The Lexus IS is a four-door sports sedan similar in size to the BMW 3-Series and the Audi A4. And like those two luxury marques, the IS has a range-topping, high performance variant for the money-no-object driving enthusiast. In the case of the IS, this V8-powered rocket is designated the IS F. Extracting 416 horsepower from it’s 5.0 liters, the IS F sprints from rest to 60 in less than five seconds, covers the quarter mile in 13 seconds and hits a top speed electronically limited to 170mph. An 8-speed automatic transmission ensures shifts come fast and seamlessly, while fans of manual shifting will use the steering wheel-mounted paddles to harness the power and torque, (371 pound-feet,) exactly as and when they choose. Rear-wheel drive, with a torque-sensing limited slip differential, 19 inch alloys, double-wishbone front suspension and a multi-link rear setup, the IS F is every bit as quick through the twisties as it is in a straight line. Fourteen-inch front discs with six-piston calipers, (13.6 inch at the rear with two-piston calipers,) ensure it has the stopping power to match the effortless performance, making this car an absolute delight for the enthusiastic driver. Inside heavily bolstered seats – buckets in the rear make this strictly a four-seater — help resist those lateral g’s, while gorgeous leather upholstery looks fabulous and cossets occupants. Front seats are heated, naturally, and the leather comes in red, white, or for further slide resistance, black with Alcantara® inserts. Aluminized composite trim inserts, looking like a metallic woven material, are used around the gear shifter and in the doors to provide a unique look and feel. The view from the drivers seat is dominated by a large tachometer, the smaller speedometer being offset to the lower right. A blue “F” section at the bottom of the three spoke steering wheel reminds drivers they’re at the helm of a very special automobile. Seen in profile, the hood appears to droop down towards the grille, giving it the slightly pugnacious look of a rugby player or prize fighter rather than the track star it could be, but from the front the hourglass grille bisected by the bumper, (part of the new Lexus family look,) creates an aggressive face. Prominent fenders with large scoops behind the front wheels, pronounced sills beneath the doors, and quad exhaust tips protruding from the rear bumper all further convey an attitude of menace. The option list for this well-equipped sedan is short, the major items being navigation and a 14-speaker Mark Levinson® premium sound system. Pricing before these extras starts at just over $62,000. Gas mileage, for the frugally-minded performance enthusiast is 16mpg City and 23 Highway, and the warranty is 48 months or 50,000 miles. Who says a performance car can’t be sensible too? Category:Home › Other • Pomegranates: A newly discovered superfood • Where did the joke why did the chicken cross the road come from and why is it funny? • Can mothers diagnosed with bipolar disorder make good parents? • Spiritual evolution of human consciousness • Tips for getting a college basketball scholarship • Living with Pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) • Caring for the caregiver • Technologys impact on society