance sub-brand, and it's signified by the letter F. Beneath the 2008 Lexus IS F's bulbous hood panel is a 5.0-liter V-8 rated at 416 horsepower. This engine-the largest offered in a Lexus passenger car-is backed by the same eight-speed automatic transmission as in the LS 460, but it's reworked for high-power duty, including a manual mode and paddle shifters on the steering wheel. All four fenders are flared, although the side vents in the front appear to be only for style.
The Lexus V-8 sounds and feels like a thoroughbred. It's a low revver with a 6800-rpm redline. It's quiet at part throttle, but sharpens and deepens as your foot flattens, especially above 3800 revs. The eight-speeder makes more gear changes than do the others, but seldom feels like it's hunting. Put it in Sport mode and the shifts come with a firm wallop. Downshifts include an electronic rev blip to avoid shocking the chassis.
Lexus equips the IS F with electric power steering, which isn't as organic as a good hydraulic system. It's fine for normal to moderate driving, but loses sensitivity when you're really honking it. The IS F's cornering abilities are impressive, but the car understeers heavily at the limit, and the wheel feels disconnected at that point.
We pegged the IS F's lateral acceleration at 0.95 g, and the car feels aggressive yet poised unless you're pushing it. It stays neutral right until its cornering limits and then plows hard. High-speed mid-corner bumps will unsettle it a bit, but again only when really on it. As you'd expect of any Lexus, it has a polished ride, but it's not dumbed down or mushy, either. Wind noise is minimal, and it's the quiet in the cabin.
The IS F fell a few steps short inside. The console and other areas are splashed with an aluminized carbon-fiber-looking stuff that won't be to everyone's taste. And the nav screen and buttons come right out of the Prius, although the setup works well enough. The IS F's steering wheel isn't thick or stylish, but it also works well.
Lexus is new to this game, yet has delivered a fast, edgy, credible piece from a company most known for quiet and beautifully crafted, if uninvolving, luxury sedans. A couple of clunky design elements let it down, and its steering and suspension calibrations aren't as well synthesized at the limit. As the IS F costs no less than its German competition, there's no value card to be thrown. But we're picking nits, and we know the brand's next effort will be fully class-competitive.
TEST DATA
Acceleration to mph
0-30, 1.8 sec
0-40, 2.5
0-50, 3.4
0-60, 4.3
0-70, 5.5
0-80, 6.8
0-90, 8.2
0-100, 10
Passing, 45-65 mph 2
Quarter mile: 12.7 sec @ 113.4 mph
Braking, 60-0 mph: 108 ft
Braking, 100-0 mph: 309 ft
Lateral acceleration: 0.95 g (avg)
MT figure eight: 25.1 sec @ 0.77 g (avg)
2.7-mi road course lap: 2 min, 38.6 sec
Top-gear revs @ 60 mph: 1650 rpm
2008 Lexus IS F - Quick Test - Motor Trend
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