2022 Lexus IS 500 Debuts With Revvy 5.0L V8 Making 472 HP

It can get to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds

12:43

Chris Bruce

By: Chris Bruce

Feb 22, 2021 at 11:00am ET

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The 2022 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance arrives to bring a V8 engine back to the model lineup. The new sedan also launches the brand's F Sport Performance line of more hardcore vehicles but not quite as mean as the full-fat F vehicles

As the name implies, the IS 500 F Sport Performance packs a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 making 472 horsepower (352 kilowatts) at 7,100 rpm and 395 pound-feet (535.5 Newton-meters) of torque at 4,800 revs. The only gearbox option is an eight-speed automatic. The sedan can hit 60 miles per hour (96 kilometers per hour) in 4.5 seconds. Lexus estimates 24 miles per gallon highway fuel economy.

Gallery: Lexus IS 500 F SPORT Performance

The more powerful model weighs 3,891 pounds (1,765 kilograms), and this is only 143 pounds (64.86 kilograms) more than the existing IS 350 F Sport.

The IS 500 F Sport Performance is more than just a big engine in Lexus' smallest sedan. The model comes standard with the Dynamic Handling Package that includes an adaptive suspension and Torsen limited-slip differential. It also gets a Yamaha-supplied rear performance damper that improves structural rigidity to provide additional stability. The brakes measure 14.0 inches in front and 12.7 inches at the back, versus 13.1 inches and 11.7 inches respectively for the IS 350 F Sport.

Improved safety tech comes along with the performance upgrades. It gets the whole Lexus Safety System+ 2.5 that includes pedestrian detection, emergency steering assist, adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert with steering assist, automatic high beams, and more.

The sedan gets a more aggressive look from a hood with a bulge creating an additional 2.0 inches of clearance. The fenders are wider and make room for Enkei-sourced 19-inch wheels with a split-10-spoke design. Like the RC F and old IS F, there are a pair of stacked, dual exhaust pipes on each side of the rear.

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Lexus makes some minor tweaks to the interior. A heated steering wheel is standard, and there are different pedals. The instrument panel has a unique startup animation. There are also F Sport Performance badges throughout the cabin.

The 2022 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance goes on sale this fall. The company will announce pricing, options, and color choices closer to launch.