Lexus recently launched its first V-8-powered sedan in almost a decade in the form of the IS 500 F Sport. It’s been just about a week since it was launched, but it looks like the automaker already has one more in the pipeline. According to Motoring, Lexus is working on a twin-turbo V-8 car that will take on the Mercedes-AMG C63 and the BMW M3. To make to deal sweeter, the automaker could resurrect the “IS F” moniker for it.
The Car Is Already In Development
Instead of giving it the IS F badge, the car launched last week was called the IS 500 F Sport and was the first vehicle in the 'F Sport Performance Line’ series. This means the moniker was reserved for something even more special. The new car is expected to feature a V-8 engine under the hood again, but this time with twin turbochargers.
Can This Japanese Trump The Three Germans?
The IS F is expected to take on the Mercedes-AMG C63, the BMW M3, and the Audi RS4. Just give you a rundown, the AMG C63 currently comes with a 4.0-liter, V-8 bi-turbo engine that dishes out 469 horses and 479 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a nine-speed automatic gearbox that helps that car sprint to 60 mpg from a standstill in 3.9 seconds. In the U.S., the 2021 model starts at $68,600.
As for the BMW M3, it comes with a 3.0-liter, twin-turbo six-cylinder engine that churns out 473 horses and 406 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to the wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox and the car takes 4.1 seconds to 60 mph. In the Competition trim, the M3 makes 503 horses and 479 pound-feet of torque. Here, the engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox. It takes 3.8 seconds to 60 mph from a standstill. The M3 starts at $69,900, whereas the M3 Competition starts at $72,800 for the 2021 model in the U.S.
What’s Special About The Lexus IS 500 F Sport?
Lexus recently revealed the IS 500 F Sport and it is quite an improvement over the IS 350. Some salient features include:
-* 5.0-liter, V-8 engine under the hood
-* 472 horsepower
-* 395 pound-feet of torque
-* Eight-speed automatic gearbox
-* 4.5 seconds to 60 mph
-* Comes with Adaptive Variable Suspension
-* Torsen limited-slip differential offered as standard
-* 19-inch split-10 spoke Enkei wheels
-* 14- and 12.7-inch brake rotors at the front and rear
-* Exclusive startup animation on the instrument cluster
-* Eight-inch touchscreen (can be upgraded to 10.3-inch)
-* Lexus Safety System+ 2.5 suite offered as standard
Final Thoughts
We already have a few details about the upcoming car and know that it will go up against the AMG C63 and the BMW M. Also considering that Lexus will be slot it above the IS 500 F Sport, we can speculate the power outputs and performance figures. Anything in the ballpark of 500 horses and 500 pound-feet of torque with a 0-60 mph time of around four seconds can be expected. A more powerful version could be offered, too, with about a hundred horses and pound-feet of torque more and three or fourth-tenths of a second faster than the standard model. The price could also be around the $70,000 mark to stay on par with the competition (pun intended).
The publication also reported that the new twin-turbo V-8 could power a new range of Lexus products like the LC F, LS F, the LX F, and perhaps, even the GR-branded Toyotas. Lexus will also pump in about 3.6 billion AUD in its Shimoyama R&D center. The facility currently has a test track that it dubs as the ‘mini Nurburgring’, but more tracks are under development, including a high-speed circuit and some to test self-driving cars. It is expected to be completed by 2023.