Shoppers looking for a high-performance luxury sedan roomy enough to drive the family but athletic enough to keep up with the sportiest of cars usually need to commit around $70,000 to the quest. That’s roughly the entry price for a BMW M3, Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG, or Audi RS 5 Sportback. There aren’t many cars that offer their combination of precise handling, pulse-pounding acceleration, and everyday livability.
But Lexus has something to say about that.
We’ve known for a while that Toyota’s luxury division planned to bring out a new IS 500 F Sport Performance sedan this fall. What we didn’t know until today was the price. It will start at just $56,500 (plus a $1,075 destination fee).
That undercuts some of its rivals by roughly the price of a Chevy Spark.
$61,000 will get you the Premium edition, which adds 19-inch wheels, adaptive suspension dampers, and a 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system.
V8 Growl
That price will get buyers a 5.0-liter V8 delivering 472 horsepower. Power goes to the rear wheels through an 8-speed, sport-tuned automatic transmission with Normal, Sport, and Eco-conscious drive settings. Yes, an Eco setting in a V8 compact sedan. Lexus says it will achieve 24 mpg in highway driving and 16 mpg in the city.
Lexus also says the combination means a 0-to-60 mph sprint in 4.4 seconds. A sport-tuned suspension improves handling in the corners, while big 14-inch front brake rotors (12.7 inches in the rear) with cooling vents bring it to a stop.
Handling enhancements over the standard IS are minimal, mostly because the standard IS already comes with an adaptive variable suspension for cornering precision and a Torsen limited-slip differential to enhance stability.
A Body That’s Spent Time in the Gym
If the IS 500 F Sport Performance looks more muscular than the car it’s based on, it’s not your imagination. Lexus explains, “the hood has been raised nearly two inches and receives sculpted center character lines, while the front bumper and fenders have been lengthened to help accommodate the vehicle’s naturally aspirated V8 muscle.” Dark chrome window trim, a rear lip spoiler, and a rear diffuser shaped around the quad exhaust complete the look.
Leather and faux suede upholstery make the seats grippier than the set found on the standard IS. Otherwise, changes are limited to F Sport badges and what Lexus calls “updated startup animation exclusive to” the model.
A Real M3 Rival This Time?
Enthusiasts will tell you that Lexus’ F Sport models haven’t held up to their European rivals on the track. But a big V8 and a starting price four figures below its competitors make a good argument for letting the F Sport Performance try.
Shoppers might want to consider the Cadillac CT4 Blackwing as well. It starts at a similar $59,990 and gets the same 472 horsepower out of its turbocharged V6.
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