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LEXUS IS500

from DARPAN MAGAZINE - JULY | AUGUST 2023

from DARPAN MAGAZINE - JULY | AUGUST 2023, page 98

Kim&Nick

Return of the V8

In what might be the swan song for the V8-powered sedan segment, the 2023 Lexus IS 500 F SPORT Performance is the return of an eight-cylinder option on the sporty four-door not seen since the previous generation. And if this is indeed the end of the road of big motors shoehorned into compact cars, it's not a bad way to go out.

No longer called IS F, the 500 is the first product to fall under the new F SPORT Performance line. The 5.0-litre engine is essentially an updated version of the unit last offered seven years ago, now sending 472 horsepower and 395 lbft of torque to the rear axle, representing a massive improvement over the previous 416 and 371, respectively.

Mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, the 0 to 100 km/h time is rated at approximately 4.4 seconds. While an impressive number, peak torque doesn't come on until 4,800 RPM and feels slower, especially compared to the instant acceleration modern EVs provide. However, the experience is much more visceral, and the throaty exhaust note sounds almost musical once things get moving, something Lexus has a reputation for.

Handling is surprisingly as nimble as the V6 IS 350 F SPORT, and the larger mill only adds an extra 143 pounds thanks to some clever engineering. And like its sibling, the vehicle benefits from the Dynamic Handling Package, the equipped standard here, comprised of Adaptive Variable Suspension — which monitors G-force, yaw, velocity and steering input and then adjusts the firmness accordingly — and a Torsen limited-slip differential. Though built for performance driving, the 500 includes a Yamaha rear damper helping to increase comfort during low around-town speeds and stability and agility on the highway.

By Benjamin Yong