Lexus Gets "F"-ed

'F,' as it turns out, stands for 'fast,' and will grace the trunk lid of Lexus vehicles that seek to do battle amidst the AMGs and Ms of the world.

The first F-inagled Lexus to make its debut will be a hotted-up version of the IS sedan, equipped with a 5-liter V8. What was originally assumed to be called the IS500, the newly dubbed IS-F will come with a revised version of the V8 that resides in the LS600h L and will produce upwards of 425 HP. Pricing is expected to come in around $50k, and is aimed squarely at the upcoming M3.

Other models expected to get the 'F' treatment include the GS sedan and a coupe version of the IS.

Autoblog

That's really...lame.

Is that the best Toyota marketing could come up with? Between this and the "tough T" [read: pig nose] logo for Toyota Trucks, they're trying way too hard to fit in. I can already here the jokes that will be made about Lexus getting the 'F' treatment.

Looks like a shoemaker logo. That's such a lame badge.

I'm buying me a Lexus LS600h L F

or... was that a LF600h L

....

..

maybe it was a L600FLH

f@#k it...

I'm getting a Lexus L0L

the IS sedan, equipped with a 5-liter V8

!!!!!

Regardless of the ghey logo. I guess it's better than TuRD.

To me, it's the same thing is R, S, V, M...a letter. So if "F" is lame than the rest of them are as well.

It could have been R instead of F, but apparently Toyota thought there were too many R-types already.

I'm buying me a Lexus LS600h L F

or... was that a LF600h L

....

..

maybe it was a L600FLH

f@#k it...

I'm getting a Lexus L0L

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It'd probably be LS-Fh.

On a performance model, though, it's almost wasteful to advertise that it's also a hybrid.

I'm buying me a Lexus LS600h L F

or... was that a LF600h L

....

..

maybe it was a L600FLH

f@#k it...

I'm getting a Lexus L0L

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F is for f@#ktard!

Let's focus on the letter attached to the car so we can avoid actually talking about the car itself. It's easier to make fun of Lexus that way.

IS + 5.0-liter V-8= Who the f*ck cares what it's called.

Let's focus on the letter attached to the car so we can avoid actually talking about the car itself.  It's easier to make fun of Lexus that way.   

IS + 5.0-liter V-8= Who the f*ck cares what it's called.

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I want to see them put that power to the ground..... something only BMW has been able to do with total success.

The M3 and RS4 will be better if you're looking for something small and the CTS-V and C55 AMG will be better if you want something more midsized (though the C is still tall).

F is a dumb name. Who names there car the IS Fast? V-Series stands denotes the Vx engine. M stands for Motorsport, AMG has some significance to the original people who started it, I'm not sure if RS stands for anything though. But picking F for Fast is one of the dumbest things I've heard. It's worse than SHAWD. If nothing else, LPG, Lexus Performance Group or something similar would have sounded better and had a reasonable meaning.

Ok, I'm always up for bashing Toyota a little, but I don't see a problem with this at all.

IS500 would have been a better name, IMHO..but whatever.. I wonder if Infiniti will retaliate with a G35 performance model?

The Lexus "F" series. Further compounding Lexus' already convoluted vehicle titles.

Lame. Lexus had plenty of time to think of a good, cool sounding designation. Sounds like they didn't put a lot of thought into it.

I wonder if Infiniti will retaliate with a G35 performance model?

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Shoehorn their 5.6L?

That'd be a blast.

Ugh. It would have been better to keep L-Tuned. F is for Ford.

FAST makes performance intakes for LSx engines:

Now we have the Lexus Fast line. Seriously, "Lexus Performance Group" sounds professional and upscale. "Fast" sounds like a tuner or something, and I guess it's technically a tuner model, but it would be more fitting of Scion.

LMS - Lexus Motor Sports

LTD - Lexus Tuning Division

LexusSpeed

LexSpeed

Reality Check:

'F' is a reference to F1, as in Toyota's Formula 1 racing team. The 'F' logo posted above is even derived from Toyota's F1 logo. The article is wrong in claiming "fast" as what 'F' refers to.

I have a feeling you guys would've bashed whatever they chose to name their performance division anyway...so does it really matter?

I have a feeling you guys would've bashed whatever they chose to name their performance division anyway...so does it really matter?

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Nope. Apparently the M3, RS4, C55 AMG, and CTS-V are all already better than the IS-F, even though 4/5 of them have yet to even debut. Weird.

Reality Check: 

'F' is a reference to F1, as in Toyota's Formula 1 racing team.  The 'F' logo posted above is even derived from Toyota's F1 logo.  The article is wrong in claiming "fast" as what 'F' refers to. 

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Ok, that makes more sense. I think they should have just named it F1 then, but maybe F1 wouldn't let them.

Nope.  Apparently the M3, RS4, C55 AMG, and CTS-V are all already better than the IS-F, even though 4/5 of them have yet to even debut.  Weird.

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There's no way the IS-F will handle better than the M3 or RS4. If it does, I'll eat some crow. The CTS-V and C55 AMG are going to have over 500HP, so I see no reason why they won't be faster. Mercedes has not been known for having the best-handling cars, but I'm confident the CTS-V will handle at least as well as the IS-F, considering how well the current car handles.

the CLK63 makes 475hp and 465 lb-ft .

and if the CTS-V gets the LS7 (w/o detuning) it's going to be helluva expensive.

If Toyota has TuRD, Lexus could have gone with LaRD. Just thought I'de throw that out as a suggestion...

If Toyota has TuRD, Lexus could have gone with LaRD.  Just thought I'de throw that out as a suggestion...

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:rotflmao:

LexusSpeed

LexSpeed

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I'm thinkin Mazda might have a problem with those 2

Lexus LexusLX Lexspeed!

On the name, it's just as bad as V-series, but at least if Lexus derives it from F1 it's not as simple and actually holds some value [don't try to bring in the old V logo Caddy used to use since it means nothing in the performance world]. The IS-F will undoubtedly be a phenomonal car, and only, only if GM can get the execution and the feel right will they be able to match the Lexus, because anybody can make a sweet sounding and feeling engine, aka IS350. My problem with the Lexus line, and Toyotas in general, is that I simply don't like the character. I like the bodies.....sometimes.......but the car isn't appealing to me. Granted, the IS is cheap, very cheap, but if I were in the market for the entry level luxury class my heart would be swayed by something at BMW or Audi, if I were in the market today. The IS exterior just doesn't do it for me. Seeing the new 3-series coupe next to the Lexus stand put this all in perspective for me. I'm a BMW Audi and sometimes MB [with a soft spot for Caddy] guy all the way.

Edited December 5, 200619 yr by turbo200

Ok, that makes more sense.

does it?

On the name, it's just as bad as V-series, but at least if Lexus derives it from F1 it's not as simple and actually holds some value [don't try to bring in the old V logo Caddy used to use since it means nothing in the performance world]. The IS-F will undoubtedly be a phenomonal car, and only, only if GM can get the execution and the feel right will they be able to match the Lexus, because anybody can make a sweet sounding and feeling engine, aka IS350. My problem with the Lexus line, and Toyotas in general, is that I simply don't like the character. I like the bodies.....sometimes.......but the car isn't appealing to me. Granted, the IS is cheap, very cheap, but if I were in the market for the entry level luxury class my heart would be swayed by something at BMW or Audi, if I were in the market today. The IS exterior just doesn't do it for me. Seeing the new 3-series coupe next to the Lexus stand put this all in perspective for me. I'm a BMW Audi and sometimes MB [with a soft spot for Caddy] guy all the way.

Any idea about the ridiculous amount of money they spend and what theyve actually accomplished?

With one of the biggest budgets their F1 effort is regarded as a flop... so far.

That is unless of course they dont want to step on Ferrari, Honda, Mcclaren, BMW, Williams, and Renaults toes just yet.

The letter "V" itself is more powerful and impactful than the letter "F." Its strong (VEE) as opposed to being softer (EFF).

And as far as F1 racing goes, Lexus' "racing" heritage is maybe two years old.

You are all wrong btw, the new car will be called:

Lexus IS500 Type F-spec beta5 Release 3.0b Windows XP TRD

It's worse than SHAWD.

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SHAWD is a very good name for what the system does. It makes large sedans/SUV's handle superbly. :AH-HA_wink:

Reality Check: 

'F' is a reference to F1, as in Toyota's Formula 1 racing team.  The 'F' logo posted above is even derived from Toyota's F1 logo.  The article is wrong in claiming "fast" as what 'F' refers to. 

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I don't know if Toyota should be banking on their F1 experience given their recent 2006 performance.

Renault 206

Ferrari 201

McLaren-Mercedes 110

Honda 86

Sauber-BMW 36

Toyota 35

RBR-Ferrari 16

Williams-Cosworth 11

STR-Cosworth 1

SHAWD is a very good name for what the system does. It makes large sedans/SUV's handle superbly.  :AH-HA_wink: 

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"Hey, Vern, you seen that new Ack-ruh 'round here?"

"T'ain't here no mo', but I sure SHAWD it!"

There's no way the IS-F will handle better than the M3 or RS4. If it does, I'll eat some crow. The CTS-V and C55 AMG are going to have over 500HP, so I see no reason why they won't be faster. Mercedes has not been known for having the best-handling cars, but I'm confident the CTS-V will handle at least as well as the IS-F, considering how well the current car handles.

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I wouldn't assume that the 4,000-lb RS4 with 58/42 weight distribution will handle better than the IS-F. The IS will be the more balanced car.

Anyway, I can't wait to see what they'll do with THIS already brilliant interior.

The RS4 handles better than the current M3 from what I've read. There's no way the IS-F is going to outhandle the M3. And the IS-F's weight distribution probably won't be that much better. The IS350 is at 52/48, and the front end is only going to take more of the weight when they drop in the bigger engine. It's quite possible that the IS will have about 55/45 or 56/44 weight distribution... not that much better.

For some strange reason I keep thinking it's inspired by this:

So Bimmer has a 3er. Lexus has an F-er. Or should it be Lexus IS a F-er?

Spy video and some comments on the Lexus IS-F 500 here.

The only transmission option is the 8-speed auto? Lame.

Spy video and some comments on the Lexus IS-F 500 here.

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Saw one today, with the same wheels and black paint... only less camo.