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2008 Lexus IS F Review

July 28, 2008

STYLING | 7 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

gimmicky styling
Edmunds

tasteful and appropriate for the flashier image of the car
Road & Track

street-bruiser look
Motor Trend

engine cover is “Darth Vader's chest plate
Jalopnik

Reviewers from around the Web had criticism for the add-ons that turn the quiet and luxurious sedan into the rip-snorting 2008 Lexus IS-F.

Lexus has a difficult task with the herculean power and grip of the new IS-F. The brand’s built its reputation on comfortable rides, flawless cabins, and perfect reliability—and the IS-F is all about brute power and flash. The Detroit News says there’s no need to worry that the “IS-F might blend into the IS crowd” with its new hood, fenders, and rear spoiler. The subtle good looks of the Lexus IS, however, have been overshadowed by “gimmicky styling,” Edmunds.com notes. Some details like the rear exhaust are simply dummy shapes put in the place of real quad exhausts, they add. Motor Trend appreciates the “pronounced hood bulge that hints of something menacing lurking underneath,” and Road & Track takes the minority view and calls the add-ons “tasteful and appropriate.”

Inside, the Lexus IS-F fared a little better. Under the hood, Jalopnik says, the engine cover reminds them of “Darth Vader’s chest plate.” The cabin, however, is more sedate, offering “the style and quality we’ve come to expect of the Lexus brand,” Road & Track thinks. “Inside, it’s still al Lexus all the time,” Autoblog agrees, noting the white carbon fiber on the console, the “easily readable gauges,” and “beautifully finished seats.” Car and Driver likes the “bling of braided aluminum trim on the doors.

For more comments on the Lexus’s styling, you can also read TheCarConnection.com’s review of the 2008 Lexus IS.

Conclusion

The basic shape is pleasant enough, but some of the 2008 Lexus IS-F’s add-ons look out of place.

STYLING | 7 out of 10Expert Quotes:gimmicky stylingEdmundstasteful and appropriate for the flashier image of the carRoad & Trackstreet-bruiser lookMotor Trendengine cover is “Darth Vader's chest plateJalopnik Reviewers from around the Web had criticism for the add-ons that turn the quiet and luxurious sedan into the rip-snorting 2008 Lexus IS-F. Lexus has a difficult task with the herculean power and grip of the new IS-F. The brand’s built its reputation on comfortable rides, flawless cabins, and perfect reliability—and the IS-F is all about brute power and flash. The Detroit News says there’s no need to worry that the “IS-F might blend into the IS crowd” with its new hood, fenders, and rear spoiler. The subtle good looks of the Lexus IS, however, have been overshadowed by “gimmicky styling,” Edmunds.com notes. Some details like the rear exhaust are simply dummy shapes put in the place of real quad exhausts, they add. Motor Trend appreciates the “pronounced hood bulge that hints of something menacing lurking underneath,” and Road & Track takes the minority view and calls the add-ons “tasteful and appropriate.” Inside, the Lexus IS-F fared a little better. Under the hood, Jalopnik says, the engine cover reminds them of “Darth Vader’s chest plate.” The cabin, however, is more sedate, offering “the style and quality we’ve come to expect of the Lexus brand,” Road & Track thinks. “Inside, it’s still al Lexus all the time,” Autoblog agrees, noting the white carbon fiber on the console, the “easily readable gauges,” and “beautifully finished seats.” Car and Driver likes the “bling of braided aluminum trim on the doors. For more comments on the Lexus’s styling, you can also read TheCarConnection.com’s review of the 2008 Lexus IS. ConclusionThe basic shape is pleasant enough, but some of the 2008 Lexus IS-F’s add-ons look out of place. 2008 LEXUS IS-F STYLING | [7 out of 10] Edmunds: “gimmicky styling” Road & Track: “tasteful and appropriate for the flashier image of the car” Motor Trend: “street-bruiser look” Jalopnik: engine cover is “Darth Vader's chest plate” Reviewers from around the Web had criticism for ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The Lexus IS-F competes on performance and price directly with the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG and the BMW M3 sedan. The Benz C63 has a tad more interior room, while the BMW M3 gets a new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission later in the year. The M3 also is offered in coupe and convertible versions. The Audi RS4 is the only car in this group to offer all-wheel drive, but its pricetag is also substantially higher.

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See the Lexus IS F in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008

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