| Lexus, the luxury vehicle division of | | | | is designed to provide greater handling and |
| Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corporation, | | | | agility along with maintaining its |
| has equipped its IS F, the company's first | | | | refinement. For weight reduction, 40 percent |
| "F" car with technologies that enable the | | | | of the body is made up of high-tensile |
| vehicle to capture both the serene and | | | | sheetmetal. The subframe braces intend to |
| aggressive aspects of its personality. Being | | | | increase torsional and traverse rigidity. The |
| so, the IS F became even more competitive | | | | double-wishbone front and multilink rear IS |
| against its close rivals: Mercedes Benz AMGs | | | | platform setup has been retained, what the |
| and BMW Ms. | | | | spring and damper rates were increased with |
| | | | the thicker stabilizer bars reduced. |
| Even if Lexus has been known creating luxury | | | | |
| vehicles, it made the sporty side of the IS F | | | | The IS F also comes with larger diameter |
| boosted for 2008. Powered by its 5.0 L V8 | | | | piston rods employed in the monotube shock |
| engine it delivers 426 hp and 371 lb.-ft. of | | | | absorbers, along with stiffer suspension |
| torque - an advantage of 76 lb.-ft. over | | | | bushings. The vehicle's electric power |
| BMW's M3. With such powerful engine, the | | | | steering was remapped to obtain more |
| vehicle could easily go from 0 to 60 mph in | | | | feedback. The IS F will also be equipped with |
| only 4.6 seconds and an electronically | | | | special lightweight forged-aluminum 19 in. |
| limited top speed of 170 mph. | | | | BBS wheels wrapped in sticky 225/40 front and |
| | | | 255/35 rear Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 or |
| Though the IS F has a relatively tame | | | | Bidgestone Potenza tires. |
| specific output at 83.2 hp per liter, the | | | | |
| powerplant employs race-inspired engineering | | | | The Lexus IS F will be having a calibrated |
| to optimize reliability and flexible | | | | Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) |
| performance. In fact, the electrically | | | | system. It will be responsible in correcting |
| controlled intake cam (VVT-iE) of the IS F | | | | the vehicle's dynamics, involving the engine |
| permits the intake camshaft phasing to be | | | | torque, steering, stability control, traction |
| altered at lower engine speeds, where there | | | | control, ABS, brake assist, and electronic |
| is a normal inefficiency in engine oil | | | | brake force distribution systems. At Sport |
| pressure. In addition, the Titanium intake | | | | mode, the driver can choose from Normal, |
| valves enable low-inertia dynamics, while the | | | | Sport, or Snow driving modes through a |
| high-flow ports are optimized for efficiency | | | | switch. The driver just needs to hold down |
| and increased air volume. The engine oil and | | | | the switch for about three seconds for the |
| transmission coolers both boost optimal | | | | system to disengage everything, except the |
| operating temperatures. A cylinder-head | | | | brake-based limited slip differential effect |
| scavenge pump permits oil circulation upon | | | | and ABS. To obtain strong and face-free |
| cornering of up to 1 g. To ensure durability, | | | | stops, the IS F comes with six-piston, 14.2" |
| the IS F has also been provided with a forged | | | | front and two-piston, 13.6" rear |
| crankshaft with a double torsional damper and | | | | cross-drilled Brembo brakes. |
| forged, sintered iron alloy connecting rods, | | | | |
| along with the dual-air intakes boosting an | | | | The exterior of the IS F was made out of |
| output of more than 3600 rpm. | | | | muscular bodywork that comes from traditional |
| | | | Lexus circles, taller hood, two-inch wider |
| More than being equipped with premium Lexus | | | | front fenders, enlarged brake cooling vents, |
| fuel filter; the 2008 IS F will be sustained | | | | larger rocker panels, and enlarged rear |
| with the world's first eight-speed Sport | | | | spoiler. To obtain more efficient engine |
| Direct Shift transmission, weighing 212 | | | | cooling, the vehicle is provided with |
| pounds. At manual mode, the torque converter | | | | V-shaped grille. A more vertical rear end |
| engages for the 1-1 shift and the clutch | | | | appearance is brought by a quad-stacked, |
| lockup mechanism kicks in for the remaining | | | | polished stainless steel exhaust pipers |
| gearshift. It is to reduce the power-sapping | | | | integrated into the bumper. There is also an |
| "slush-box" effect. The shifts can be engaged | | | | increased front and rear overhands and wider, |
| through the steering-wheel-mounted paddles or | | | | lover stance. |
| the shift lever. At sportiest mode, on the | | | | |
| other hand, shifts take place in only 100 | | | | Inside, the IS F has been comprised with |
| milliseconds, making it faster than a Ferrari | | | | elegant features, including aluminized |
| F430. To obtain quick, precise shifts, and | | | | composite trim and 10-way adjustable seats, |
| downshifts, a high-flow-rate linear solenoid | | | | along with optional equipment, a rich |
| is provided to work with new computer | | | | 14-speaker Mark Levinson sound system. |
| programming. | | | | |
| | | | Overall, the IS F got so much excellent |
| The 2008 IS F's chassis and suspension sits | | | | innovations for its 2008 model year. |
| an inch lover than the standard IS models. It | | | | |