The newest Lexus sport sedan punches an eight-cylinder peg through a six-cylinder hole with predictably polarizing results. Essentially an IS 350 F Sport with a 472-hp naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V-8, the IS 500 F Sport Performance is a throwback to when turbo-charged engines didn't yet dominate the premium sport sedan space. The powerful Lexus carves its own path in a niche shared with the Audi S4, BMW M340i, and Mercedes-AMG C 43, but we'll get right to it: The Lexus doesn't shift the conversation in a significant way. This one's for dedicated Lexus performance fans. Opinions on the special Lexus generally fall to one of two viewpoints. Some feel the flagship IS is a seriously desirable sport sedan and plead for enthusiasts to buy one before eight-cylinder sport sedans go extinct. On the other side, doubters scoff at this turbo-free V-8 engine appearing in yet another application, here in a four-door that can't deliver the well-rounded performance of the segment's best.
展开▼
