Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance: the Japanese sports saloon returns with M3-rivalling hunger

Lexus announced a few days ago that its F Sport Performance performance division, which has been revived under the banner of the Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance. The Japanese saloon reclaims a distinguished name that had been lost, and returns with the same essence but with modern touches that will make it a tough rival for both the BMW M3 and the Mercedes-AMG C 63. With this move, Lexus revives an important legacy that will be carried over to other members of the range, although it is still unknown whether it will arrive in Europe.

Indeed, we must not forget that the current generation of the Lexus IS is not sold on our continent, so we doubt that its radical variant will make an appearance here. Be that as it may, we can still enjoy its looks and its novelties, which are not few and could be key to predicting F Sport versions of other models that would indeed reach this side of the pond.

Starting with the styling, we find an imposing front end dominated by a large grille and a striking front splitter. The side features new-design 19-inch wheels and tension lines that reflect the characteristic Japanese muscle, but the highlight is at the rear. Here the classic quad exhaust outlet in a diagonal arrangement is revived, promising a sweet melody.

In the cabin we find Lexus’s technology arsenal, top-quality materials and a fully round steering wheel flanked by two metal paddle shifters. It is expected that an optional package will add bucket seats similar to those seen in past F Sport versions, although the true raison d’être of this IS 500 F Sport Performance lies in its mechanical layout.

Here a hybrid powertrain is dispensed with in favour of an old-school engine: a naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8. It delivers 470 CV and 535 Nm of torque. These figures are sent exclusively to the rear axle and managed by an 8-speed automatic gearbox and a Torsen limited-slip differential. In this way, the IS 500 F Sport Performance achieves 0 to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds.

The price of this variant of the Japanese saloon is still unknown, but it will be ready to make life difficult for the aforementioned M3 and C 63, at least in the Americas. Everything points to the new IS 500 F Sport Performance and its naturally aspirated V8 not reaching European shores.