Seldom do I attend a new vehicle launch and walk away genuinely surprised by the car in question. This week I attended the local launch of the new Lexus IS. Being a Lexus, I thought it would be predictably well appointed and have a smooth, enjoyable drive in the mould of a boulevard cruiser. While the new IS may possess a bit of what I mention above, it also showed me that sometimes seemingly unassuming cars can possess the ability to surprise you.
Let’s get the details out of the way. The new look is very much LFA-inspired and features a more three-dimensional take on Lexus’s spindle grille, and in the case of the F Sport, it is bigger and wider and it’s flanked by air intakes on either side. The F Sport also boasts a more menacing looking front bumper with aerodynamic enhancements. All models in the IS line-up feature Lexus’s L-shaped LED daytime running lights. Factor in a strong beltline and sharp bodywork creases and the overall effect gives the new IS a more purposeful and grounded stance than before.
The F Sport’s cabin is a comfortable place to be. While I will admit that there are elements of the car’s interior that remind of certain Toyota models, but it’s tastefully executed. The facia layout has a strongly horizontal theme, creating a clean look that makes it easy for the front occupants to accustom themselves with the ancillary controls. I quite enjoyed the different gadgets offered up by this vehicle. With a simple push of a button the virtual speedometer moves to the right and makes way for a different digital menu. The air-con scroller is also quite slick-looking; it’s simply a thin strip of chrome on the facia. You move your finger up and down it to either increase or decrease the cabin temperature.
The new IS is longer and wider than before. These increases have made way for easily accessibility to the cabin, more legroom and more luggage space.
Climbing into the drivers seat and finding a comfortable position is easy thanks to the electric adjustment available on the seat. Lexus has also lowered the steering wheel angle (by three degrees) and reach adjustment has increased. This translates into a sportier driving position.
Prod the starter and the 3,5-litre V6 unit fires up with a pleasant bark. Thanks to a sound generator, the exhaust note permeating the cabin is sporty and, while it gives an indication of what to expect, I still wasn’t quite prepared to be this impressed by the IS 350 F Sport.
In all models, this unit kicks out 228 kW and 375 N.m of torque. The advantage of having the F Sport version is that you benefit from an additional drivetrain setting. The normal drive mode select system features, eco, normal and sport modes. In the F Sport, there’s the sport plus mode. Right out of the starting block I engaged this mode. And this is where the F Sport really showed its colours.
The launch unfolded in and around Durban, so there weren’t amazing driving roads, but there were some sections that allowed for more dynamic driving with twisty bits of tarmac.
I found myself pushing the car and trying to get the best out of it for many reasons. One being that it really does have a great exhaust note. Another being that the engine is strong and power delivery is smooth and quick, so you can easily get to the power peak as quickly as possible. Also, gear changes in this vehicle are vastly improved over that of the outgoing model. The 8-speed sport direct shift transmission makes use of a new system called G-Force Artificial Intelligence that measures g-forces being exerted on the car. The system then takes this information and punches these numbers into an algorithm. It then uses all of this information to establish what the next ideal gear will be. The result is that there’s virtually no hesitation and hunting for gears.
But the most impressive thing about the new IS 350 F Sport is its dynamic capabilities. To start with, the steering is precise and has a “you-point-and-it-goes” feel to it. Also, there is plenty of grip, so being chucked through corners barely unsettled the car. The same goes for bumps and uneven surfaces. It’s as though the IS took one look at the launch route with all its twists turns, potholes and bad road conditions and said, “It’s on”. And it came out on top.
The IS F Sport could well be Lexus’s finest product to date. It serves up the serene drive that is expected of a Lexus, but it also manages to balance it out with a good deal of dynamic capability. It is, dare I say it, slightly better than some of its German counterparts and at a price of R553 900 with all the bells and whistles included, is quite a steal too.
Specifications
Model: Lexus IS 350 F Sport
Price: R553 900
Engine: 3 456 cm3, V6
Power: 228 kW @ 6 400 r/min
Torque: 375 N.m @ 4 800 r/min
0-100 km/h: 5,9 seconds
Fuel consumption: 9,7 litres/100 km
CO2 emissions: 225 g/km
