2011 Lexus IS F review

[LexusDubai]

The IS F is the ultimate incarnation of Lexus’ IS sedan, boasting more than 400bhp from its V8 engine.

It originally went on sale in Japan in 2007, but only arrived in the Middle East – officially, anyway – at the tail end of 2010.

The name and the design come from Japan’s Fuji Speedway, the home of Lexus’ high performance vehicle development. Thus the F gets a 5.0-litre V8 engine sending 417bhp to the rear wheels through an advanced eight-speed automatic gearbox that can be shifted manually via wheel-mounted paddles. The result is a sedan that will hit 100kph in 4.8 seconds.

The IS F stands out from the rest of the range thanks to a lower stance and large grille and intakes in the front. Wider wheel arches house 19-inch alloy wheels, behind which lurk powerful Brembo brakes.

At the back, the stacked quad tailpipes are house in a deep rear bumper, with a spoiler integrated into the tailgate.

Inside, buyers get leather sports seats featuring the F logo, and the trim includes lashing of carbon fibre and aluminium.

Despite its sporting performance, the IS F is still a Lexus, so luxury features include a 14-speaker Mark Levinson sound system, dual zone air conditioning and cruise control.

Safety features include eight airbags and a Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management system (incorporating electronic stability control and ABS, traction control) tuned for sporty driving.

Engine: 5.0-litre V8

Max power (bhp/rpm): 417/6,600

Max torque (Nm/rpm): 504/5,200

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

Driven wheels: Rear-wheel drive

Kerb weight: 1,730kg

Price (AED): From 299,000

SOURCE: http://automiddleeast.com/2011-lexus-is-f/