The newest Lexus IS sport sedan punches an eight-cylinder peg through a six-cylinder hole with predictably polarizing results. Essentially an IS350 F Sport with a 472-hp naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V-8, the IS500 F Sport Performance is a throwback to when turbocharged 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 C43, 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.
By Zach Gale – Writer, Darren Martin – Photographer – MotorTrend