2022 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance brings back V8

Mild performance vehicles are now a staple in almost all premium manufacturers’ portfolios, be it the Mercedes-AMG 43 line, or Audi S Line. Lexus joins this party with the launch of an F Sport Performance line filling in the gap between its regular body-kitted F-Sport vehicles and the fully blown F models, just to muddy the waters a bit further. Starting this new family is the V8 variant of their smallest sedan, 2022 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance.

Unlike most other competitor models, Lexus has not squeezed in a tiny yet powerful engine into their new IS 500 F Sport Performance. It gets a proper V8 under the hood, complete with 472 hp and 536 Nm of torque on tap. An eight-speed automatic transmission handles the power, propelling the sedan from 0 to 100 kph in just over 4.7 seconds.

The engine is not the only change in the IS 500 F Sport Performance. Lexus offers their Dynamic Handling Package which adds a Torsen limited-slip differential and an adaptive suspension. The brakes get bumped up from the regular IS 350F Sport to 14-inch discs up front and 12.7 inches at the back, befitting the additional “Performance” tag.

To add some show to this go, the Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance gets a more aggressive hood design. The fenders are more flared, housing the 19-inch 10-spoke Enkei wheels. The rear is detailed with quad exhaust pipes, two on either side, stacked on top of each other. A Heated steering wheel gets thrown into the interior, so are a new set of pedals. F Sport badges tell the driver that they are sitting in no regular Lexus.

With more power comes more responsibility hence safety tech gets an update as well. Lexus Safety System+ 2.5 brings in lane departure alert, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control,, pedestrian detection and more to the IS 500 F Sport Performance.

It is odd for the company to release a V8 model in the age of downsizing, yet not badge it as an F model, considering the bar set by the previous-generation IS-F. It may be intentional as Lexus does not want to go up against the ever-more-powerful M3 and C 63 AMG, so they won’t pretend either. That, or there’s a more powerful model waiting in the wings. More details about the 2022 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance will surface in a few months. Expect a UAE and GCC launch late this year.