The IS family already has a 5.0-liter V-8 stuffed into the regular 500, which turned out to be a fire-breathing performer. But the missing F Sport Performance makes its way to the U.S. market and will sport the same V-8 engine but will be sportier, feature better luxury, and will be priced at $56,500 for the base trim.

2022 Lexus IS 500 F SPORT Performance

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2022 Lexus IS 500 F SPORT Performance
  • Engine/Motor: V8
  • Horsepower: 472
  • Torque: 395
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array

Same Old Performance, But Enhanced Thrill.

Using decade-old engines is quite the thing for Lexus. The 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V-8 powering the new IS 500 F Sport Performance was introduced with the 2011 IS F and now powers the RC F and LC 500. Over the years, Lexus has tweaked the engine to the point that it now puts out 472 horsepower and 395 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent through an eight-speed automatic transmission, and rear-wheel drive is standard. Lexus claims that the estimated EPA rating would be somewhere around 25 miles per gallon on the highways which is not bad at all.

As for the competition, the BMW M3, Audi RS5 Sportback, and the Mercedes-AMG C63 sport turbo-boosted six-cylinders that offer better lower-end torque and come to life within a snap. Meanwhile, the naturally aspirated V-8 inside the IS 500 F Sport Performance sounds raspier and is more powerful compared to the Germans and revs high up to 7,300 RPM. The performance harnessed from the engine does not make it particularly slow and the power delivery is linear. Car And Driver tested the new 500 F Sport Performance and reported a knot to 60 timing of 4.3 seconds and a standing quarter-mile timing of 12.8 seconds.

A new addition to the handling side of things is the Dynamic Handling package that comes as standard with the new IS 500 F Sport Performance. The package includes an adaptive dampening system with Yamaha performance dampers and Torsen rear limited-slip differential. Driving in the most comfortable driving mode will soften the suspension for gentle highway drives and can handle quite a few rough patches without any major discomfort. Going around twisties? Turn on the Sport or Sport+ mode and the suspension will harden enough to give you the utmost stability while cornering. The steering feels generally like the that of the standard IS 500 and offers decent feedback. The new four-piston calipers with twin aluminum 14.0-inch front rotors and single 12.7-inch rear rotors offer a better braking feel and performance over the smaller brake rotors of the IS 350 F Sport. The pedal has been tweaked for better feedback while getting on the brakes hard.

2022 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance Powertrain, Real-World and Braking Performance Stats

Model

2022 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance

Engine

5.0-liter Naturally Aspirated V-8

Drivetrain

RWD

Transmission

8-speed shiftable automatic

Power 

472 HP @ 7,100 RPM

Torque 

395 lb-ft @ 4,800 RPM

0-60 MPH (seconds)

4.3

Quarter-Mile (seconds)

12.8

Top Speed (MPH)

149

Front Brake Rotor Size (inches)

14.0

Rear Brake Rotor Size (inches)

12.7

70-0 (MPH)

159


Trims, Features, and Pricing.

The new IS 500 F Sport is available in three trims: Base, Premium, and Launch Edition. At a starting price of $56,500, the features packed are quite good. A few of them are as follows:

-* A 5.0-liter V-8 with rear-wheel drive.

-* Torsen rear limited-slip differential.

-* F Sport tuned adaptive suspension.

-* Quad exhaust tips.

-* F Sport power-adjustable and heated front seats.

-* F Sport leather-wrapped steering wheel with heating functions.

-* Performance-inspired 7.0-inch driver information display.

-* 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment display.

The Premium trim is priced at $61,000 which is quite a big jump but offers added features like:

-* 10.3-inch touchscreen display.

-* 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium audio unit.

-* Navigation system.

-* Panoramic view monitor.

-* Triple LED headlights.

-* Rear power sunshade.

The last and the priciest of the three, the Launch Edition, will be limited to 500 units for North America and is priced at $67,400. The available features are as follows:

-* Unique Silver Ash interior wood trim.

-* Bespoke Incognito exterior color.

-* Bespoke Black and Gray Ultrasuede trimmed door panels, center console, dash, and seats.

-* Launch Edition badging.

-* Launch Edition exclusive startup animation in the driver information display.

Exterior Impressions.

Looking similar to the standard IS, the 500 F Sport Performance is a little sportier. The headlamp design remains the same as are the L-shaped LED DRLs. The front gets a lip spoiler with more intake vents for better aerodynamics. The hourglass-shaped intake grille gets a blacked-out treatment and is curvier. The big noticeable difference is the bulged-out hood with aggressive cuts to make space for the big 5.0-liter engine. The rear gets L-shaped LED brake lights that run through the middle to meet the other end. The rear spoiler is an addition to the F Sport Performance and so are the quad exhaust outlets covered in chrome. A set of 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels come fitted as standard. All these give the 500 F Sport Performance more of a muscle car look disguised as a sports sedan.

In terms of the overall dimensions, it is a few inches longer than the regular IS with 187.3 inches in length, sitting on a 110.2 inches long wheelbase. It stands at 56.5 inches tall and 72.4 inches wide like the regular IS and the ground clearance is yet to be disclosed. In terms of curb weight, it is heaviest in the IS group at 3,969 pounds.

2022 Lexus IS F Sport Performance Exterior Dimensions

Model

2022 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance

Curb Weight (lb)

3,969

Length (inches)

187.3

Width (inches)

72.4

Height (inches)

56.5

Ground Clearance (inches)

TBD

Wheelbase (inches)

110.2


Sophisticated But Impractical Interior.

The Lexus-built interior is always a step above the normal and have been like that for a long time. The new 2022 IS 500 F Sport Performance gets even better treatment compared to regular Lexus engineering. Sitting on the driver seat will give you the amazing dashboard view that holds a big 8.0-inch touchscreen display and the 7.0-inch Lexus-styled driver information display that has moving bezels. The Launch Edition will be sporting wood and Ultrasuede trims on the dash, door panels, and seats for added opulence.

As standard, the IS 500 F Sport comes with a a perforated leather steering wheel. Like the other F Sport trims, the IS 500 gets sports seats in the front with power-adjustability and multi-level heating options. The rear gets adequately squishy seats but the spaciousness is not that great. Just about 32 inches of legroom means, taller people might be a bit uncomfortable. The front is spacious because of the driver-focused cabin architecture with a massive 44.8 inches of legroom. Trunk space of only 10.8 cubic feet is available and that restricts carrying a desirable amount of luggage when you are traveling long distances. A few of the standout interior features of the upcoming 2022 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance are:

-* Dual-zone automatic climate control.

-* Leather-covered steering wheel with heating options.

-* A 7.0-inch driver information display.

-* Ultrasuede trims on the seats, dashboard, door panels, and center console.

-* Keyless ignition.

-* Heated and ventilated front sports seats.

-* Rearview camera.

2022 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance Interior Dimensions

Model

2022 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance

Seating Capacity

5

Front Row (Headroom/Shoulder Room/Leg Room, in inches)

38.2/55.9/44.8

Second Row (Headroom/Shoulder Room/Leg Room, in inches)

36.9/53.4/32.2

Cargo Capacity (lb)

10.8


The infotainment system has been upated to include a touch-sensitive high-resolution 8.0-inch screen which was previously being controlled with the help of a laptop-style touchpad. The Lexus Enform interface is not fully optimized for the new touchscreen display but it’s better late than never. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay can make things easier with seamless connectivity. Amazon Alexa is available as standard. A few of the important infotainment features of the new IS 500 F Sport Performance are as follows:

-* 8 or 10.3-inch touchscreen display with Lexus Enform.

-* Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with Amazon Alexa compatibility.

-* 10-speaker Pioneer audio unit.

-* 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium audio experience. (Standard on higher trims)

-* Bluetooth and USB connectivity.

-* Active sound control.

-* Satellite radio.

-* Navigation services. (Standard no higher trims)

Onboard Safety Convenience.

With scoring a 5-star rating by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and bagging the “Top Safety Pick+” by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the 2021 Lexus IS is one of the best options in terms of safety ratings and is even better than a few of the German competitors. The new IS 500 F Sport Performance is expected to be rated similarly with maxed-out scores with the new Safety System+ 2.5 which will add pedestrian and cyclist detection along with adaptive cruise control. A few of the important safety features available with the 2022 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance are as follows:

-* Lane-departure warning.

-* Blindspot monitoring.

-* Lane-keeping assist.

-* Pedestrian and cyclist detection.

-* Automated emergency braking.

-* Adaptive cruise control.

-* Blindspot monitoring.

-* Pre and post-collision safety system.

Will It Be Wise To Choose The New 2022 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance Over the Competition?

The new IS 500 F Sport Performance could be a gamechanger if it evolves with updates and fixes in the future. We would say that it is modern and tech-savvy on the outside but old-school on the inside. The V-8 offers best-in-class power figures but has a wider playground for its 472 horses compared to the torquey rivals. That makes it linear in terms of power delivery and that raspy exhaust note clearly wins. Lexus has been a very reliable company and has gained to be a very reliable brand with 82 out of 100 by the J.D. Power.