A Lexus in Wolf’s Clothing
By Joe Tralongo
Lexus is well known for its impeccably built luxury cars but now it wants to wear a different outfit, one with racing stripes and a more youthful glow. To achieve this goal, Lexus plans to take on the best performance names in the business, namely the BMW M3 and Audi RS 4, with a powerful new performance sedan dubbed the IS F. Based on the IS sedan, the IS F is a scrappy 416-horsepower terror designed to hug the curves, banish slow moving obstacles and generally put a smile on the face of anyone lucky enough to own one.
Driving the IS F is like seeing Cher live in concert: it is better experienced than described. Few words can convey the giddy feeling imparted when being rocketed to 60 miles per hour in under 5 seconds or rounding a hair-pin turn at double the posted speed limit without breaking a sweat (or a nail). Power comes from velvety-smooth 5.0-liter V8 engine, and although no manual transmission is offered, the IS F’s eight-speed automatic (that’s nearly double the gears in most transmissions) includes steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, ensuring you don’t need NASCAR hottie Danica Patrick’s driving skills to still enjoy every ounce of fun this car delivers.
Unlike the subdued styling displayed by Audi and BMW, The IS F wears a bold exterior ripped straight from the popular car-racing video games of the day. With its bulging V-shaped aluminum hood, quad stacked chrome tailpipes and futuristic body kit, the IS F is a definite standout. The question yet to be answered is, like tongue piercing and shaved chest hair, will the car’s hip looks quickly becoming yesterday’s news? At least the interior won’t get tired having been given a set of body-hugging sport seats (available in black or black with Alpine White inserts), carbon fiber trim and optional 14-speaker Mark Levinson sound system specifically tuned to compensate for the IS F’s slightly more noisy interior.
Is the IS F a BMW M-killer? Not quite yet. But its eye-popping style and sterling Lexus reputation should have the Germans worried, and it’s certainly sweet enough to get style-conscious gay America to embrace this hot Asian boy-racer.
Lexus is a gay-friendly company.
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