TOKYO, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp.'s (7203.T: Quote, NEWS , Research) high-end Lexus brand will launch a performance brand late next year to compete with Mercedes-Benz's AMG and BMW's M divisions, industry paper Automotive News reported on Monday. The offensive will start with the IS sedan, which will get a retuned version of the LS600h's hybrid engine, the paper said, citing dealer sources.

The car, to be called IS-F, with F standing for "fast", will debut at an auto show next month in Detroit and go on sale in December 2007, the paper said. The 425-horsepower car will be priced in the low $50,000 range, it said.

A Toyota spokeswoman declined to comment on the report, saying the company would announce plans for the Detroit auto show in the coming days.

Automotive News quoted a dealer as saying Lexus will likely follow the IS-F with a GS-F sedan and IS-F coupe.



Japan's top auto maker filed a stylised "F" logo on Oct. 9 and a trademark for IS-F on Nov. 8 and with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Source: Reuters

 

Woo, finally!! Now lets get that coupe out.

 

Now that's what I'm screamin!

 

The Toyota way:

Not only are we going to go faster, we're going to go greener than you as well. In Toyota's lexicon, "hybrid" will soon be on par with "turbocharger".

 

I don't think that the IS will actually be a hybrid, rather, it will get a version of the 5.0L V8 that is going to be used in that LS600H. The noirmal LS gets a 4.6L, whereas the Hybrid gets a slightly larger V8, probably stroked a bit for more low end oomph.

 

it better have those wheels when i go to purchase one!! I so want an IS-F

 

why do they call it the LS600h if it uses a 5L V8? shouldnt it be LS500h?

 

M3 killer?

 

They use 600h because it makes the comparable power of a 6.0L engine.

RX 350
RX 400h

GS 350
GS 450h

LS 460
LS 600h

And yes, the IS-F is going to be a moster!

 

audi S4 killer too?

 

Maybe, but that's not what get out of the statement. If that's the case, then the reporter needs to work on their diction.

The V8 in the hybrid is an all new 5.0. Maybe the IS-F is going to get the gasoline only version, but since the LS600h's drivetrain already gets 430hp, it would seem not only unnecessary to take out the electric motor and then recompensate the motor to bring it back to the quoted 425, but also inefficient, and contrary to the way Toyota has been doing things of late.

 

IS-F...

 

screw "claimed" numbers... someone buy the car and run tests on it... I could care less how many advertised numbers are out there...


I would like to see real world performance and reviews...

 

i hope to see a 6speed manuel on it

 

That ... is ... amazing. I already love the IS ... add more power ... and it is orgasmic ... i want to see the coupe!

 

i think car and driver said it was going to have an eight speed automatic tranmission. so i feel doubt on the coming of a 6 sp manual.

 

I will love to see an IS coupe.

 

M/T coupe or bust.

 

For your own sake Toyota, take a serious look @ renaming your performance division to something other than "F". "fast" isn't determined by the brand or a name, it's proven through results.


More importantly, ask ANYBODY:

what do you think of when they hear/see the letter "F"? (Hey, watch your language! No using the "F" word otherwise your gonna get an "F" in the class.)

, than ask yourselves if it's a wise move...


Besides the naming scheme, the performance Lexus' are an awesome idea! However, if you want to be taken serious Coupes and M/T are a MUST, otherwise nobody will take you serious.
With the wrong associations a good thing could get bad with a quickness, therefore I trust you'll be smart about this (hopefully).

 

With 425hp are you doubting it's going to be fast? The IS350 is already a quick car with just over 300hp, and on top of 425hp it will im sure have other improvements. This thing seems to be on track to go head on with the new M3, and RS 4.