Lexus IS F Retired Until Further Notice

Lexus just confirmed them they are stopping the supply of the IS F super sedan to all their dealerships worldwide, rendering the car out of production, after around 11,000 units sold were delivered worldwide since its launch.

The IS F started life as a super sedan to compete head to head with the BMW M3 and the Mercedes C63 AMG. It is a Japanese hot rod in a sporty sedan as it carries V8 engine squeezed under the bulging hood of the IS. With 416 horsepower and 371 pound-feet of torque on tap, it propels the car from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in just 4.6 seconds.

It also carries a serious hunkered down look with lowered sport suspension and 19-inch wheels into filling up bulging fenders. The V-8 hooks up to an 8-speed, Sport Direct Shift automatic transmission with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, and the power travels through a Torsen differential before hitting the rear wheels. The transmission offers up two modes: “M” and “D.”

In “D,” the transmission works as normal, and is suitable for comfortable road use. When you drop it into “M” mode, however, the IS F becomes the racing sedan we all want it to be, as it holds gears to the 6,800 rpm redline, shifts gears in one-tenth of a second and blips the throttle on downshift to match the transmission speed and engine rpm for excellent exit speed in the twist.

Up front, the IS F features a double-wishbone suspension setup, and the rear features a multi-link setup. To help set the IS F apart from the rest of the IS lineup, Lexus adds in special rear control arms, high-rate springs, monotube dampers and larger stabilizer bars.

The suspension system teams up with a staggered-rim setup that puts 19-by-8.5-inch rims up front and 19-by-9.5-inch wheels out back. These rims are wrapped up in 225/40R19 and 255/35R19 tires, respectively.

Finally, the fun comes to end end by way of a Brembo brake system that includes a set of six-pot, aluminum caliper up front squeezing 14.2-inch vented and drilled discs, and twin-pot calipers out back putting the squeeze to a set of 13.6-inch rotors that are also vented and drilled.

Tying all of these systems together is Lexus’ Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) system, which anticipates skidding or sliding and adjusts the braking, steering and throttle to help prevent the IS F from losing control.

Drivetrain Specifications

Will there ever be another IS F sedan? Time to get one and keep it as a modern collector’s car.