Fancy showing off in an ultra high-performance Lexus IS-F but can’t quite manage the €105,000 asking price? writes Gerry Boud, former Motoring Editor with the Sunday World. Hmm, that’s sort of holding me back, too. Well, how about the marque’s latest F-Sport?
It may not breathe the fire of the range-topping version, but with its range of exclusive, exterior and interior styling details, heavily influenced by the IS-F on which it’s based, together with bespoke suspension, lowered by 15mm on the IS200d, it sure looks the part—and 60 per cent cheaper at that! Ah, I can see temptation has set in already.
This new F-Sport grade, available with both petrol and diesel versions and replacing the previous Sport, is one of the grades in Lexus’s IS junior executive line-up which underwent a thorough makeover getting a revised look and a new entry-level IS200d model for improved economy and emissions.
The rear wheel drive 6-speed manual IS 200d is powered by a detuned version of the 2.2 turbodiesel engine that not only makes it the greenest IS model and more fuel efficient too, but also brings it down from tax band C to B (€156 annually).
It offers 5.1L/100km as against the 220d’s 5.5L and spits out 10g less of CO2 at 134g/km. This efficiency, however, comes at the price of performance with a power drop of 27hp (previously 175bhp) along with maximum torque down from 400 to 340Nm. And that adds up to a slower sprint to 100km/h in 10.1 seconds (previously 8.9 seconds) and a 205km/h top speed. No problem living with that. Or the fact that the entry level price has been competitively reduced to €34,680 for the IS 200d S-Design model. 'Converting' it to F-Sport adds a further €4,000.
The makeover on the 2011 IS Series brought a host of subtle design revisions to the exterior including a more deeply recessed front grille with reshaped vertical bars, revised Lexus L-finesse ‘arrowhead’ motif, and revised ‘dark smoke’ coated headlights complete with LED daytime running lamps.
Additionally the bumpers were reshaped with integrated foglamps and a revised low grille section designed to increase brake cooling air flow and to emphasise the car’s low centre of gravity and 'broad purposeful stance'. The rear is characterised by a revised tail-light cluster.
Our 200d version, with the F-Sport pack, looks fresh and feels very youthful. It has a sportier front bumper with mesh upper and lower grille inserts and aerodynamic lip spoilers, exclusive black alloys and an F-Sport rear spoiler with integrated stop light. Inside the sports theme continues with an F-Sport steering wheel, gearlever and racy metal pedals along with sports seats finished in leather and alcantara.
Up front space is decent and seats are easily adjustable and comfortable. Rear seating, however, is not so good and neither is boot space.
As mentioned earlier, environmental credentials come at the expense of power and performance and although there is no problem in urban conditions out of town it needs to be worked a little harder to bring out its best.
Prices start at €34,680 for the IS200d S-Design and the review version stood at €38,620.
