{"id":4025,"date":"2021-04-29T14:38:22","date_gmt":"2021-04-29T18:38:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/articles.carcostcanada.com\/?p=4025"},"modified":"2021-04-29T14:38:22","modified_gmt":"2021-04-29T18:38:22","slug":"lexus-reveals-sensational-472-hp-is-500-f-sport-performance-super-sedan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/articles.carcostcanada.com\/lexus-reveals-sensational-472-hp-is-500-f-sport-performance-super-sedan\/","title":{"rendered":"Lexus reveals sensational 472 hp IS 500 F Sport Performance super sedan"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"2022
The new 2022 IS 500 F Sport Performance promises serious get-up-and-go thanks to a 500-hp V8.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you were looking for some edgy styling updates to go along with the new 2022 IS 500 F Sport Performance model\u2019s 472-horsepower V8 engine upgrade, this probably isn\u2019t going to be your next ride. Unless Lexus decides to push out an even more aggressive IS F trim before an all-new model arrives in a couple of years, this IS 500 F Sport is the brand\u2019s new four-door muscle car now that the mid-size GS F (and the entire GS line) has departed.<\/p>\n

As it is, Lexus refreshed the entire IS line for 2021<\/a>, and therefore sees no need to bulk up the elegant compact luxury model\u2019s bodywork with extra scoops, whale-tail wings, or any other types of go-fast add-ons to attract more buyers, although they did slightly widen the fenders. Thus, this only marginally muscled up saloon might be the best new sleeper on the strip.<\/p>\n

\"2022
While the IS 500 looks quite menacing, its styling isn’t much different than the already sporty F Sport trims of the IS 300 and IS 350.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The sharply angled four-door wears a broadened version of Lexus\u2019 now fully acceptable spindle grille, fully blackened out of course, its corners complete with a revised set of multi-lens LED headlamps that don\u2019t dazzle with as much bright metalwork within either. The lower front fascia is deep and divided too, with nice black vertical brake vents to each side (or at least they look like brake vents), while the hood overtop gets a fabulous dome at centre to make way for the 5.0-litre V8 stuffed below.<\/p>\n

All IS trims received the same body sculpting down the sides, extended fenders aside, with even the two-tone mirror housings identical to those found on lesser models. Likewise, for the rear end\u2019s UX-inspired LED taillights, which feature a narrow reflector strip visually tying them together. A subtle spoiler hovers over top, and again it\u2019s no different than what you\u2019d find on a regular IS, while the diffuser-infused lower bumper cap is only a departure because of the extra two vertically stacked exhaust tips poking through.<\/p>\n

\"2022
These gorgeous 19-inch Enkei wheels help visually set the IS 500 apart from other trims.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As it is, the IS 300 and IS 350<\/a> are already the sportiest Lexus sedans available, so they were mostly de-chromed before this IS 500 arrived. In fact, some 2021 trims are even darker<\/a> due to grey-painted alloys, the V8-powered model\u2019s 10-spoke, 19-inch Enkei lightweight wheels finished in glittering metal, just like the chromed \u201cL\u201d badges at each end and aforementioned exhaust pipes. The IS 500\u2019s most obvious differentiators are darkened side window trim bits instead of Lexus\u2019 usual polished nickel.<\/p>\n

All of the interior changes are from the usual F Sport order sheet too, including black \u201cF SPORT\u201d insignias on the door sill plates and steering wheel, the latter which is heatable and leather-clad, of course, while the metal gas pedal, brake pedal and dead pedal have been upgraded to F Sport specifications too. The startup animation in the mostly-digital gauge cluster\u2019s multi-information display is special to the IS 500, mind you, and serves as a quick reminder of the menacing power available at from a little right foot application.<\/p>\n

\"2022
“IS 500” badge aside, this quad of tailpipes is a dead giveaway of the V8 under the hood.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Along with its 472 horsepower, Lexus\u2019 big V8 puts 395 lb-ft of torque down to the rear wheels, which is almost as much output as found in the gorgeous LC 500 sports coupe and convertible<\/a>, this IS version actually increasing horsepower by a single digit while dropping a mere three lb-ft of twist. Either way it represents a serious improvement over the next-best IS 350<\/a> that only sends 311 horsepower and 280-lb-ft of torque to the ground below. Even the mighty 2014 IS F<\/a>, as impressive as that super sedan was for its time, wouldn\u2019t be able to compete at 416 horsepower and 371 lb-ft of torque. Of note, the only major change other than widening the front fenders was the need to move the radiator forward to accommodate the larger engine.<\/p>\n

\"2022
The IS 500’s interior looks much the same as that of any F Sport-enhanced IS model.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you\u2019re shopping in this category, a handful of challengers are worth mentioning, including the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio<\/a> that puts out a mind-blowing 505 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque; the BMW M3<\/a> that pretty well created this super-fast sedan segment and still offers up competitive performance thanks to a 473-horsepower turbo-six in base form or 503-hp Competition trim; the Mercedes-AMG tuned C-Class<\/a> that comes in 385-hp AMG C 43 form, 469-hp AMG C 63 guise, and lastly with 503-hp AMG C 63 S tuning.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, Audi<\/a> doesn\u2019t offer an RS version of its directly competitive compact luxury sedan, but four-ringed buyers can option up from the 349-hp S4<\/a> to similarly sized RS 5 Sportback<\/a> that makes 444 hp (the A5 Sportback is Audi\u2019s version of BMW\u2019s 4 Series Grand Coupe<\/a>\u00a0(none are available for 2021), albeit the Bavarians don\u2019t provide an M version of what is arguably their prettiest four-door). Additionally, Cadillac<\/a> is set to enter this category with its new 2022 CT4-V Blackwing<\/a>, which gets a standard manual gearbox, rear-wheel drive, and 472-horsepower worth of twin-turbo V6.<\/p>\n

\"2022
The mostly digital gauge cluster provides a unique “IS 500” startup graphic, just in case the rumbling V8 wasn’t enough to remind you which version you’re sitting in.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A few honourable mentions include the Volvo S60 Polestar Engineered<\/a> model that puts out 415 hp from a turbocharged, supercharged and plug-in-hybridized four-cylinder (and can also be had in V60 wagon<\/a> form); and the Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400<\/a> that puts out 400 hp, as its name implies. This story would be incomplete without noting the top-tier Tesla Model 3<\/a>, which is good for 480 electrified horsepower, plus 471 lb-ft of instantaneous torque.<\/p>\n

As noted earlier, the IS 500 pushes all of power down to the rear wheels through the same swift-shifting eight-speed Sport Direct automatic transmission as used in the model\u2019s V6-powered rear-drive IS models. It also features Custom, Sport S and Sport S+ engine and transmission mode settings, with the latter adjusting EPS steering assist and shock damping force as well. The end result of a good driver utilizing the most sport-oriented settings is 4.6 seconds from zero to 100 km\/h, no doubt accompanied by \u201cferocious\u201d sounds from the four tailpipes that \u201cperfectly amplify the new V8 engine,\u201d or so said Lexus in a press release.<\/p>\n

\"2022
The IS 500’s sport seats aren’t as aggressively bolstered as its similarly powered competitors, but they do look comfortable.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Bridling all that power is Lexus\u2019 standard Dynamic Handling Package, which also underpins the US-specification IS 350 RWD F Sport (AWD is standard north of the 49th). The upgrade boasts an Adaptive Variable suspension setup featuring Yamaha rear performance shocks plus a Torsen limited-slip differential, while the IS 500\u2019s standard braking system is improved with two-piece 14-inch aluminum rotors up front and 12.7-inch discs in the rear, while special cooling ducts help to enhance performance at the limit. Despite the upgraded equipment and larger engine, the new IS 500 only adds five kilos to the IS 350 AWD F Sport<\/a>\u2019s curb weight, mostly because of its rear-drive layout, the V8-powered model hitting the scale at 1,765 kilograms.<\/p>\n

\"2022
At the heart of the matter, the 500-hp 5.0-litre Lexus V8.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The 2022 IS 500 F Sport Performance is set to arrive this fall in North American markets only. Pricing and other details will drop closer to launch date, but if you can\u2019t wait for a new car and are ok with the current model\u2019s turbo-four and V6 alternatives, take note that 2021 examples<\/a> can be had with factory leasing and financing rates from only 2.8 percent<\/a>, while CarCostCanada members are saving an average of $3,500<\/a> by knowing the dealer invoice price before going in to negotiate. CarCostCanada also informs its members about manufacturer rebates when available, so find out how a CarCostCanada membership can save you thousands<\/a> off of your next new vehicle, plus be sure to download the free CarCostCanada app<\/a> from the Apple Store or Google Play Store.<\/p>\n

Story credits: Trevor Hofmann<\/p>\n

Photo credits: Lexus<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you were looking for some edgy styling updates to go along with the new 2022 IS 500 F Sport Performance model\u2019s 472-horsepower V8 engine upgrade, this probably isn\u2019t going to be your next ride. Unless Lexus decides to push out an even more aggressive IS F trim before an all-new model arrives in a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":4027,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-container-style":"default","site-container-layout":"default","site-sidebar-layout":"default","disable-article-header":"default","disable-site-header":"default","disable-site-footer":"default","disable-content-area-spacing":"default","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[632,145,264,706,222,39,90,89,705,244,118,637,391,38,620,707,342],"class_list":["post-4025","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-carcostcanada","tag-632","tag-4-door","tag-264","tag-f-sport","tag-fast","tag-four-door","tag-horsepower","tag-hp","tag-is","tag-lexus","tag-performance","tag-quick","tag-rwd","tag-sedan","tag-super","tag-torque","tag-v8"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/articles.carcostcanada.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4025","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/articles.carcostcanada.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/articles.carcostcanada.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/articles.carcostcanada.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/articles.carcostcanada.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4025"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/articles.carcostcanada.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4025\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4041,"href":"https:\/\/articles.carcostcanada.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4025\/revisions\/4041"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/articles.carcostcanada.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4027"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/articles.carcostcanada.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4025"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/articles.carcostcanada.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4025"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/articles.carcostcanada.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4025"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}