New Lexus IS-F specs and details
The 2014 Lexus IS-F gets new trim while a high-performance RC-F coupe is rumoured
The Lexus IS-F has been updated for 2014. Still on sale in America, the 417bhp Audi RS4 and Mercedes C63 rival has been officially off sale for some time in the UK, with the last car in stock selling within the last month.
The US market can sustain it for a little longer, though, and the new model year IS-F gains new LED lights, a carbonfibre rear spoiler, and a smattering of ‘F’ badging inside. There’s also new Alcantara trim for the centre console and doors and full black leather seats replacing part leather upholstery. The 5-litre naturally aspirated V8 petrol engine remains, with its 4.7sec 0-60 time and 173mph top speed.
It’s hardly game-changing stuff, but then with an all-new Lexus IS model now on sale, the IS-F – still based on the previous-generation BMW 3-series rival – is due retirement very soon.
A replacement is expected to come in the form of a high-performance variant of a new Lexus RC coupe, a production version of the pretty LF-CC concept which was shown at the 2012 Paris motor show. Images of a purported Lexus RC-F have appeared online, a coupe with similar styling cues to the IS-F (right down to the quad exhaust tailpipes) as well as a more powerful 5-litre V8, with a 455bhp output and increased fuel economy thanks to cylinder deactivation.
How true these reports are remain to be seen, but an unveiling at the 2014 Detroit motor show in January is rumoured. Fingers crossed – it sounds ace. A high performance Lexus has been spied testing at the Nurburgring, while the video below shows the Lexus LF-CC Super GT racing car. The perfect way to PR a new performance car?
