2014+ Lexus IS | RC General Discussion: RC-F Revealed

[ND4SPD]

Surprised you guys haven't posted pics of the wagon yet. It's even more atrocious! It's on jalopnik somewhere.

 

[Beeblebrox237]

Nevermind.

 

[RocZX]

^
It's just a photoshop, if you read the article it says that a reader had made that pic by adding the rear of the CT200h to the sedan

 

[G.T.Ace]

Seriously Lexus, why not like this?

 

[Beeblebrox237]

^
It's just a photoshop, if you read the article it says that a reader had made that pic by adding the rear of the CT200h to the sedan

Oops, sorry.

 

[homeforsummer]

A really half-assed photoshop at that. Must admit I was hoping for a little more when I originally clicked the link.

Seriously Lexus, why not like this?

'Cos it looks barely different from the current IS, i.e. dull.

My favourite 'shop was the interim step - less mental headlights, but still with the full-sized grille. The headlights really disappoint me as they're the only bit of the design I'm genuinely not keen on. Perhaps it's a job for the facelift in three years...

 

[oopssorryy]

Oops, sorry.

You rang?

While the headlights look awkward, it might be a feature that has to be seen in person to get the full effect.

 

[RocZX]

IS300h

 

[homeforsummer]

Would be interested to hear thoughts on the Hybrid's grille, given that it's not just one massive honeycomb like the F-Sport pics shown earlier. In fact, that may even be the standard, non F-Sport grille.

 

[YSSMAN]

That IS300h doesn't look too bad, but the differences between the grilles is a little odd. It does make me wonder, though... Would Lexus consider doing a IS300h Coupe to compete with the new Cadillac ELR?

 

[homeforsummer]

That IS300h doesn't look too bad, but the differences between the grilles is a little odd. It does make me wonder, though... Would Lexus consider doing a IS300h Coupe to compete with the new Cadillac ELR?

And if they did, would they bring it to the U.S? Since the regular IS 300h isn't U.S.-bound...

I reckon a coupe is fairly likely though. After all, the LF-CC previewed an IS coupe.

 

[McLaren]

Would be interested to hear thoughts on the Hybrid's grille, given that it's not just one massive honeycomb like the F-Sport pics shown earlier. In fact, that may even be the standard, non F-Sport grille.

Chances are, you're right if it follows the LS & GS lineups were only the F-Sports have honeycomb grilles.

I think Lexus could have really help that giant grille by implementing the same graphite/color-matched "bar" they placed in the middle of the 2 aforementioned models instead of making it one solid piece.

 

[YSSMAN]

And if they did, would they bring it to the U.S? Since the regular IS 300h isn't U.S.-bound...

Really? Seems odd. Although, I would suppose that it would be stepping on the toes of the CT200h.

 

[homeforsummer]

Really? Seems odd. Although, I would suppose that it would be stepping on the toes of the CT200h.

I'm fairly confused by it. You might say it'd step on the toes of the CT, but we're talking a ~130hp front-drive hatchback versus a likely ~200hp rear-drive sedan here - there should be a bit of wiggle room between them.

Seems even more that they'd sell it in Europe despite not selling in the U.S. too - Europe has traditionally been a market for diesels rather than hybrids. The last IS was offered with a diesel option for a while, but Toyota/Lexus wants to purge diesels from its range now. I think the only ones left are in the Avensis, and a bunch of the 4x4s.

 

[sumbrownkid]

Lexus isn't really fooling anyone though. I'm not going to believe that Lexus, with America as it's biggest market and hybrids being the bread and butter for Toyota, will skip the hybrid treatment of its bread and butter IS.

 

[homeforsummer]

Lexus isn't really fooling anyone though. I'm not going to believe that Lexus, with America as it's biggest market and hybrids being the bread and butter for Toyota, will skip the hybrid treatment of its bread and butter IS.

I did see a good reason actually on some site or other after I put my comment above.

Y'see, I'd forgotten the ES 300h existed, since we don't have that in the UK. And although that one is still FWD (I think? Could be wrong), performance and size-wise it's a closer match for the IS. Between the CT and the ES an IS hybrid might be treading on too many toes.

 

[sumbrownkid]

Toes is something Toyota is perhaps not concerned with, considering they will eventually hybridize every car in the line up eventually.

 

[DeadStig86]

The complete new lineup of lexus went straight into my personal "top-twenty-ugliest-cars-ive-ever-seen-in-my-life"-list.....seriously, what were the thinking of?

 

[Doog]

 

[McLaren]

I did see a good reason actually on some site or other after I put my comment above.

Y'see, I'd forgotten the ES 300h existed, since we don't have that in the UK. And although that one is still FWD (I think? Could be wrong), performance and size-wise it's a closer match for the IS. Between the CT and the ES an IS hybrid might be treading on too many toes.

Is the HS still available to you, or did it have poor sales as it did here? I know Lexus used the new ES300h to finally kill off the car in the states.

 

[eran0004]

From the side view it's really impressive, like the eye of a tiger. From the front though it doesn't work at all.

 

[CodeRedR51]

IS-F Coupe anyone?

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/07/15/lexus-readying-hot-is-f-coupe/

 

[SlipZtrEm]

From the side view it's really impressive, like the eye of a tiger. From the front though it doesn't work at all.

IS-F Coupe anyone?

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/07/15/lexus-readying-hot-is-f-coupe/

Bought time they took competing in this class seriously - especially with the frustration of having the convertible last generation. We know a coupe isn't that much of a stretch from that, Lexus!

 

[RocZX]

IS-F Coupe anyone?

Why does it has different body lines then the sedan? Will that be the F body design for both the sedan and coupe.




Info on the powertrain for the new IS-F

The chief designer of the new Lexus IS says that a high-performance halo model will likely stay in the IS lineup, but that its 5.0 litre V8 won’t survive.

“That V8 is a little difficult to meet Euro 6,” Junichiro Furuyama, the 2013 IS’ chief engineer told TMR, referring to the current IS F's 5.0 litre 2UR-GSE engine.

“The engine has a high performance focus, so the combustion condition is more severe than normal engines. It’s a little more difficult than making the V6 engines comply with Euro 6."

“To produce more power and torque it runs leaner. That is the problem. We probably need a new engine for the F model.”

As for what would replace it, Furuyama-san said that both naturally-aspirated and turbocharged powerplants would make sense.

“In my personal opinion, what is suitable for this kind of sports model is natural aspiration or turbocharged engines,” he said.

He added that although lower-displacement turbocharged engines had their merits, they might not necessarily be in keeping with the IS F’s character.

“For power and torque the turbocharger has a big advantage, but there is some turbo lag. Natural aspiration is one of our strong points... and is a more pure experience,” Furuyama said.

But while Furuyama was vague about details of the next-generation IS F,he confirmed that Lexus’ hybrid technology won’t find its way onto the brand’s performance flagship anytime soon.

“Sometime in the future, even the F model could become a hybrid,” Furuyama said to TMR.

“In future, yes, but for this generation, no.”

The existence of a replacement for the current IS F has yet to be confirmed, although the current model remains in production.

themotorreport.com.au

 

[Kent]

I think that coupe is the first time I've liked a new Lexus design enough to ignore that hideous grill. 👍

 

[sumbrownkid]

That car would look meaner without the grill. Thankfully there's always the aftermarket.

It would look great in black.

As for future engine, I have a feeling they're gonna go smaller engine, forced aspiration.

 

[DeathSmiles]

That camo'd model actually looks pretty good! Color me surprised. Hopefully it will still look good at the actual reveal.

 

[Keef]

I saw a new black one the other night and the headlights weren't noticeable. I knew what to look for but at first glance they weren't as garish as I thought. On a light color it might be a different story, but it seems from a direct side view or direct front view the line continuation works well enough. From any non-direct view it's a complete mess.

 

[homeforsummer]

I saw a new black one the other night and the headlights weren't noticeable. I knew what to look for but at first glance they weren't as garish as I thought. On a light color it might be a different story, but it seems from a direct side view or direct front view the line continuation works well enough. From any non-direct view it's a complete mess.

Yeah, it's an odd one. From what I've seen though I quite like it overall.

I'm a fan of Lexus' current grille design too. It's bold where Lexus have previous been a bit indistinct. Was amused when I went on the GS launch last year. The chief engineer said something along the lines of "in the old GS on the freeway, I had to flash my lights to ask them to move. In the new car, they just get out of the way".

 

[Wolfe]

IS-F Coupe anyone?

Now that's good stuff. From the other photos on the link it looks like it still has a swollen nose, though.