Acknowledging The Moody Blues for the original, but this is the best descriptive headline I could think of to describe the latest Luxury performance sedan from Lexus.
Never mind what Lexus has to say in the brochure, when I was asked what I thought of the Cobalt blue IS 350F-Sport, I found I could waffle on about some things, but end up saying nothing.
I would try to identify the standout points of the Lexus and get all tongue tied because my brain was drowning in analysis mode.
This, I discovered, was all wrong – one doesn’t analyse a Lexus. The cars just don’t work that way.
What Lexus is all about – and the brand has since found its feet/wheels – is not data, but drivah; that is: going for a drive and letting your mind think “Ah, I’m happy here.’’
And if you think this all Blarney, try this as an experiment:
Find a copy of Nights in White Satin from The Moody Blues, listen to it, then go for a spin in the Lexus IS 350 F-Sport at night and play the song again. You’ll get it.
If you don’t, you’re thinking about the car too much. So, let us do the analysing. You just take the car for a drive. Deal?
Hard to refuse really, I mean why wouldn’t you want to take a spin in what is arguably, the most enjoyable Lexus mere mortals can afford?
Actually, the IS Lexus line-up starts with a an under-$71k price tag, though the model shown here – the IS 350 F-Sport – is the top of the food-chain as far as the seven-range IS line-up is concerned.
It has the biggest engine, the most power and torque, fastest 0 to 100km/h time (5.9 secs), the only limited slip differential in the range and – completing the package – features the Lexus Safety System+.
This includes upgrades to the Autonomous Emergency Brakes, adds intersection turn assist which identifies vehicles and pedestrians, emergency steering assist, Lane tracing assist, lane centring function, road sign recognition, all speed dynamic cruise control and adds curve speed reduction.
All of these are new features for the IS series, as is active cornering assist and secondary collision braking. Of course, this is not the exhaustive list, the original Lexus Safety System was pretty comprehensive, but a plus is a plus.
Driving impressions? It’s hard to ignore the fact that this Lexus was born and bred on a purpose-built race track, designed to perfect a seamless transition from braking to steering and acceleration through corners.
Of course, the opportunities to experience the car at its peak performance are thin on the ground here, but you can experience hints of it using the drive select mode which gives you the option of Snow, Eco, Normal, Sport S and Sport S+ modes.
But forgive me please, I AM getting analytical. I can also speak to the artistry of the IS line for 2021.
The designers have gone well outside the genteel comfort zone which Lexus is known for. The IS carries the DNA of the Lexus super achieving LFA, which means its powerful, athletic and provocative in its design.
Lexus has always stood for luxury. The IS range has always stood for performance. Happily, both the brand and the model now live up to their respective legends with the Lexus IS 350 F-Sport.
Specifications:
BODY TYPE
4 door sedan
DRIVE
Rear wheel/ 8 speed auto
ENGINE TYPE
6-cylinder, V-type quad cam petrol
ENGINE CAPACITY
3456cc
MAX POWER
232kW
MAX TORQUE
380Nm
L/100KM (COMBINED)
9.15
CO2 EMISSIONS
217 g/km
LOAD CAPACITY
480 litres
ANCAP RATING
5 Star
PRICE
$101,900
