Lexus IS-F: 1st Generation

Kicking Tires' Ian Merritt put together a really nice photoshoot of the Lexus IS-F, here's a sample:

The Smoky Granite Mica is such a non-descript color, it really turns down the volume on the IS-F's styling. (I'd almost say it's my favorite exterior color for the model, but I have yet to see a couple colors up close.)

Whatever the reason, every time the Lexus IS-F & racing are linked together, it ends up being super-confusing. Case in point: My.IS has posted a story about pair of race-modified IS-Fs owned by DRC Motorsports that are about to enter the GT class of the SPEED World Challenge -- only they're not really IS-Fs, but the two race cars purchased from Team Lexus.

Regardless, the cars are powered by a 510hp 4.7-liter V8, and the first one will be making its debut this weekend in Ohio. The driver, Jeff Altenburg, was last year's SWC Touring Car champion. The race itself will be broadcast on SPEED TV on Thursday, July 24 at 1:00pm.

[Source: My.IS via Autoblog]

Speaking of the Project IS-F concept, I've been meaning to post this photo from Flickr user artistmg for some time now:

I would have thought I'd be long past posting images of this car, but every once and a while an image jumps out at me. The Project IS-F looks especially wide here, and all the more like a set piece for the new Batman movie.

When I started watching this video interview with 5Axis founder Troy Sumitomo, I wasn't really expecting to learn anything new about his company's Project IS-F concept, but it turned out to be pretty interesting, especially the insight into design inspiration:

Note: This is potentially NSFW, Bikinis abound.

It's very easy to picture the concept car exactly as Sumitomo describes it, you can definitely see traces of a jet fighter all through the bodywork.

Hennessey announced earlier this year that they would be training their eyes on some heavy-duty Lexus IS-F modifications, and now Jalopnik has some photos of a seemingly-stock IS-F from their tour of the Hennessey factory. Jalopnik also reiterated that the performance engineering company was working on headers and a new exhaust system for the super sedan.

What's strange is that Hennessey has already tried to sell their IS-F on eBay, where the following description was given:

Only 750 miles on this fully Loaded Lexus IS-F. Hennessey Performance purchased the car new to use it to develop upgrades for the car. We have decided not to pursue it at this time so we are selling the car. It is a few weeks old, has 750 freeway miles on it and is as good as new.

This was back in May, mind you, so maybe the failed auction spurred them back towards some development. (Honestly, though, who buys a used car driven by a performance junkie like John Hennessey?)

[Source: Jalopnik] (Thanks Jarrett!)

This commercial featuring perpetual Lexus voice actor James Sloyan in the passenger seat of an IS-F as Scott Pruett takes a lap around the track is just about perfect:

This is a definite payoff for using the same voice actor since the very first commercials.

(Anyone want to hazard a guess as to what James is saying right there at the end?)