F-ine Lexus takes F-light

If you think the name of the beast is 666, think again. Lexus has a new designation – the letter “F.”

I just spent a week with the Japanese “beast”, more properly known as IS F and I hate to give it back.

Lexus is best known as a luxury brand, making vehicles for people who don’t really want to get overly involved in the driving equation...sort of “get me from A to B, but don’t bother me with the details” kind of driver.

Not THIS Lexus. It is F-ing F-abulous. F-antastic. F-ascinating and every other superlative “F” word you can think of.

Rarely have I had so much fun in a car and NEVER before have I had so much fun in a Lexus.

Just walking up to the car, you know this is no ordinary Lexus. The first clue is the dark 19-inch forged aluminum wheels supporting a lithe, hunkered down shape. The car’s front carries a purposeful look, a look when seen in a rearview mirror that says “get outta my way.” In back there are unique stacked quad tailpipes

Everything about this car suggests something special, something with an almost sinister purpose.

Then there’s the F logo, which is no ordinary logo – its design is from the shape of turn one on the brand’s new home circuit, Fuji Speedway.

It looks quick just sitting there.

Then I get in and the beast gets up close and personal, gripping me in a supportive sport seat that holds me F-ondly in all the right places. The car carries three more occupants, all of whom feel that welcoming hug. But those other three don’t have the controls. They are mine!

I press the “Start” button. The Beast comes to life with a growl and sits there rumbling…urging me to engage the eight-speed automatic transmission and get moving.

I shift to drive, take the steering wheel in my hands, and gently apply a little throttle. The exhaust tone changes to a more urgent note, then, as I merge onto a busy highway and put the hammer down, that note becomes a roar. The Beast is loose!

That exhaust is music to my ears. I’m no musician, but I wonder if the notes are E, F and F sharp. Nevertheless, it would be music even to someone with a tin ear.

And the music is not only for those inside the car (where it’s somewhat muted), but for anyone outside the car (where it’s louder).

The music is generated by a new 416-horsepower 5.0-litre V8 that uses 371 lb. ft. of torque to propel the beast at a F-rantic pace.

Developed with Yamaha, the engine uses direct-injection with Toyota’s latest variable valve timing system (VVT-iE, because it’s now intelligent AND electronic), a dual air intake system and cylinder head scavenge oil pump. It’s connected to the worlds’ first eight-speed sport direct-shift automatic transmission.

It’s billed as the world’s fastest automatic, with shifts accomplished in a tenth of a second with downshift throttle blipping.

Did I mention paddle shifters? If you’re in sport shift mode, you have to remember to use them, because the transmission isn’t going to do it for you.

Handling is sports car sharp…crisp turn-in, flat cornering and a new, sport tuned version of Lexus’ vehicle dynamics integrated management (VDIM) to keep rear wheels from spinning and ensure the rear end doesn’t try to lead the dance in the corners.

The electronic power steering gives an excellent feel for what the front tires are doing.

IS F is packed with all the electronic handling aids including stability control, traction control and huge heavy-duty Brembo brakes with ABS, brake assist and EBD.

At night, Bi-xenon HID headlights and adaptive front lighting provide effective illumination along your path.

Should you manage to screw up completely, there are airbags aplenty to cushion any blow: dual stage driver and front passenger airbags and knee airbags, front seat-mounted side airbags and side curtain airbags.

The interior is luxury Lexus, of course. There’s power everything, Smart Key system, moon roof, dual-zone climate control, cruise control…you name it. It’s all there in a black interior colour scheme with aluminum composite trim and flue accents.

All that and a trunk, too.

Look out BMW and Audi. There’s a new beast on the block!