I do not want to go into a big ol diatribe about how feminine I think the Lexus brand is but… well, this is my blog and it is.
The Lexus IS 250 & 350 are mostly a pretty and expensive Toyota. They are the least expensive of the Lexus fleet. The best selling IS-250 has an anemic horsepower rating of just 204 HP. Although Lexus claims its IS cars compete with the BMWs 3 series it just doesn’t add up. Even the lowest level of the 3 series line has 230 HP. Doesn’t sound like a serious match up to me.
It’s ok that Lexus has positioned themselves in a very nice niche as an upscale brand that appeals to women. They are after all half the population. In my humble opinion the IS (which is an annoyingly spell check unfriendly moniker) line is for Moms, wives, and daughters to get to and from schools and jobs in style and luxury. Not for bad boy wannabe street racers who traded in the Mitsubishi Evo’s, Subaru WRX’s, and Honda Civic Si’s to go up brand with the hopes of looking more mature to thus get chicks.
What about the wannabe macho muscle car Lexus’ alpha dog IS-F with its 415 HP V8 and 8 Speed transmission you ask? 8 Speed transmission WTF ?
Seriously, this car was specifically designed to compete (in the marketplace) with the BMW M3. Who is really cross shopping these cars? Anyone who can legitimately afford the IS-F and is looking for a true sports sedan is thinking Mercedes-Benz AMG, BMW M, Cadillac V‘s not Lexus F-ail, sorry, it’s the truth.
As of late, Lexus has gotten the message (my message) that their [male] drivers want the opportunity to customize their cars. Think less hair salon more sports bar. The aftermarket is ready and willing to give the car community everything their heart’s desire to turn almost any car into almost anything else.
Lexus people with the TRD (that’s Toyota Racing Development not terd — what are you 5?) performance group saw an opportunity here. They created the F-Sport line of accessories for the Lexus IS line of cars.
Ahh, you make your own aftermarket products, you keep the money in house- very smart.
Toyota is smart taking cues from their mod happy Scion brand and expanding it to Lexus. They are also confident in the products so much so that you can keep your warranty even with mod’s (that’s short for modifications to you pops) to your car.
The list of F-Sport accessories is extensive: check out the official press release from Lexus below.
“Lexus Expands F-Sport Performance Accessories Line to Include Parts for GS, IS C and IS AWD Models
IS C F-Sport
Torrance, Calif., February 11, 2009 — Lexus today announced that it will expand its popular F-Sport Performance Accessories line. The luxury manufacturer launched its signature line of sport performance parts last spring with accessories for the IS 350 and IS 250 entry luxury sport sedans. The line will soon include F-Sport parts for the current generation GS luxury sport sedan, IS all-wheel drive (AWD), and the all-new IS C convertible coupe models. F-Sport equipped versions of the GS, IS and IS C will be on display at the Chicago Auto Show.
“F-Sport Accessories offer Lexus owners the ability to customize their vehicles to the next level of performance,” said Brian Bolain, Lexus national manager of marketing and lifecycle strategy. “Following last year’s successful launch of accessories for the IS 250 and 350 sport sedans, it was natural to expand the F-Sport accessories lineup to other Lexus performance models.”
The GS, IS AWD and IS C F-Sport accessories will include performance enhancing parts such as forged alloy wheels, brake upgrades, suspension systems, air intake, exhaust systems and more. Parts for these new models will be available as early as June 1, 2009.
F-Sport Performance Accessories by Lexus USA are engineered by Toyota Racing Development (TRD). When installed by an authorized dealer, the accessories are fully warranted for 12 months or for the balance of the new car warranty, whichever is greater.
F-Sport 18 and 19-inch Forged Alloy Wheels
The F-Sport forged alloy wheels, exclusively designed in a dark graphite finish, not only add an aggressive look to the exterior, but help enhance performance through increased strength and decreased weight. The F-Sport wheels require the use of spline-drive lug nuts, which are included in the available Wheel Installation Kit.
F-Sport Front Brake Upgrade
The Front Brake Upgrade provides a firmer pedal feel and improved fade resistance in repeated severe-duty use. The Brake Upgrade features six-piston fixed calipers and drilled cast-iron rotors with a patented internal-fin design mounted on anodized aluminum hubs. Braided stainless-steel brake lines and low-dust performance brake pads are included, and the upgrade can be used with stock or the F-Sport Rear Brake Upgrade.
F-Sport Rear Brake Upgrade
Similar in construction to the F-Sport Front Brake Upgrade, the Rear Brake Upgrade uses four-piston fixed calipers and drilled cast-iron rotors. Braided stainless-steel brake lines and low-dust performance brake pads are also included. The Rear Brake Upgrade may only be used in conjunction with F-Sport Front Brake Upgrade.
F-Sport Shock Absorber Set
Developed in cooperation with Bilstein® and available exclusively through the F-Sport Performance Accessory program, this shock-absorber set offers sport-tuned suspension dampening without sacrificing ride quality.
F-Sport Lowering Spring Set
This feature lowers the vehicle approximately one inch in the front and rear for a more aggressive appearance and a lower center of gravity. The spring set is engineered to deliver lowered ride height without bottoming out or creating a harsh ride. The sets will be specifically configured for each model and can be used with either the stock or F-Sport Shock Absorber Set.
F-Sport Sway Bar Set
The sway bar set includes larger diameter replacement front-and-rear sway bars that reduce body sway and flatten cornering. Oil-impregnated rubber bushings are also included to replace the original rubber bushings. Each vehicle’s sway bar set is specifically configured to achieve the best performance.
F-Sport Rear Chassis Member Brace
To improve chassis stiffness under aggressive driving conditions and provide a more responsive feel during cornering, the F-Sport Rear Chassis Member Brace joins key rear-chassis and suspension mounting points through this tubular steel brace.
F-Sport Performance Exhaust System
This system features all stainless-steel construction with fully polished mufflers and double-wall exhaust tips. In addition to an outstanding appearance, it delivers a powerful, sport-tuned exhaust sound while complying with established sound-level standards and does not affect emissions compliance.
F-Sport Performance Air Intake
This low-restriction intake and filter assembly is fully compatible with stock engine controls and is emission legal in all 50 states.
F-Sport Carbon Fiber Engine Cover
Constructed from real carbon fiber, this light-weight, durable engine cover provides a high-tech appearance under the hood. This is a direct replacement for the original cover.
F-Sport Performance ClutchSet
The F-Sport Performance Clutch Set, available for the IS 250 and IS 250C equipped with the manual transmission, increases clamping force approximately 16 percent to handle higher torque capacity and provide improved feel.
F-Sport Quick Shifter
Engineered and machined from billet aluminum, the F-Sport Quick Shifter for the manual-transmission equipped IS 250 and IS 250C decreases shift throw by approximately 35 percent for quicker and more positive shifting.
F-Sport Shift Knob
Constructed from premium leather and genuine carbon fiber, F-Sport shift knobs are sporty and offer a comfortable curved shape. The manual knob is weighted to provide a sporty and more controlled feel while shifting. Both knobs are detailed with signature blue stitching and a silver F-Sport logo.
F-Sport Floor Mats
Made from the same high-quality 18 ounce nylon carpet as the factory mats, the four-piece set is available in black with a silver embroidered “F-Sport” logo.”
Now the male (there has to be more than one) Lexus IS driver is well on his way to F’ing accessory Mecca. Good for Lexus to offer these things to their owners. Even they know not every one out there can afford a $60k price tag of a genuine Lexus IS-F. But Lexus and TRD have made many of its bits and pieces available to any one out there who wants to try to create one of their own one parts at a time. Strangely no crate engines available yet. Will it make you macho in your Lexus? The jury’s still out.
See for your self over at the Lexus F-Series micro site.
http://www.f-sport.com/?s_ocid=IS_Acc_FSport_Overview_MicroSite
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