GO
GoAutoLogo
MENU

Make / Model Search

Lexus - IS - 200t F Sport

Lexus IS (GSE20R (Mk2) IS Series II)

GSE20R (Mk2) IS Series II

Make: Lexus

Model: IS

Released: Jan 1970

Discontinued: Jun 2013

Lexus logo1 Oct 2008

By LUCIANO PAOLINO

LEXUS released an IS facelift in October 2008, featuring a revised nose, new tail-lights and a number of minor interior changes.

But the big news surrounded the arrival of the long-awaited IS F.

Aimed directly at the BMW M3 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class AMG, the IS F was powered by a 5.0-litre V8 delivering 311kW of power at 6600rpm and 505Nm of torque at 5200rpm, helping to hurtle the IS F to an official 0-100km/h acceleration time of 4.8 seconds.

Weighing in at 1700kg, the IS F (which featured 53/47 per cent front/rear weight distribution) had eight-speed automatic transmission also found in the LS and GS Lexus sedans.

Other IS F attributes included monobloc aluminium Brembo brake callipers – six-piston items gripping 360x30mm pillar-fin ventilated discs up front and twin-piston units with similar 345x28mm discs at rear.

Almost exactly two years later, Lexus unveiled the IS350, plugging the gap between the IS250 and the IS F with its 3.5-litre, 233kW V6 engine providing enough poke for a 5.6-second dash to 100km/h from rest.

To coincide with the IS350's debut, Lexus also started offering an F-Sport specification level with uprated suspension, sports body styling and 18-inch alloy wheels. The F-Sport variant was also made available with Flame Blue paint, previously only available on the IS F.

Reviews

When it was new

1st of January 1970

Latest reviews

Motor industry news

GoAutoNews is Australia’s number one automotive industry journal covering the latest news, future and new model releases, market trends, industry personnel movements, and international events.

Catch up on all of the latest industry news with this week's edition of GoAutoNews
Click here