Car review: Lexus IS F - Japan's own BMW M3

But even from slowing from 135mph in about 200 metres to tackle a tight hairpin at the end of the main straight, the IS F was totally unflustered

With 417bhp pounding out of a performance-tuned 5-litre V8 engine, bespoke tyres and race-derived Brembo brakes bigger than the average car's wheels, there are plenty of things the F in IS F could stand for.

Fast? Maybe. Something unprintable? Possibly.

View pictures of the Lexus IS F

In fact it stands for Fuji; and more specifically the Fuji Speedway – home to last year's Japanese Grand Prix – and the factory nearby which has just borne the hottest road car Lexus has ever built.

It's not simply tinsel to convince the buyer of the car's supposed racing credentials; the world famous Toyota circuit was used to hone the Lexus IS F's dynamics.

As well as California's Laguna Seca, France's Paul Ricard and the fearsome 13-mile Nürburgring in Germany.

So expecting big things, I find myself at the Monteblanco racetrack about an hour from Seville, Spain.

After a couple of sighting laps from a professional driver, I was let loose on the freshly-laid tarmac. With the pro-driver, now ensconced in the passenger seat barking orders at me, I start learning the twisting track – and how the Lexus IS F handles it.

On my first flying lap I'm told to keep hard on the accelerator until well past a sign clearly stating 'BRAKE'. Quite far on, in fact.

But even from slowing from 135mph in about 200 metres to tackle a tight hairpin at the end of the main straight, the IS F was totally unflustered.

More than can be said for me, trying to stop my lungs from exiting through my chest, such is the braking force behind those bespoke 19-inch lightweight wheels.

The massive 360mm dinnerplate-sized brake discs up front have been designed by Brembo, which supplies a number of F1 teams, and work harder and for longer than any brakes I've experienced in a car.

Lap after lap, the anchors hauled in the 1,700kg supersaloon with no signs of strain.

But it wasn't just the brakes which were putting a smile on my face; the acceleration from the 5-litre V8 is almost never ending.

Supercar saloon

It'll blast through the 62mph mark in just 4.8 seconds, before hitting an electronically-limited top speed of 168mph – considerably more than its German rivals.

The engine's headline figures are 417bhp at 6,600rpm (200rpm short of its surprisingly low redline) and 372lb/ft of pulling power at 5,200rpm

The beauty of all that pulling power and the fact it's not at the top end of the rev range meaning acceleration is ferocious in any gear.

Lexus has fitted the IS F with an EIGHT-SPEED semi-automatic gearbox, which will shift up in a tenth of a second, making it one of the fastest gearboxes ever fitted to a road car.

When making downshifts with the steering wheel-mounted paddles or by sliding the gearstick, with gearbox blips the throttle to match the engine speed to the lower gear, for smoother progress.

It works well, although flat out on a track, it takes some getting used to as the engine needs to slow under braking before it'll shift down. On the road, this wasn't a problem, however.

And although it tips the scales at over two tonnes wet, it can still be thrown around the circuit like a car half its size. There's a whiff of understeer as the car's girth tries to carry on straight when you want it to turn, but plant the accelerator to kick the back end out into oversteer, and it all snaps back in line.

The steering is direct and offers enough feedback for most, although the steering was slightly less sharp than we'd hoped.

On the track, we found the traction control reluctant to let go occasionally, meaning the Lexus IS F would get bogged down exiting some sharp hairpins.

We later found the car's Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) system, which takes care of the ABS, traction and stability control systems and the clever rear differential, could be switched off completely.

Although we wouldn't recommend doing that on the road where its performance is simply devastating.

NASCAR growl

The most intoxicating thing about the Lexus IS F is the way it sounds.

Below about 3,500rpm, it sounds pure V8, but in a hushed way which wouldn't upset your passengers or pedestrians in town.

At 3,600rpm, a second air intake system opens, giving a sudden, guttural growl reminiscent of a NASCAR. It can catch out the unwary, and found us checking our mirrors for another, louder car first time we opened the IS F up.

On the smooth tarmac'd motorways around Seville, the Lexus IS F rode excellently; very firm, but rarely uncomfortable. But on some of the broken-up B-roads – like many of the UK's – the ride became harsh.

And when accelerating hard over bumps in the road, the back end became unsettled: the only time in the 220-odd miles – plus track time – we spent on the road it did so.

There's no doubting the presence the Lexus IS F has on the road.

It's 15mm wider at the front, to accommodate ducting to cool the brakes, and has yet more venting behind the front wheels. The bonnet sits higher, to allow space for that huge engine.

Naturally there is a smattering of 'F' logo badging.

But it’s the rear where most of the drama happens, specifically around four enormous exhausts, stacked in pairs on each side.

Well equipped

Although Lexus has priced the IS F in line with the BMW M3, Audi RS4 and Mercedes C63 AMG, it claims it's better equipped than its rivals. In fact, the only entry on the options list is an £800 sunroof, and it is the only one to offer adaptive cruise control and a pre-crash safety system.

Highlights include touch-screen sat-nav, rear parking monitor, Bluetooth and a 14 speaker Mark Levinson audio system; keyless entry, electric folding door mirrors, full leather trim with electric seats, bright high-intensity discharge headlights and bespoke 19-inch alloys.

Unusually for a four door saloon, the rear is a strictly two-seat affair, with a tray arrangement and a fold-down armrest with integrated cupholders taking place of the centre seat.

Lexus will bring just 150 IS Fs to the UK in 2008 which should keep them a rare sight on the roads, and keep its used value robust.

The Lexus IS F comes with a three year/60,000 mile warranty, and will need a health check every 10,000 miles, with a major service every 20,000.

But running a car like this will never be cheap. After the £51,000 purchase price, it'll cost another £300 (soon to be £400) a year to tax, thanks to its CO2 emissions of 270g/km. And although the IS F's insurance group if yet to be decided, it's likely to fall into group 20.

Fuel consumption isn't as bad as we'd predicted though. Our test average was almost 22mpg, slightly down on the official figure of 24.8mpg.

However, driving and owning a car like this isn’t about making financial sense; it's about enjoying your time behind the wheel.

And its exclusivity, coupled with its blistering performance and thumping V8 soundtrack is likely to be enough to steer buyers away from their local German marque showroom.

View pictures of the Lexus IS F