Motorsport Magazine
Car market ·
The Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance brings sports saloons back to life with a 472 hp naturally aspirated 5.0 V8, rear-wheel drive.
Ultimogiro Newsroom · 9 May 2026 · 4 min read
In a market dominated by turbo engines, mild hybrid systems and increasingly aggressive electrification, Lexus has chosen a completely different path. The new IS 500 F Sport Performance was born with a clear goal: to put the purest driving pleasure back at the centre, built around a large naturally aspirated engine and a still deeply mechanical dynamic.
The Japanese manufacturer has decided to surprise enthusiasts by reviving a formula that seemed destined to disappear. Long bonnet, rear-wheel drive and above all a naturally aspirated 5.0 V8 capable of delivering sensations that are becoming increasingly rare today.
The Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance does not want to chase numbers or outright performance alone. It wants to excite. And it is precisely this philosophy that makes it one of the most interesting sports saloons of recent years.
The real star of the IS 500 is undoubtedly the engine. Lexus has chosen the famous 5-litre naturally aspirated V8 already seen on the RC F and LC 500, a unit capable of delivering 472 horsepower and 535 Nm of torque.
Important numbers, but what really strikes you is the way this power is put down. The delivery is smooth, progressive and accompanied by an immediate throttle response, far removed from the more filtered behaviour of modern turbo engines.
The engine climbs through the revs naturally, while the sound grows progressively, turning into an involving and aggressive soundtrack. Lexus has also worked extensively on the exhaust system, designed to enhance the V8's tone without sounding artificial.
During the model's US launch, the brand's engineers stressed that the project had been developed with the driver's emotional involvement foremost in mind. A philosophy that emerges clearly as soon as you put your foot down on the accelerator.
The Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in around 4.5 seconds thanks to the eight-speed Sport Direct Shift automatic gearbox.
The drive remains strictly to the rear, a choice that confirms the brand's desire to keep the car's DNA intact. In a segment increasingly geared towards all-wheel drive, Lexus continues to focus on balance and traditional driving pleasure.
The dynamic behaviour convinces above all for its balance. The IS 500 is not intended to be an extreme track saloon, but a sports saloon capable of combining everyday comfort and engaging driving.
Sport S and Sport S+ modes alter engine response, gearbox management and steering calibration, making the car more responsive and precise through the corners. The Torsen limited-slip differential instead improves traction under harder acceleration.
Behind the IS 500's dynamic behaviour lies significant chassis development work. Lexus has introduced AVS adaptive suspension and special rear Yamaha Performance Dampers, solutions designed to improve stability, precision and comfort.
The result is a saloon that manages to inspire confidence even at high speed, while still retaining notable ride compliance in everyday use.
The steering feels direct and communicative, while the weight distribution helps keep the car stable in the quickest changes of direction.
The overall impression is of a car still built around the driver, without excessive filters or intrusive electronics.
Visually, the Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance retains the typical elegance of the Japanese saloon but introduces numerous specific details.
The front bonnet has been raised to accommodate the large naturally aspirated V8, while the wings and bumpers have been modified to improve aerodynamics and road presence.
The lightened 19-inch Enkei wheels further enhance the car's sporty character, as do the rear diffuser and the four exhaust outlets stacked diagonally.
Inside, however, we find a typically Lexus premium cabin, with sports seats, dedicated F Sport inserts and a digital instrument cluster inspired by the famous LFA.
The arrival of the Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance takes on particular significance at a historical moment in which naturally aspirated engines are progressively disappearing.
Emissions regulations and the race towards electrification are radically changing the automotive sector, making cars of this type increasingly rare.
Precisely for this reason, the new Japanese sports car could, over the years, become a model particularly sought after by enthusiasts. The appeal of the naturally aspirated V8, combined with rear-wheel drive and a driving experience that is still analogue, continues to have a very strong pull among purists.
Lexus has chosen to go against the tide. And in an era dominated by the pursuit of absolute efficiency, this decision makes the IS 500 F Sport Performance even more special.
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