2009 Lexus IS-F for SEMA

It hasn’t taken long for tuners to start wrenching on the Lexus IS-F, and this modified version will appear at the 2008 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show.

Texas-based tuner Artisan Performance bolted two turbochargers to the IS-F’s 5.0-liter V-8 and added stronger JE pistons and Crower connecting rods, along with a new radiator, remapped computer, and performance exhaust. Artisan expects to see more than 600 wheel horsepower from the blown IS-F—up from a factory-rated 416 horses at the crank.

A subtle body kit exaggerates the IS-F’s styling cues, while Sunset Orange paint will fit in perfectly with other brightly-hued offerings at SEMA. Artisan equipped the car with 20-inch iForged wheels and Toyo T1R tires, and the headlights, grille, and badges are blacked out.

Lexus hired Pennsylvania automotive design and PR firm Fox Marketing to design the car, who in turn hired Artisan to assist in making it a reality. The idea is to attract a “savvy, European type buyer” to the IS-F—what, is the BMW M3 proving a more formidable opponent than Toyota’s luxury brand imagined? Being that the M3 emerged victorious over the IS F in a comparison test, it would appear so. 600 horses, we think, could go a long way in bridging the gap, though. Bring it on.

© Source: caranddriver
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2009 Lexus IS-F - SEMA Preview

The 2009 Lexus IS-F is slated to get some serious attention at SEMA, and Fox Marketing and Artisan are out to prove that show and go aren't mutually exclusive.

The plan is to create an IS-F that has the power to match its presence, and to that end, Artisan developed a twin-turbo setup that huffs compressed oxygen into a 5.0-liter V8 equipped with JE pistons and Crower rods. With a Mishimoto radiator, an Artisan exhaust, a healthy amount of boost and a thorough tune, Artisan is estimating over 600 hp at the rear wheels.

Aesthetically, the team sought to compliment the stock IS-F's styling, so they've fitted a bespoke body kit consisting of custom front and rear bumpers, and a set of side-skirts that cleanly integrate into the blistered rear fenders. iForged rollers fill the wheel wells, sized 20x9.5-inches in front and 20x11.5-inches in the rear, and wrapped in Toyo T1R tires (255/35R20 front and 305/30R20 rear). The Glasurit Sunset Orange hue is courtesy of BASF, and according to Brian Fox, they'll be blacking out the headlamps, grille and emblems to tie everything together.

Artisan plans to have its IS-F exhaust on sale next month, and when we check out the Lexus booth this November, we'll be able to see Fox/Artisan's efforts in person, along with a handful of other tuned and tweaked IS-Fs.

© Source: autoblog
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