Dogfight Video: Lexus IS-F vs BMW M3 Sedan

Fifth-Gear’s Tiff Needell and Jason Plato pit one of the most desirable V8 sport sedans of our time, the BMW M3 Sedan against its newest rival from the Land of Rising Sun, the Lexus IS-F. To spice things up, the British duo also invites three young blonde femme-fatales connected to heart rate monitors to see which sport sedan will make their hear beat faster during a fast lap around the racetrack. Check out the two part video right after the jump, it’s definitely worth it. -Continued

BMW M3 Sedan vs Lexus IS-F: PART I



BMW M3 Sedan vs Lexus IS-F: PART II

2009 Lexus IS Facelift: European Spec Model Revealed

Even though the refreshed IS sedan won’t get nearly as much attention as the drop-top IS250 C at the Lexus Paris Show stand –see details here, nevertheless the Japanese automaker’s sport sedan has received a subtle facelift for the 2009 MY. Like the North American version, the Euro spec IS features a series of minor aesthetic upgrades including new wing mirrors with integrated turn lights, a restyled front bumper, L-shaped back-up lights, new alloy wheel designs and a slightly tweaked grille. -Continued

Lexus says that it has performed modifications to suspension, steering, transmissions and paddle shift technology to improve driving dynamics while the Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) system is now standard across the range. According to the Japanese automaker, aerodynamics and transmission enhancements have reduced the diesel-powered IS 220d’s CO2 emissions by 3%, and by 8% for the Sport version.

Paris Show Lexus IS Coupe-Cabriolet now has a name: IS 250 C

It won’t be long before Lexus makes it official that it will present the highly-anticipated coupe-cabriolet version of the IS along with the facelifted sedan variants at the Paris show next month, but we thought we’d update our story (see here) as we just learned that the convertible model with the retractable rooftop will be named IS 250 C. That means of course that the Paris show car will be equipped with the IS 250’s 2.5-liter V6 engine that develops 204HP but the range will apparently also include the IS 350’s 306 HP 3.5-liter V6 unit. As for a top-of-the-line IS-F C version, that remains to be seen.

Lexus IS-F Twin Turbo V8 with over 600HP by Fox Marketing-Artisan

Power-hungry Lexus IS-F owners might be happy to know that Fox Marketing and Artisan are preparing a twin-turbo version of the Japanese performance sedan for the 2008 SEMA show that takes place in Las Vegas this November. According to Artisan’s estimates, the twin-turbocharged 5.0-liter V8 that also benefits from JE pistons, Crower rods, a Mishimoto radiator and a custom exhaust system will deliver more than 600 HP to the rear wheels. -Continued

In terms of styling, the IS-F has been fitted with a clean bodykit consisting of custom made bumpers and side skirts complemented by new 20-inch alloy wheels wrapped in Toyo T1R tires (255/35R20 front and 305/30R20 rear).

Via: Autoblog.com

2009 Lexus IS and IS-F Facelift: 36 Official Photos, Details and U.S. Pricing

These are the first photos of the U.S. spec 2009 Lexus IS that is already available for order in the North American market. In Europe, the revised IS will be unveiled along with the IS Coupe Cabriolet Concept (see details here) at the Paris International Auto Show in early October.

Although at a first glance the IS doesn’t look any different from the ’08MY IS, look a little closer and you may notice the new wing mirrors with the integrated turn lights, the slightly altered front grille, the newly designed 17 and 18 inch alloys, the redesigned front bumper with the more rectangular-shaped lower air intake and the revised taillamps with the L-shaped back-up lights. According to Lexus, the 2009 IS 250 / 350 also feature a newly designed center cluster and foldable rear headrests. -Continued

In terms of mechanical changes, Lexus says that both the IS 250 and IS 350 receive a revised suspension and steering tuning to further enhance the sedans’ handling. Additinaly, the IS 250 will be offered with standard with Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) with a cutoff switch, a feature that had been available previously only on the IS 350.

The 2009 IS 250 manual and automatic, IS 250 all-wheel drive, and IS 350 receive a 0.8-1.0 percent increase or $300 with base prices in the U.S. set at $31,155 for the IS 250 with a manual transmission, $32,325 for the IS 250 with an automatic transmission, $34,785 for the IS 250 all-wheel drive and $36,605 for the IS 350.

As for the top-end IS-F that was launched just earlier this year, changes are limited to a revised instrument panel cluster design, illuminated mirror controls, a new open/close moonroof switch, and a piano-black center-cluster finish for navigation-equipped vehicles. Lexus also offers a new terra cotta and black two-tone for the 2009 model. The IS F will have a base MSRP of $56,610 which accounts to an increase of 1.1 percent or $610 compare to the ’08MY IS-F.