Lexus F

The Lexus F- series represents the segment of high-performance cars from Lexus. The F- series represents the flagship and for Fuji Speedway, the main test site of the Lexus sports car development in Oyama, which is located in Shizuoka Prefecture in Japan. The first vehicle in the Lexus F- series - the Lexus IS- F - was announced in 2006, followed by a coupe model of the F- series - the Lexus LFA - in 2007 and the production of LFA supercar in 2009. All vehicles of the F- series are marked with a plaque on the front fenders. A related built for efficiency series - the F- Sport series - was launched in 2007, with F-Sport accessories products and the first working models in 2010, the Lexus Vehicle Performance Development Division has developed the models of the F- series, this. was also involved in activities of Lexus in motorsport. Originally, the "F " designation in the founding Lexus' in 1989, the internal code word for the development of its first flagship vehicle.

History

The end of 2006 ranged Lexus a trademark application for the F- badge, which led to speculation Lexus wanted to create a high performance brand. At that time it was thought the F stood for "Fast" (English, fast ' ) or " flagship " (English, flagship '). Later reports surmised that F refers to the Fuji Speedway in Japan and its first corner - 27R - have influenced the shape of the F- emblem. Even in interviews from previous years with executives of the company, there were mentions, Lexus Create a high-performance brand to compete among other things with the Mercedes -AMG, the S / RS- Line Audi, the V- series of Cadillac and the BMW M. The TRD -based L- Tuned, a former in-house car tuning effort offered performance packages for the IS 300 and GS 400, sedans of the early 2000s. Lexus' racing activities and sports cars were developments of the Lexus Vehicle Performance Development Division conducted a trademark of the Lexus Development Center ( Aichi Prefecture).

In December 2006, Lexus announced that the first vehicle in the F- number to: The premiere of the sedan Lexus IS- F ( previously known as IS 500 ) is at the North American International Auto Show in January 2007, a result found in the Detroit Premiere of the vehicle. together with a revised version of the LF -A sports car instead. At the press conference announced Lexus, a certain " skunk works" team have developed the IS- F in a manner which ' differs from the typical engineering services Lexus. The chief designer of the IS -F was Yukihiko Yaguchi, who had previously worked on the Toyota Supra. Media reports hinted that the sedan IS- F would be followed by a sedan called GS -F and an IS- F coupe.

Models of the F- series

Lexus IS F

The Lexus IS F was presented to the public at the North American International Auto Show January 8, 2007. It is equipped with a 5.0-liter V8 gasoline engine with direct injection, which produces at 6600 rpm 311 kW ( 423 hp) and a maximum torque of 508 Nm at 5200 rpm. The engine has a two-stage intake system, engine oil and a cooler for automatic transmission fluid and an oil pump that was developed for high-speed corners. In comparison with the 2GR - FSE V6 engine in the IS 350 with 228 kW ( 306 hp) has the IS- F to 2UR - GSE V8 engine producing over 300 kW. The IS -F should be in the dealerships by the beginning of 2008.

Its premiere in Europe had the IS- F at the IAA in Frankfurt in September and in Japan at the Fuji Speedway in October 2007. The sale of the IS- F began in late 2007 in Japan, in early 2008 in the United States and throughout the year in Europe in 2008.

Lexus LFA

The Lexus LFA is a two-seat coupe, which was presented as a model of the F- series at the NAIAS 2007. The original model had the LF - A is a 4.8-liter V10 engine with an estimated 411 kW ( 552 hp) and a top speed of 320 km / h Automotive media reported the LF -A model is released for production. Prototypes of the LF -A were also tested on the Nürburgring. On 10 May 2008, a prototype of the LF -A was added at a 4-hour endurance race in the VLN, which is surprisingly won the SP8 class. The vehicle was also entered in the 24 -hour race, where it crossed the finish line in 27th place and qualified as the seventh of the SP8 class under 223 Cars.

On 4 April 2009, a LF- A at the ADAC Westfalenfahrt VLN 4- hour endurance race won the SP8 class. A roadster version of the LF -A model ( called LF -A Roadster or LF -AR ) of the F - series was introduced to American International Auto Show January 13, 2008 with the North. The first specification of the roadster saw a 5 -liter V10 engine in front, with a capacity of more than 370 kW (500 hp ) and a top speed of over 320 km / h The LF -A Roadster had an extendable rear spoiler for improved performance at high speeds.

The Lexus LFA was unveiled on October 21, 2009 at the Tokyo Motor Show and announced its production. The model will be limited to 500 copies, with an estimated base price of 375,000 euros. At the Tokyo Motor Show is also a racing version of the model for 2012 has been announced.

F-Sport

The Lexus F- Sport series for standard models from Lexus was announced at the Specialty Equipment Market Association Show 2007 and came together with the IS- F sports sedan on the market. Originally, it was a product range of tuning parts for the IS 250 and IS 350 sedans; 2009, the supply of parts has been extended to the two-door IS- C models and the entire GS series. 2009 were announced at the factory with F-Sport - tuned parts special models of the F-Sport IS 350 C, followed by IS 250 - and 350- IS models for 2011, which should be equipped with F-Sport packages.

Factory- produced F- Sport models are improved inside and out and can be recognized by the F-Sport badge, a net-like grille and a spoiler. F-Sport parts are built together with the Toyota Racing Development, as there are better brakes, stabilizers, EXTENDING springs, Bilstein shocks, F - Sport clutches and bonnet made ​​of carbon fiber reinforced plastic and chassis reinforcements ( such as braces ). Individual changes are rear spoiler, exhausts and alloy wheels. The F-Sport models are:

F-Sport (as Sport package):

• IS 250 F Sport (2010 -)
• IS 250 F-Sport AWD (2010 -)
• IS 350 F Sport (2010 -)
• IS 350 F-Sport AWD (2010 -)
• IS 250 C F-Sport (2010 -)
• IS 350 C F-Sport (2010 -)

F-Sport ( Special Edition ):

• IS 350 C F-Sport (2009)

F-Sport (accessory series):

• IS 250 (2007 - )
• IS 350 (2007 - )
• IS 250 C ( 2009 -)
• IS 350 C ( 2009 -)
• IS 250 AWD (2009 -)
• GS 350 (2009 - )
• GS 350 AWD (2009 -)

Future models

Supposedly, the extension of the Lexus F- series includes several new models. Initial reports indicated that in addition to the LFA models of Lexus GS was the next vehicle to be developed into a model of the F- series. However, the development should have been delayed due to the 2008 financial crisis. The development of the LFA- variants was also the subject of conflicting reports, so if the vehicle is used, for example, just a racing test platform, the production would be set or if perhaps they incur when favorable economic conditions were present.

Interviews with executives from Lexus indicated out that the revenue from the IS- F at the end of 2008 was relatively strong and that probably an LS - F model would follow if the GS -F would go into production. The flagship of the Lexus equipment would likely include the use of the V10 engine that was developed for the LF -A. 2009 reports have surfaced, the LF -A would not be produced in a roadster version, but a convertible the IS -F is also planned on the basis of the first models of the IS C, the IS 250 C and the IS 350 C. The LS 460 Sport, a high-performance variant of the LS flagship, was published in 2010.