Auto Express is the latest to pit the Lexus IS-F against the competition, throwing it into a test against the BMW M3, Mercedes C63 and the Audi RS4.

It’s almost a forgone conclusion that the M3 is going to place first, but Auto Express puts in a curveball, calling the Mercedes C63 the best of the test. And how did the IS-F fare?:

On a more fundamental level, the driving position is the least adaptable. The plush seats don’t hug you enough and you sit too high, so headroom is tight, while the chunky windscreen pillars leave you feeling hemmed in. And it’s not that spacious in the back, either.

But it’s pace, not practicality, that’s crucial here – and first impressions suggest the IS F is lacking. It was the quietest at idle inside and out, and its 5.0-litre seems like any other Lexus unit; effortlessly smooth, docile and calm. Don’t be fooled, though, because once the needle sweeps past 3,700rpm the 417bhp V8 takes on a whole new persona – there’s an instant hit of acceleration and the engine note, previously almost silent, becomes purposeful and loud.

Overall, while the Lexus is fast, composed and technically very capable in corners, it doesn’t quite have the handling of the M3, the fierce power, control and charisma of the C63 or the surefootedness of the RS4. Still, for a company with no previous experience in this segment, it’s a great achievement.

The more comparison tests that come in, the more clear it becomes that Lexus is going to be facing an difficult and lengthy uphill battle to establish the IS-F, but it certainly seems that they’re on the right track.

Flickr user senti-mental1 spotted, of all things, a pink Lexus LS 400 in San Jose:

One thing’s for sure, the gold badging has never looked more appropriate.

If you couldn’t tell from the watermarks, Leftlane News commissioned Brenda Priddy to put together a mockup of the previously spied Lexus IS convertible coupe, and the result, well, it leaves a lot to be desired.

There’s far too much SC 430 in the roof slope, which gives it a particularly feminine style. For comparison’s sake, let’s take another look at the spy shot that surfaced last month:

Graininess aside, this is much more aggressively styled, looking almost like an IS-F, with a much higher beltline. There isn’t as much smoothness, though it’s difficult to say just how much of that can be chalked up to camouflage.

As a blend of existing Lexus elements, this illustration hits the mark, but I don’t believe it reflects what the actual IS convertible will look like.

We’ve seen some photos of the Japanese special edition Elegant White Lexus IS, and now here’s a weird little commercial to go along with it:

It wouldn’t be so strange if the cat didn’t seem to have such a bizarre pose, but it is what it is.

(I still can’t stop thinking about the Passionate Black GS limited edition. If it came to North America, it would immediately take #1 spot in the “My Next Car” sweepstakes.)

The Car Enthusiast has posted up a review of the Lexus IS-F, and it’s quite clear it wasn’t what they were expecting at all:

For Lexus, this section is key to the IS F being taken seriously as a performance car for real driving enthusiasts. The competition is not only fierce, but established. Car nuts know what to expect from BMW, Audi and Mercedes in regard to focused performance cars, but until now Lexus will not have featured in their shortlist of sport saloons.

If our first inklings are anything to go by, that will change very quickly.

As more and more cars achieve impressive on-paper figures, it’s how they deliver their performance that sets them apart, and the IS F scores highly with linear and seemingly endless acceleration.

This is an interesting review, as it’s squarely aimed at the true enthusiast, and reads well. One thing that’s mentioned, and I think it’s a very valid point, is that the IS-F and its competitors are really quite even in terms of performance figures, but it’s the way that performance is interpreted that makes all of the difference.

Ranking these cars in any way, unless it’s purely by the quarter-mile and 0-60, means that a person’s own preference and expectation plays the leading role.

It was rumored late last year, but according to the India’s Economic Times, Lexus is planning to bring their cars into the market by 2010, starting with the LS and LX models:

[Toyota] has started the preliminary groundwork in terms of strategy and dedicated dealership network which will be different from the network that sells Toyota’s existing cars like the Innova, Corolla and Camry.

Sources added that TKM will rope in select dealers for the Lexus range under a new marketing strategy. “It is likely to have exclusive dealers for Lexus, concentrated mostly in metros and major cities. Even the existing TKM dealers shortlisted for the Lexus will operate from a separate exclusive entity to maintain its niche brand value.

The luxury car market in India is just emerging, and it only makes sense to bring Lexus in while brand loyalty is still to be established. Really, though, I’m surprised it’s taken so long, and that there’s going to be such a considerable wait period.

Still, it’s better than selling the cars through the local Toyota dealerships.

A couple weeks ago, when it was announced that Lexus would be promoting the IS-F strictly through movie theaters rather than a traditional TV campaign, it had me doubting just how soon the adverts would show up online, but as it turns out, the wait wasn’t very long at all:

If I had to choose, I’d say I liked the “blue streak” commercial best. I like the length of the ads, and I can imagine they would make a fairly strong impression on a giant movie theatre, sandwiched between other, longer ads. (My main complaint with commercials before movies is that it’s always these drawn-out, extended versions of existing ads.)

Club Lexus member duyl27 spotted a re-badged Prius out in the sunny state of California, complete with a lowered stance and dual-quad exhausts:

It’s funny regardless, but with the rumours of an official re-badged Lexus Prius floating around, it definitely takes on a second meaning.

All in all, and I say this with a hint of a smile, it doesn’t really look all that bad. Honestly though, I’m hoping for something a little more unique, in terms of styling. Only time will tell, I suppose…

(Thanks David!)

[Source: Club Lexus]

To mark the European debut of the Lexus LF-A Roadster Concept at the Frankfurt Auto Show, Lexus put together a truly spectacular video, albeit with no actual in-motion footage. Click the photo below to be taken to the mini-site:

I imagine this would have been used as a video introduction to the vehicle’s unveiling at Frankfurt, and it’s hard not to get excited about this concept all over again. I can’t wait for the production announcement.

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Also included in this small LF-A Roadster mini-site is a PDF brochure, which is jam-packed with interesting information, including this blurb about the F-Logo:

The Lexus LF-A Roadster is the latest car to be unveiled by our high-performance F-Marque division. Developed at Fuji Speedway and the Higashi Fuji Technical Centre, our two-seat supercar concept combines technological sophistication, leading-edge engineering and unparalleled refinement. To recognise the special role of Fuji in the project, the new “F” logo design integrates some of the most demanding corners of the Mount Fuji track.

This is the first time I’ve seen it mentioned that the F-Logo actually incorporates elements of the Mount Fuji track right in the actual design. Top-notch.

Jalopnik has posted up a report on the various video game exhibits at this year’s New York Auto Show, including a Lexus IS-F special edition of Gran Turismo 5 Prologue:

Lexus had three driving simulators set up running the highly anticipated Gran Turismo 5 Prologue that’s due out in mid-April. Since it was obviously a Lexus partnership, the only vehicle available to try was the Lexus IS-F…The first day of the show, the simulator was running a custom-build platform (meaning the developers sent out a special copy of the game just for the show), but Polyphony managed to overnight Japanese retail builds of the full game to be used on the simulators. A groggy representative told me he was up until 3 a.m. waiting for the retail build and setting up the simulators to properly work with a PlayStation 3 and the Japanese game. That a lot of midnight oil for a cross-marketing opportunity.

In terms of cross-marketing, as the writer mentions, this could only be described as a coup for Lexus, there simply isn’t a better game to be associated with in terms of brand cache. Subaru might have been running a similar exhibit, but featured a version of GT4 rather than the new, heavily anticipated GT5.