Lexus has added subtle design changes to its IS-F high-performance sedan for 2011.
The company’s naturally-aspirated V8 IS, an Oriental sedan for hooligans who require five-person portability, now adds LED daytime running lights (arranged in a fashion to mimic Lexus’s L-motif design language) housed in redesigned headlight clusters.
Inside, the IS-F’s dials gets a significant driver information revamp with an oversized rev-counter taking pride of place in the centre of Lexus’s F-specific instrument cluster, framed by a smaller 330km/h calibrated speedometer.
The theme of increased LED use is carried over from the upgraded headlights to the instrument cluster too, with a three-bar LED shift-indicator now residing amongst the dials.
SOFTER RIDE - STILL SPORTY
Beyond the proliferation of LEDs both inside and out, the 2011 IS-F does sport some mechanical improvements too.
Although the 5-litre V8’s peak power output of 311kW remains unchanged, Lexus engineers have altered the car’s suspension geometry with the aim of reducing IS-F’s harshness of ride over less than perfectly surfaced roads, whilst retaining the best dynamic handling features of its rear-wheel drive configuration.
A slight ergonomic change should markedly enhance IS-F’s dynamic driving experience too, as Lexus has relocated the ‘Sport’ button from its rather obscure position (at the right of the steering column), to a more thumb friendly location on the steering wheel's right hand side horizontal spoke - for easy actuation.
Brushed aluminium finishes and a darker silver fibre trim are used for the centre console and facia, signalling a massive improvement over the rather gaudy cabin finish IS-F owners have endured since the car’s launch, courtesy of its ornate ‘Tokyo street racer’ fake-composite cabin texture.
The facelifted IS-F retails for R792 000 and is covered by a four year/100 000km full maintenance plan and manufacturer warranty, which is what one would expect of a Lexus.
The company’s naturally-aspirated V8 IS, an Oriental sedan for hooligans who require five-person portability, now adds LED daytime running lights (arranged in a fashion to mimic Lexus’s L-motif design language) housed in redesigned headlight clusters.
Inside, the IS-F’s dials gets a significant driver information revamp with an oversized rev-counter taking pride of place in the centre of Lexus’s F-specific instrument cluster, framed by a smaller 330km/h calibrated speedometer.
The theme of increased LED use is carried over from the upgraded headlights to the instrument cluster too, with a three-bar LED shift-indicator now residing amongst the dials.
SOFTER RIDE - STILL SPORTY
Beyond the proliferation of LEDs both inside and out, the 2011 IS-F does sport some mechanical improvements too.
Although the 5-litre V8’s peak power output of 311kW remains unchanged, Lexus engineers have altered the car’s suspension geometry with the aim of reducing IS-F’s harshness of ride over less than perfectly surfaced roads, whilst retaining the best dynamic handling features of its rear-wheel drive configuration.
A slight ergonomic change should markedly enhance IS-F’s dynamic driving experience too, as Lexus has relocated the ‘Sport’ button from its rather obscure position (at the right of the steering column), to a more thumb friendly location on the steering wheel's right hand side horizontal spoke - for easy actuation.
Brushed aluminium finishes and a darker silver fibre trim are used for the centre console and facia, signalling a massive improvement over the rather gaudy cabin finish IS-F owners have endured since the car’s launch, courtesy of its ornate ‘Tokyo street racer’ fake-composite cabin texture.
The facelifted IS-F retails for R792 000 and is covered by a four year/100 000km full maintenance plan and manufacturer warranty, which is what one would expect of a Lexus.