Toyota's Lexus readies performance division called "F"

http://today.reuters.com/news/articleinvesting.aspx?view=CN&storyID=2006-12-04T083958Z_01_T233498_RTRIDST_0_LEXUS-PERFORMANCE.XML


TOKYO, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp.'s high-end Lexus brand will launch a performance brand late next year to compete with Mercedes-Benz's AMG and BMW's M divisions, industry paper Automotive News reported on Monday. The offensive will start with the IS sedan, which will get a retuned version of the LS600h's hybrid engine, the paper said, citing dealer sources.

The car, to be called IS-F, with F standing for "fast", will debut at an auto show next month in Detroit and go on sale in December 2007, the paper said. The 425-horsepower car will be priced in the low $50,000 range, it said.

A Toyota spokeswoman declined to comment on the report, saying the company would announce plans for the Detroit auto show in the coming days.

Automotive News quoted a dealer as saying Lexus will likely follow the IS-F with a GS-F sedan and IS-F coupe.

Japan's top auto maker filed a stylised "F" logo on Oct. 9 and a trademark for IS-F on Nov. 8 and with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

i love this news. love it.

sam

IS-F coupe! :banana:

droppin da F_BOMB

droppin da F_BOMB


:lol:

~ well played

Oh this is gonna go GREAT for the salesperson:

"Yeah it's basically a standard Lexus that got F'd..."

About time! :banana:

(Not that I'll be able to afford one anyways.. :( )

If it happens that would be sweet

IS-F AWD?
even if it's only RWD I'd still buy it

IS-F with a GS-F sedan and IS-F coupe


did anyone else catch that :banana:

what happened to "TRD" ?

to my knowledge Toyota = Lexus = TRD (In house Tuning company) simliar to Mercedes AMG, Subaru STI, Mitsubishi Ralliart, Nissan Nismo... Etc. Etc... oh well i guess if it will make people feel better that they have the almighty LEXUS - F to diffrentiate from Toyota.....

thats cool too.. heh

what happened to "TRD" ?

to my knowledge Toyota = Lexus = TRD (In house Tuning company) simliar to Mercedes AMG, Subaru STI, Mitsubishi Ralliart, Nissan Nismo... Etc. Etc... oh well i guess if it will make people feel better that they have the almighty LEXUS - F to diffrentiate from Toyota.....

thats cool too.. heh

You cant badge a Lexus w/ TRD. No one is going to buy a $50,000 Toyota. Yes, we know Lexus = Toyota, but their target market doesnt.

Plus it would have to be LRD, which just looks like LaRD.

This is good news but couldn't they have been just alittle intsy bit more creative?

It might be just 5.0 v8, not a hybrid engine, I jsut read the original article..
425 HP sounds NICE.. Perfect to compete with BMW M3

And I just ordered a 350!

What my dealer told me is that they will be more close to $60,000 and it will be a limited run to test the waters.

Here ya go:

http://images.leftlanenews.com/content/lexus-f.jpg

And you'll still have electronic nannies but this time it will only be a 5 step process to disable them. I hope they find a way to get some driving feedback into the car, lexus still seems to numb up their vehicles even when they try to make a sport sedan.

So the hybrid would be the IS-FH? :lol:

You cant badge a Lexus w/ TRD. No one is going to buy a $50,000 Toyota. Yes, we know Lexus = Toyota, but their target market doesnt.I don't think Lexus owners have missed the Toyota relationship.. maybe after the first few years, but not after this long.

I don't think Lexus owners have missed the Toyota relationship.. maybe after the first few years, but not after this long.

Agreed. I've owned two Lexus and there are a number of them in my family. None of us though we had/have cars that aren't Toyota designed and produced.

Lexus did try their own version of house-tuning with a car I had, the gs400. They produced an L-tuned version with body kit and suspension changes. It was nice, but was mostly cosmetic. If they're going to make it as an enthusiast's car they'll definitely have to offer more manual transmissions, or at least some form of DSG. Actual steering feedback would help as well.

Lexus reliability with bmw m/mec AMG traits would be a sweet combo.

Ya gotta have guts to be a carmaker that puts on "F" and "TRD" badges.

I don't think Lexus owners have missed the Toyota relationship.. maybe after the first few years, but not after this long.

Yes, current owners know. Intelligent buyers know. But, the fact is they are trying to appeal to a certain customer. They are trying to steal customers away from BMW and Mercedes. These are customers who are older, have high income, and want a luxury car w/ performance. Now, lets slap a Toyota sticker on the side and call it a IS-TRD. Now park my IS-a-TuRD next to Mr.Doe's M3. Yea, thats gonna work out.

This is just like how the Mercedes SLK-350 is not called a Mercedes SRT-6. Its the same car as the CrossFire SRT-6, same 3.5L engine, but the branding wont fit the target market.

GTFO!

This is good news but couldn't they have been just alittle intsy bit more creative?

+1 "F" is weak. Especially cause it stands for "Fast" :lol: Do they think we're stoopid or something?

Mitsu FQ > Lexus F?
lol

You cant badge a Lexus w/ TRD. No one is going to buy a $50,000 Toyota. Yes, we know Lexus = Toyota, but their target market doesnt.

Plus it would have to be LRD, which just looks like LaRD.
i'm well aware of that, its for those people with the cracked egos who feel the need to show off their peenis rockets cause its a higher brand of the *gasp* "lower" one... i digress.

Want to race? My IS is going to F your car up!

I got the F package...ya know...FFFreaking sweet!

Id buy it. Lexus is all good in my book. F for fast is pretty basic and to the point. V for vendetta. :lol: :lol:

Ya gotta have guts to be a carmaker that puts on "F" and "TRD" badges.

+1 :lol:

F'TRD IS-H

FAST? Like VW? http://www.kobayashi5.com/images/2006/03/fastvw3.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/52/126089649_92ba82250a_o.jpg

http://www.tonko.ru/issue/22/vw2-02.jpg

"You Got an F"
- Helga, Unpimp Your Ride

Yeah, I thought that "TURD" oh I mean TRD was bad enough. Toyota needs to throw a couple bucks as some marketing folks... .

I think it's an excellent idea for Lexus to persue such a market. While F might seem a little gimmicky, if they can pull it off making a true drivers car like beamer has with a good DSG and manual, full drivers on/off with nannies, true LSD's, big brakes, suspension, you name it, I think they could have a real competitor to the euros. Plus you could keep it in your garage and not the shop most of the time if the moniker is held true.

Lexus IS-F Teaser Pic:

http://i10.tinypic.com/2hfoxls.jpg

interesting. i can't wait to see more.

sam

Lexus IS-F Teaser Pic:

http://i10.tinypic.com/2hfoxls.jpg



:eek: :eek: :eek: :banana:

That's pretty nuts!

any guesses on tire width?

sam

Hey! Those taillights. They're actually red!?! It's the end of the world folks. Japanese carmaker putting "normal" taillights on a performance model. Crazy.

OH my god!
that car is amazing
425hp for $50k is pretty good.
I want it!

Supposedly early introduction is tomorrow..

And oh my god, automatic slush box is BAD.. And it will be north of 50k car.. Loadd is350 is 50...

OH my god!
that car is amazing
425hp for $50k is pretty good.
I want it!

any guesses on tire width?

sam


By brightening the picture I could see that the (rear) tire was not very wide at all (the inner side of the tire lines up with the outer edge of the upper exhaust tip)...perhaps this was just a mock up car...perhaps they might use AWD?

Yeah, that's a 245 tire, tops.

what happened to "TRD" ?

to my knowledge Toyota = Lexus = TRD (In house Tuning company) simliar to Mercedes AMG, Subaru STI, Mitsubishi Ralliart, Nissan Nismo... Etc. Etc... oh well i guess if it will make people feel better that they have the almighty LEXUS - F to diffrentiate from Toyota.....

thats cool too.. heh

Lexus's TRD division was 'L-Tuned' no? or is L-Tuned like Toms?

Want to race? My IS is going to F your car up!



:lol: