Lexus IS F Part 2: Interior & User Experience

Let's play a little word association. When you hear "Lexus" what do you think of? I suspect most people think of luxury, comfort, and quality - and for good reason. When it comes to smooth riding, road-isolating interiors with amazing build quality, Lexus is the envy of most car companies. That reputation is well established and began with the first ever Lexus flagship, the LS.

Now those same guys that brought us the LS, bring us a new kind of Lexus, the IS F. While not your traditional Lexus, the IS F keeps that hard-earned reputation intact with solid build quality and premium materials throughout.

Representing the company's first foray into the luxury-performance segment, the IS F must have presented a tough challenge for the marketing people at Lexus. As a company that has previously marketed its cars as among the quietest, the sound level of the exhaust alone probably caused many hours of meetings and discussion. But whatever headaches the IS F may have caused its creators weren't in vain, the car's interior strikes a near perfect balance between performance and luxury.

Let's start with the sound emanating from the IS F's V8 engine. Perfectly judged, there's a low rumble when you're just cruising along. But then you introduce the throttle to the floor mat and the thing turns into a beast. The subtle V8 noise changes into a deep throaty roar of intake and exhaust music that will have you slowing down just to speed up again… repeatedly. The transformation is mostly the work of the dual-geometry intake manifold that transitions between Lexus-luxury and Lexus-Racing at around 3600 rpm.

The build quality of the interior is without fault – as you'd expect in a Lexus. Doors thunk, switchgear has a substantial feel, and the materials are all of a high quality. Well, almost all of the materials.

The one exception - the glittery carbon-fiber looking trim on the center console and doors - looks like it came straight from aisle 3 at PepBoys. Not good. I imagine Lexus was after something similar to the turned-alloy found in Bentley's Continental GT Speed, but the Lexus material looks far too cheap to my eye and isn't consistent with the car's overall interior quality. It does offer some much-needed contrast to the dark interior and I will say at night, with the LED indirect lighting, it does look better, but mainly because you can't see it.

By far my favorite feature of the interior, the Mark Levinson Audio System, is simply awesome. At nearly $4000 when grouped with the navigation system, it is pricey. But if you slide in your favorite CD and crank it up, you'll probably check that option box regardless of price. Audiophiles will not be disappointed.

On the comfort side of the equation the front seats are the place to be. Once again, there's a great balance of sport and luxury, the seats being both supportive during cornering, and comfortable when just cruising along. The back seats on the other hand aren't quite as accommodating, although just like the fronts, they look great with subtle blue stitching and perforated inserts showing a hint of Lexus "F" blue. It's a nice touch that I would have loved to see more of, as the interior is otherwise too dark.

Lastly, Lexus shows some of it's racing cred by placing the paddle shifters for its excellent eight-speed gearbox on the steering wheel where they belong - just a finger tip away. They work well with an excellent action. And each time you pull back on one of 'em in manual mode, the instrument panel shows the selected gear front and center.

The interior of the Lexus IS F is well judged. It doesn't betray its luxury car roots just to play sports sedan. There is equal measure of both here, with the slant towards sport - as it should be. The design isn't very inspiring, especially in our test car's all black, but it is very functional and the build quality is exceptional, leaving you with little doubt that you're in a Lexus.

Watch the video
Read Part 1: Design
Read Part 3: Performance

Lexus IS F

Performance
- Acceleration: Supercar rivaling stats - ridiculously cool intake and exhaust noise
- Handling: Surprisingly stiff-riding for a Lexus, but it pays off - lack of limited-slip differential unforgivable
- Braking: Very vocal about being abused, but effective at all times

Design
- Exterior: Aggressive without going overboard - lose the silly exhaust and the played-out dark wheels
- Interior: Very dark - dash surfaces not very well defined - carbon-weave from PepBoys - not very Lexus-like

Utility
- Comfort: Decent compromise between sport and luxury - great seats... in the front anyway
- Space: BMW and M-B give you more

Safety
- Dynamics: Impressively agile - defeatable stability control - still needs a limited slip though 
- Technology: It's a Lexus as you'd expect - it's all here

Value
- Price: A lot of car for the money, but it is a lot of money
- Mileage: eight-speed gearbox helps tremendously

Emotional Appeal
- Heart thumpin' factor: First Japanese super-sedan - you just have to drive it
- Fun to spank: Accelerates like a scolded dog - did I mention it's lacking a limited-slip diff though?

SPECIFICATIONS

Layout: Front engine / Rear wheel drive
Engine: 5.0 liter, DOHC V8
Power (SAE): 416 hp @  6600 rpm
Torque: 371 lbs-ft @  5200 rpm
Redline: 6800 rpm
Gearbox: 8 speed automatic
Curb Weight: 3780 lbs.
0-60 mph: 4.2 sec.
1/4 mile: 12.7 sec.
Top Speed: 170 mph (electronically limited)
Mileage: 16 city / 23 highway
Base Price: $56,765
Competitors: BMW M3 (sedan), Mercedes-Benz C63