Is a V8 Lexus IS F Sport coming?

Lexus has released a second teaser image of a new F Sport model it will reveal via a special livestream at YouTube and its new Lexus F Sport microsite at 3:00am AEST tonight.

Supplied to the Lexusenthusiast.com website over the weekend, the image shows the C-pillar of what appears to be new Lexus IS with black window surround.

“A new era of F SPORT Performance vehicles is coming,” says Lexus on its YouTube channel. Meantime, under an earlier tear shot of an F Sport badge on a carbon-fibre engine cover at its microsite, Lexus says the vehicle shown is a concept.

This has raised hopes that Lexus will preview at least one of the trio of new performance models – the new IS F, LC F and LS F – it will reportedly release in November, powered by its new 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 that could develop more than 500kW. 

However, given all three models are full-blown F models, it’s more likely that Lexus will reveal a new IS 500 F Sport tonight – the question is what will be under the bonnet.

If it’s not Lexus’ new biturbo V8, it could be the Japanese luxury brand’s existing 5.0-litre naturally V8 from the RC F, GS F and LC 500, or the 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 from the LS 500 limousine.

Lexus has already invested heavily in a new technical centre in Shimoyama, Japan, which opened in early 2019 and features a custom-made test track that replicates some elements of the Nurburgring road course in Germany.

The first new model to be fully developed and tested at the Shimoyama technical centre and test track is the new Lexus IS, but it certainly won’t be the last.

Watch this space for all the details tonight.