Lexus made a splash on the stage this year at Detroit with its new IS-F sports sedan. The bright blue paint catches your eye, the rumble of the 5.0 liter V8 grabs your eardrums, and the smells of exhaust gases fill your nose. As soon as you see it, you know something is different about this one. The huge wheels, the massive brakes, and the slammed appearance are all clues that this car was made for one reason: going fast.

For a company known for its luxury sedans, Lexus takes the performance luxury car class on head first with the IS-F. The 5.0 liter V8 makes over 400 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque. Combined with the smaller IS platform, the engine gets the sedan up to 60 in less than five seconds. Yes folks, this is still a Lexus we are talking about. The paddle shifted eight speed transmission, another industry first, puts the power to the ground.

The suspension features 3 options that range from comfy cruising to attacking apexes. When you want to stop, the 14.2 inch Brembo front brakes pull you down from the sound barrier in a hurry. Need more clues that this car was meant for the track? The car features both engine and transmission coolers, as well as a high performance oil pump meant for sharp turns and cornering. Some thought was obviously put into this vehicle.

The huge 19 inch BBS wheels are tucked into the fender wells, giving a racy look and feel, but are also needed to clear the aforementioned large brake rotors.

BMW and Mercedes Benz drivers will have a new competitor on the track with them next year. They better be driving at ten-tenths, or they'll be breathing the exhaust fumes from the quad exhaust tips of the IS-F. Stay tuned to Planet Asia for more information on this race-bred sedan.