Well we couldn’t quite believe our eyes when we heard the IS-F is already up for sale over in Japan, despite not being available till Feb 2008 over in the States (and who knows when in Australia), and despite being rumored for release in Japan in December!

The Ultra Hot Lexus L-FA

Classically Lexus evokes images of stately, extremely well appointed saloons and sedans aimed at a market with plenty of cash and years. Lexus seems to be changing that by savagely reworking the IS250’s platform for, well, brutal speed.

The IS-F now runs a very impressive direct-injected quad cam 5.0L V8 producing a colossal 311kW or 417HP, with a very healthy 372 lb-ft of torque, all harnessed with a claimed world first eight-speed direct sport shift transmission. Enough to power the (suprisingly heavy) 1693kg (3726 lb) sports sedan from 0-60 in about 4.9 seconds.

The car goes on sale in Japan at a price of around 7.66 million yen.

View more on our Squidoo Lens.

[Source: Winding Road]

Popularity: 29% [?]

It’s four and a bit years away, but some sources believe the GS-F will carry the 500HP V10 slated for the LS-F concept, setting it squarely in the BMW M5’s path, and possibly the Audi RS6’s.

Details for the Formula 1 inspired powerplant aren’t set in stone and are vague at best, all we know is it’s a sub-five litre 500HP V10, and it will be dropped into the new 2011 GS body. The GS-F’s transmission predicted to be a paddle-shifting fully manualized modified 8 speed automatic, and styling is expected to follow along the IS-F’s body cues.

Hit MotorTrend for some rendered imagery.

Popularity: 15% [?]

The First Lexus Supercar?

It looks like Lexus will be entering the supercar market with confirmation of it’s L-FA concept going ahead into production, albeit in a somewhat different form to what we’ve seen around the world’s motor shows.

Carsales.com.au informs us the car will be given the designation F for “Fuji speedway” where Lexus would test their new monster. The car is expected to be a front engined V10, possibly based on a similar architecture to Toyota’s F1 car engines, and put out 370kW (500hp), competing directly with other big mean European supercars, such as the Mercedes SL65 AMG, Porsche 911 Turbo, Aston Martin DB9 and Ferrari F430. It will also be interesting to see how the new Lexus supercar stacks up against Nissan’s upcoming GTR.

(more pictures available via Carsales.com.au)

The first F series Lexus, the IS-F is expected to arrive in Australia sometime next year. Australian IS-F’s will be fitted with a 5L 300kW V8 an 8 speed automatic transmission and limited slip differential, making the car a nice drag package for those of you with the inclination (all of you I dare say).

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