2010 Lexus IS-F, an AW Drivers Log

August 5, 2010

INTERACTIVE EDITOR DALE JEWETT: The Lexus IS-F is a sleeper. There are some subtle cues on the outside--the 19-inch wheels that fill the wells, the stacked exhaust tips at the corners of the rear bumper fascia.

But once you hit the start button, the charade is over. The 5.0-liter V8 roars to life with a bass note loud enough to scream look at me.

The interesting part of driving the IS-F is its Jekyll and Hyde nature, which depends on how deep you go into the throttle pedal. For cruising around town, or settling into cruise model on the freeway, the IS-F's powertrain is docile--just a low rumble comes from out back.

Stomp hard on the throttle--to launch from a stop light or making a pass on the Interstate--and Mr. Hyde appears, with each of the 416 horses screaming at full volume, while the leather seat comes dangerously close to a permanent merger with your backside.

The IS-F chassis and suspension are stiff--even the smallest crack in the pavement generates a solid thwok. But the setup soaks up these minor imperfections well. Mid-size and larger gaps, though, will rattle you.

With all that power, you might think having an automatic transmission would be a downer. This eight-speed unit shifts fine. For more fun, there are the shift paddles behind the steering wheel--using those cracks off the shifts with near-racecar speed.

Of the few downsides, the one worth mentioning is the paucity of leg room in the back seat. Even teenagers won't be happy for very long back there.

MANAGING EDITOR BOB GRITZINGER: Though the IS-F offers plenty to like, this Lexus also shows how far the Japanese luxury maker's F performance series has to go to be a strong competitor in this rarified air. This is where the top German performance sedans like the BMW M3, Mercedes C63 AMG, and S4 run, along with cars like the Cadillac CTS-V. It takes more than a taut suspension, some paddle shifters and a baritone exhaust report to make a top-gun fighter in this segment. While the IS-F's suspension feels tuned for at-the-limit handling, and the brakes are up to the job, there's a numbness in the steering that leaves you wondering what's really happening out there at street level, and when the suspension gets unsettled things get out of sorts in a hurry. Combined with the notorious Lexus quiet cabin (except for the annoying rev-limiter warning beep), there's not enough sensory feedback to make this car as engaging as its competitors.

Yes, it offers an eight-speed transmission and radar-based active cruise control, among other amenities. But the money might have been better spent on engineering separate Mercedes-like comfort and sport modes for engine, transmission and suspension settings, rather that trying to create a one-size-fits-all luxury performance sedan that pleases the softer side of the enthusiast market while leaving too many others wanting.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR ROGER HART: Not sure why, but I was surprised how much I liked this car. There were a couple of things that drove me crazy, like why does the navigation/infotainment screen always revert back to the map when I'd rather the audio screen stay up so I can see what song is coming up on the radio? There must be some way to keep it on the audio screen, but I didn't find it.

The suspension seemed overly stiff in this car, sending all the harshness of every expansion join and pavement imperfection back through the cabin. I know this is a supposed to be a sports sedan, and maybe my sensitivities were up because it's a Lexus, but I would prefer a bit more of a smooth ride. I'd also like a little thicker steering wheel for a bit better control.

On the plus side, this 5.0-liter V8 is terrific with lots of power down low and right up through the rev range. The eight-speed tranny makes sure all that power is transferred to the pavement whenever you want. Had a couple of two-lane passes that had me staring at nearly triple digits in the blink of an eye. I also really liked the deep burble exhaust note that penetrated the cabin when the throttle was opened up.

I think this car will surprise a few people who are in the market for a sports sedan. It's not a take-no-prisoners kind of car, like the M3 or the M-B C63. There's a little bit of Japanese reserve here, but punch the throttle and that shyness go out the window. This car's a screamer, and a player in the segment.

ASSOCIATE EDITOR JONATHAN WONG: Admirable try here Lexus, but I'm sorry, this IS-F just doesn't hold a candle to the Mercedes C63 AMG and the BMW M3 we had in here recently. There's a missing connectivity between the car and driver in this package from the muted steering response and feel to the automatic transmission that doesn't respond all that quick to shift commands.

For sure, this thing is a ripper and hustles down the road fast enough to get you into a lot of trouble with local law enforcement and the stiff suspension enables the car to confidently fly around curves. However, as Roger notes, the suspension is a bit overly harsh and unforgiving. I have no doubts that with some more tinkering Lexus could maintain the suspension's current performance abilities while improving the ride.

Yes, this 5.0-liter V8 is a brute with muscle all the way through the band and it does sound pretty good, too. Not as good as the C63 AMG, but good. Besides complaining about the transmission's lazy shifts, it also does tend to hunt a lot for the right gear and with eight of them to choose from, it's not hard to see why. No doubt, Lexus nestled this transmission in to help the IS-F get somewhat respectable fuel economy. The good news is that when you put the car into Sport mode, it does lock out the top gears if you leave the car in full automatic mode.

And it does have an imposing look to it from its aggressively flair fenders, front fascia, gun metal wheels and the stacked dual baloney cut exhaust outlets out back. However, I'm not crazy about the aluminum weave interior trim panels.

One thing we have to remember is that this is Lexus's first shot at doing an F performance variant and I applaud them for doing it. There's room for improvement and Lexus has to in order to seriously trade blows with the C63 and M3. I think they can do it and the LF-A proves that there are at least some enthusiasts working at Toyota who should certainly want to do it.

2010 Lexus IS-F

Base Price: $59,335

As-Tested Price: $64,897



Curb Weight: 3,780 lb

Fuel Economy: (EPA/AW) 19/21.6 mpg

Options: Navigation package including premium audio, DVD/CD changer, hard disk drive navigation, Lexus Enform with destination assist, eDestination, Lexus Insider, voice command, satellite traffic, weather and sports ($3,925); pre-collision system ($1,500); trunk mat ($73); cargo net ($64)