[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by supra93

The rumor about the CGI was actually started by one of Tada's friend, he just shared the IG link.

Same difference.

Originally Posted by supra93

You could be right, we shall see.

Well, Autoblog has picked up the story now too:

https://www.autoblog.com/2021/02/05/...-lcf-v8-rumor/

And they are just as skeptical:

Originally Posted by Autoblog

Naturally, we'd welcome any of these cars, even as we take the article with a massive grain of salt.

So yes, we'll see. But if these don't arrive in November, don't expect some sort of confirmation from Lexus that they are, in fact, not reviving the F brand. That will probably never come. Instead, expect to see them sending that message with more products powered by downsized engines, hybrid drive, and pure electric drive.

[W///]

Originally Posted by Sublime00

This is a lease special car, kind of like the 5 series and 3 series. Most people who are getting this don't care about the engine, they just like the refresh and it'll tap into all the people re-upping their leases and have no plans to stray from Lexus.

Imo it looks great. Better than a c class, A4, and 3 series but only in the F sport trim. Looks a little weird in the base trim, but so do the aforementioned competitors cars. I still like the IS interior, doesn't need a bunch of tablets everywhere. Lexus is always behind other competitors in the engine department but that's bc they are known for reliability. Why give that reputation up for a car that's a lease special. If they stuck a 400 hp turbo in this thing would anyone really care? It would get disregarded bc it's not extreme enough to be an m3 competitor. It'll compete with a 340i, S4, etc but how many people are really buying those cars, and how many of those will leave BMW/Audi for the IS? I see a crapload of ISs around bc the formula works and Lexus does have a decent market share with the IS.

This was a smart play for Lexus. Instead of wasting money on developing an entirely new car, they can put their R&D into going fully electric and, hopefully, consolidate the model lineup and keep a couple of ICE enthusiasts models around (e.g. ISF, RCF, maybe LC).

I don't really agree with that, and please know I'm a Toyota/Lexus fan (I daily a Tundra).

Whether it's a lease special as you say, or if it's to buy, I would have liked to see a detuned V6TT from the LS500. Maybe something like 350hp, 350 ft-lbs and average mpg that is closer to mid 20's than low 20s. I don't think this would be asking for the world IMO. Even with the new engine, I'd still have faith in the engine's reliability.

[Sublime00]

Originally Posted by W///

I don't really agree with that, and please know I'm a Toyota/Lexus fan (I daily a Tundra).

Whether it's a lease special as you say, or if it's to buy, I would have liked to see a detuned V6TT from the LS500. Maybe something like 350hp, 350 ft-lbs and average mpg that is closer to mid 20's than low 20s. I don't think this would be asking for the world IMO. Even with the new engine, I'd still have faith in the engine's reliability.

I appreciate that POV.

Maybe Lexus decided to put X amount of dollars into the IS redesign, and focused it on the aesthetic exterior update first. Throw in COVID, diminishing market share for sedans, and restructuring vehicle priorities, then this play makes sense to me.

Lexus/Toyota does has put out different engines later in the life cycle of a car. If the ultimate game plan is to electrify the IS while developing a turbo ICE for a ISF variant, maybe this is a short gap transitionary vehicle bc the older model was getting a little long in the tooth.

As a current GSF owner, and multiple Lexus vehicles ownership history in the family, I too am a Toyota/Lexus fan. I love it when Lexus makes a proper sports car and would rather they make dedicate sports cars and electrify everything else. Why oscillate in the middle?

[Germanauto]

I still daily a 2012 IS (2nd gen), in mint condition I must add. If Lexus wanted me as a return customer then they should have updated the interior of this pseudo 4th gen model. It's a really good looking car but the interior is a deal killer for me.

I never found it to be luxurious...too boy racer looking in design. And they do not offer real leather even as an option. Toyota has so much money, why all the cost cutting?

[RMachuca3d]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

I still daily a 2012 IS (2nd gen), in mint condition I must add. If Lexus wanted me as a return customer then they should have updated the interior of this pseudo 4th gen model. It's a really good looking car but the interior is a deal killer for me.

I never found it to be luxurious...too boy racer looking in design. And they do not offer real leather even as an option. Toyota has so much money, why all the cost cutting?

how do you think they got all that money?

[supra93]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

Same difference.

Well, Autoblog has picked up the story now too:

https://www.autoblog.com/2021/02/05/...-lcf-v8-rumor/

And they are just as skeptical:

So yes, we'll see. But if these don't arrive in November, don't expect some sort of confirmation from Lexus that they are, in fact, not reviving the F brand. That will probably never come. Instead, expect to see them sending that message with more products powered by downsized engines, hybrid drive, and pure electric drive.

I agree with you to take everything with a gain of salt. With that said, insider aside, the source BestCarweb has been occasionally correct in the past. I think it's ok to be skeptical as well. But at the same time not completely discredit the article.

LS rendering from 10/16




IS rendering from 10/18





Supra rendering from 1/19



GR86 rendering from 4/20 vs the BRZ with the patented 86 front bumper.



Since my post got deleted my point was that BestCar was pretty darn close, and in the case of the IS and 86 there wasn't even any production prototypes to best their rendering on, so they had to have a source.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by supra93

I agree with you to take everything with a gain of salt. With that said, insider aside, the source BestCarweb has been occasionally correct in the past. I think it's ok to be skeptical as well. But at the same time not completely discredit the article.

Careful vetting of information is what keeps Bimmerpost among the very best automotive websites out there. If I thought the information had a truly 0% chance of being correct, I’d have simply removed it.

“Occasional correct” is the same as “usually clickbait”. And predicting future products is very different from rendering known upcoming ones.

[Burrcold]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

I never found it to be luxurious...too boy racer looking in design. And they do not offer real leather even as an option. Toyota has so much money, why all the cost cutting?

Are you talking about the 3rd gen IS? If so, you could get real leather but only on specific specs. I had the Nuluxe and I still think Lexus does the best synthetic leather out there (not to mention most comfortable seats).

[Germanauto]

Originally Posted by Burrcold

Are you talking about the 3rd gen IS? If so, you could get real leather but only on specific specs. I had the Nuluxe and I still think Lexus does the best synthetic leather out there (not to mention most comfortable seats).

Yes 3rd and now "4th" generation. 3rd offered leather in its early years but they eventually phased it out and only offer NuLuxe.

It's probably the best synthetic leather, but I suppose I'm old school and in a "luxury" car I want real materials. Real leather, real wood/aluminum trim pieces, etc. It amazes me that people walk into Mercedes showrooms and drop cash on these cheap Mb-Tex cars with hard plastic everywhere.

[Burrcold]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

Yes 3rd and now "4th" generation. 3rd offered leather in its early years but they eventually phased it out and only offer NuLuxe.

It's probably the best synthetic leather, but I suppose I'm old school and in a "luxury" car I want real materials. Real leather, real wood/aluminum trim pieces, etc. It amazes me that people walk into Mercedes showrooms and drop cash on these cheap Mb-Tex cars with hard plastic everywhere.

I would never buy sensatec, mbtex, or any other "fake" leather with the exception of lexus. I agree that a luxury car should come with leather (and everything else real that's supposed to be a natural material). Nuluxe I find to be so good though, soft, looks good, and wears amazingly...the biggest downside is that you don't get the real leather smell, which is a huge thing for me.

[supra93]

https://lexusenthusiast.com/2021/02/...el-on-the-way/

Lexus has shared an early look of their next vehicle launch with Lexus Enthusiast, giving us an advance teaser before any other media outlets. But what does this teaser image reveal? Look closely enough, and there’s plenty of information that can be deciphered — let’s take a deep dive and see what’s what.

Despite the blurry details, this is clearly the same cover used on the 2UR-GSE 5.0L V8 engine from the RC F & GS F:



There are certainly no rules in regards to engine cover design, and there’s every possibility of a new powertrain lurking under this plastic shield. However, for the sake of analysis, let’s assume the V8 is the engine. The major difference is the logo — instead of the stylized F of the Lexus high-performance F brand, this new vehicle will be released as an F SPORT product.

The LC 500 is the only existing model to have the V8 and not offer a F SPORT option, but it feels too late in the coupe’s lifecycle to introduce such a model (Lexus does not generally change the engine cover as part of the F SPORT package). It could also be a V8 option for the LS, though again, the timing doesn’t seem right and the chance of aggravating current LS owners seems too great a risk.

All of this runaround logic brings us to the most obvious option — Lexus trademarked the IS 500 nameplate last year, and rumors from the usually-reliable Best Car Magazine suggest a V8 version of the IS has been in the pipeline for some time.

If this ends up being the vehicle behind the teaser, there’s really only one question left — will it simply be an engine option, or will it lead to bigger changes to the sports sedan? Are we about to see the return of IS F, albeit with a different nameplate?

More details are sure to come in the following days, stay tuned for more updates about this vehicle as we get closer to the reveal date.

[stein_325i]

I have a feeling it will be the LS' turbo V6.

Interestingly the Lexus website says "concept vehicle shown."

[supra93]

IF this is IS500 or IS-F related the two obvious choices would be the decade old NA V8 2UR and the turbo V6 V35A. I think it could go either way.

V8 - but a lot of automakers are down sizing.
Turbo V6 - but freaking Toyota is sooo slow to roll out changes.

[King Rudi]

meh, only women drive these cars.....

[stein_325i]

Originally Posted by supra93

IF this is IS500 or IS-F related the two obvious choices would be the decade old NA V8 2UR and the turbo V6 V35A. I think it could go either way.

V8 - but a lot of automakers are down sizing.
Turbo V6 - but freaking Toyota is sooo slow to roll out changes.

Its so confusing because on one hand the V8 is typically an F only engine, but then you have the LC500 which isn't an F or F-sport and has it, but is a flagship, but the you have the LS500 which is also a flagship but uses the V6. I'd find it strange that they'd give the V8 to the IS500 but not the LS500. Lexus is becoming more and more German, they now have the German's signature confusing and contradictory nomenclature

[syd34]

I recall reading somewhere (don't remember where) that the turbo V6 from the LS500 is too wide to fit into the IS engine bay. The V8 is the only option for the IS to accommodate a higher output engine. We will know soon enough.

[supra93]

But wasn't their excuse for not having a V8 in the 2013-2020 MY was because the engine was too long to be shoes horn in?

LOL if it turns out to just be the IS350 but with sportier wheels, retune suspension and a riced out body kit.

[syd34]

Originally Posted by supra93

But wasn't their excuse for not having a V8 in the 2013-2020 MY was because the engine was too long to be shoes horn in?

LOL if it turns out to just be the IS350 but with sportier wheels, retune suspension and a riced out body kit.

Yea I think that's what they said about the V8 not fitting originally.

lol, I won't even be surprised if that happens. I owned a couple of IS for 8 years and things just don't move fast enough or stuff is reused for well over a decade. They've got the driving feel polished, just need a new engine.

[mkoesel]

How about a GX F Sport?

It’s got a V8 so it could accommodate the engine cover in the picture. There’s even room for a power bump with only 301hp coming from 4.6L in current form.

Incidentally, this vehicle has amazing longevity. It’s over ten years old, and if the sales figures on Wikipedia are accurate, it’s best sales have come over the last few years. No wonder they’ve let it go so long without a redesign - why fix what isn’t broken?

[Germanauto]

Meanwhile over at Mercedes:

4 cylinders across the entire C-class range, including AMG. What a joke.

[supra93]

[supra93]

https://pressroom.lexus.com/lexus-pu...-drivers-seat/