- 5.0L V8 472 hp and 395 lb.-ft. of torque
- 0-to-100 Kmph in 4.4 seconds
- Raised front hood, dark chrome window trim and quad exhaust system
- 19-inch Enkei wheels and unique black F SPORT Performance badging
There were a number of design and handling improvements made to the new 2021 Lexus IS, which resulted in the best IS to date. Toyota Technical Center Shimoyama performed extensive testing and evaluation on the vehicle before it was approved for sale as part of the Lexus Driving Signature program. The compact sports sedan with a front-engine and rear-wheel drive struck the ideal balance between sportiness and refinement for many people.
Here we have the Lexus IS 500 F SPORT Performance with a 472-horsepower naturally aspirated V8 and a vicious quad exhaust system, the first of its kind. As a result, the IS lineup gains a new member: the F SPORT Performance model, which will appeal to drivers who want more out of their cars than the normal F SPORT Design and Handling versions offer.
A more powerful 5.0-liter V8 powers the Lexus F SPORT Performance IS 500, upping displacement and power above the IS 350’s 3.5-liter V6. After pressing the engine start button, the naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 engine begins to growl, serving as an unmistakable reminder that something extraordinary sits behind the car’s elevated hood.. To put it another way, the IS 500’s top speed is electronically limited to 240 km/h and its maximum torque is 395 pounds-feet (400 Nm). Although the vehicle has a far more powerful engine, it still weighs in at 3,891 pounds, which is only 143 pounds heavier than an IS 350 F SPORT basic. According to AMCI testing, the IS 500 has a 0-to-100 Kmph time of 4.4 seconds and an EPA highway rating of 25 mpg. IS 500’s new V8 engine gets plenty of help from a throaty quad exhaust system with dual-stacked tail pipes. In addition to sounding vicious, this exhaust takes design cues from F-models like the RC F.
The eight-speed Sport Direct Shift automatic transmission with lockup torque converter seen in the RC F is also found in the IS 500. For improved performance, it has the same drive mode selection of IS 350 F SPORT, which delivers upgraded engine and transmission mapping: Sport S and Sport S+. EPS steering assist and damping force are also adjusted in Sport S+ for more sporty handling to go along with the new powerplant options. Additionally, there’s Custom Mode, which lets you mix and match the powertrain, chassis, and air conditioner settings to suit your preferences (Normal/Eco/Power, Normal/Sport).
Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) and a Torsen® Limited Slip Differential (LSD) are standard on the IS 500, which improves handling and performance by increasing traction when cornering or exiting corners. In addition, the LSD contributes to the vehicle’s overall straight-line stability. The addition of a Yamaha® Rear Performance Damper has also increased the IS chassis’ performance. By reducing dynamic structural distortion, this damper improves comfort at low speeds and stability and agility at high speeds. Additional aerodynamic cooling and larger 14.0-inch two-piece aluminum front rotors and 12.7-inch rear rotors have been added to the IS 350 F SPORT’s brake cooling system over the standard model.
An extra 2 inches of hood height and sculpted center character lines, together with longer front bumper and fenders to better fit the IS 500’s naturally aspirated V8, help distinguish the IS 500 from the basic IS 350 F SPORT model. Enkei alloy wheels in the 19-inch split-10-spoke design are standard on the IS 500. Additionally, they’re lighter than the conventional 19-inch F SPORT wheel by about 1 pound per wheel in the front and 2 pounds per wheel in the back. The quad exhaust system has been highlighted with a new lower rear diffuser accent and dark chrome window trim, among other changes to the exterior. The black IS F SPORT rear lip spoiler unites the car’s looks with performance.
Black F SPORT Performance badging can be seen on the heated leather-wrapped steering wheel and the door sill scuff plates inside for added style. However, a new startup animation is only available on the IS 500’s combined instrumentation meter and is included as part of the IS 500’s basic equipment.
The Lexus Safety System+ 2.5, which debuted on the 2021 IS, will be carried over to the IS 500. to improve the reaction range of the lens camera and millimeter-wave radar elements, the Pre-Collision System (PCS) now includes Frontal Collision Warning (FCW), Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), and Pedestrian and Bicyclist Detection. In addition to the car ahead, the radar and camera improvements allow the system to help detect a preceding bicyclist during the day and even a preceding pedestrian in low-light settings.
For speeds over 48 Kmph, drivers can use Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), which uses a radar sensor to keep track of other vehicles up to zero miles per hour and can restart from a stop.
While driving above 51 Kmph, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist (LDA w/ SA) detects an unintentional lane departure and warns the driver via steering wheel vibrations or an auditory alert. It can also make minor adjustments to assist the driver in staying in the clearly indicated lane. Lane Tracing Assist (LTA) is designed to deliver a small amount of steering effort to aid the driver navigate to the middle of the lane using visible lane markers or a preceding vehicle when DRCC is set and active.
Intelligent High Beams, which detect preceding or approaching vehicles and automatically adjust between high and low beam headlights, are further Lexus Safety System+ 2.5 features. For those times when cameras and navigation maps aren’t available, Road Sign Assist (RSA) shows information on a multi-information screen instead (MID).
The inside of the 2022 IS 500 Launch Edition differs from the standard IS 500 in that it combines Takumi workmanship with higher-quality interior materials, such as sporty two-tone Black/Gray Ultrasuede® trim on the front and rear seats, door accents, and the center console. This vehicle’s interior will feature a serialized Launch Edition badge, as well as a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel finished in Silver Ash wood with black F SPORT Performance badging. In addition, a distinctive Launch Edition starter animation has been added to the F SPORT combo instrument meter, further differentiating it from the ordinary IS 500.
The IS 500 Launch Edition’s standard 19-inch split-seven-spoke forged alloy Matte Black BBS® wheels from the IS F SPORT Dynamic Handling Package is guaranteed to turn heads. The 19-inch BBS® wheels not only look great, but they also weigh less than the regular IS F SPORT wheel by about 4 pounds per wheel. Incognito, a brand-new shade for the Lexus portfolio, will be the only color available for the vehicle.