Nother CarGuy

When it was updated for the 2021 model year, people accused the IS 350 F Sport of needing a little more engine. Well, Lexus has listened. The brand announced that it is stuffing its naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 under the hood of its smallest (North American) sedan and calling it the IS 500 F Sport Performance. Needless to say, this mechanical set-up is a dying breed in the age of smaller, force-fed or even electrified engines, and if anything, Lexus deserves our praise for giving it what could very well turn out to be a last hurrah. So strained is the IS to contain the engine’s heft that the hood has been raised two inches to accommodate it. Despite making 160 more horses than the V6, though, the 3,891-pound IS 500 weighs just 143 lbs more than the IS 350. The engine, which you may recognize from the RC F, makes 472 HP at 7,100 rpm and 395 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm. That’s around about the same amount as the base M3, which gets 473 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque out of its twin-turb...

The new Lexus LS 500 F Sport has been revealed, claiming the title of the sportiest version in the range. While it may not be a fully-fledged F model, Lexus says the F Sport version of the LS is more focused towards driving fun, thanks to “carefully applied chassis tuning and enhancements”. From the outside, there’s no doubting the sporty credentials of this LS, thanks to model-specific elements such as that huge front grille, rocker panel, trunk moldings, a set of exclusive 20-inch alloy wheels and of course the obligatory F Sport badging. Lexus will offer the new LS F Sport with both powertrains, meaning a 415hp twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6 in the LS 500 and the 354hp hybrid powerplant in the LS 500h. The petrol LS 500 F Sport’s engine is paired to a 10-speed automatic gearbox, a first in the luxury sedan segment. The twin-turbo V6 also features electric wastegates to improve throttle response. Zero to 62mph (100 km/h) comes in 4.5 seconds for the rear-drive version (not curren...

Joining the likes of Lexus' new gen LS 500 and LS 500h that debuted earlier this year is the new LS 500 F Sport, which will sit under the spotlight at the brand's stand in New York. The latest addition to the new LS family will be available on both the LS 500 and LS 500h. This means that it will be powered by either the new 3.5-liter V6 twin-turbo engine, producing 415hp and 442lb-ft (600 Nm) of torque, or the 3.5-liter V6 working together with two electric motors that produce a combined output of 354 horses. Toyota's luxury brand doesn’t have a lot to say about it for now, except that it will "capitalize on the responsiveness and agility of the new LS Line". Nevertheless, expect the same raft of upgrades as on other F Sport models, such as more aggressive styling on the outside and sportier touches in the cabin, along with a tuned chassis with changes to the suspension and steering for a more engaging drive. . We'll know everything there about it o...