BMW M3 E92 vs. Lexus IS-F

Model Tested:

* BMW E92 M3 M-DCT, 4.0-litre, seven-speed dual-clutch
* Lexus GSE20R IS-F, 5.0-litre, eight-speed automatic


The new, 414 bhp V8 power unit offers enormous muscle and performance at all times. And the aesthetic design of the new car typical once again of BMW M spells out supremacy of the highest standard.

The new BMW M3 sets the foundation for continuing an exceptional career in motorsport. So every enthusiast sharing the passion for supreme performance may be sure that this model is able to master even the greatest challenge on and off the race track. And last but certainly not least, the new BMW M3 offers the supreme standard of reliability and everyday driving qualities so typical of all high-performance cars from BMW M GmbH. And i must said this is The First ever Eight cylinder to Power a BMW M3! Displacing 3,999 cc, the new V8 develops maximum output of 414 bhp, together with peak torque of 295 lb-ft at 3, 900 rpm. Perhaps an even more outstanding fact is that some 85 per cent of the engine's peak torque remains available throughout the enormous speed range of 6, 500 rpm






The eight-cylinder nevertheless owes its most striking and distinctive forte to the high-speed engine concept so typical of BMW M: Revving all the way to 8,400 rpm, the new power unit offers supreme muscle and performance at all times. Power is transmitted to the rear wheels by a six-speed manual gearbox interacting with brand-new final drive. This combination alone provides an acceleration and power potential reminiscent in its spontaneity and endurance to the dynamic potential of a thoroughbred racing car.

Much of the development of the new Lexus IS-F took place at Fuji Speedway and the Higashi-Fuji Technical Center in Japan. The Lexus IS-F is based on the proven rear-wheel-drive Lexus IS, which is equipped with a double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension. As well as the IS performs, Lexus engineers demanded much more of the all-new IS-F. The result is a performance tuned 5.0-liter V8 engine, topped with specially engineered heads fed by a two-stage intake system, that produces 400-plus horsepower and more than 350 lb-ft of torque. The all-new IS-F is equipped with engine-oil and transmission-fluid coolers for high-speed performance and a cylinder head-scavenging oil pump for high g-force driving.





Epilogue :

This is where Lexus got things right - well, almost! The 5.0 liter V-8 pumps out 416 horsepower and 371 pound-feet of torque for a tire-shredding good time. These numbers compare very favorably to the M3’s 414 horsepower and 295 feet-pounds of torque. You can expect 0-60 times in the mid four second range. However, the IS-F doesn’t deliver power in the same manner as the M3. While the BMW M3 has a torque curve as flat as a Kansas corn field, the power in the IS-F comes on later in its RPM range and drops off sharply after 5,200 RPM. This means that the M3 provides more usable torque throughout most of its rev range. The power delivery produced from the M3’s V-8 makes it easier to drive, especially out of corners. No doubt, the Lexus IS-F delivers 0-60 times in the mid four second range. This is seriously fast indeed, but somewhat tempered by the fact that the only transmission option is an 8-speed automatic. While this is a very good automatic transmission, it is still an automatic. Conventional wisdom has long held that a good manual transmission is always faster and more fun than an automatic transmission. The IS-F turns this idea on its head by employing lockup in all gears except first when in manual mode. This eliminates any power loss from the torque converter from 2nd through 8th gear while preserving desirable torque multiplication in first gear for stunning launch acceleration. The result is a direct feel unlike any other automatic, and “right now” response to the throttle. Shift times are fast! A typical F1 transmission shift time is approx. 0.05 seconds, with virtually imperceptible lag. The IS-F shifts occur in approximately 1/10th of a second. We discovered in very spirited driving, the transmission in the IS-F was indeed very fast and smooth up-shifting, but it behaved harshly during down-shifts and the car seemed happier when left in the fully automatic “sport” mode when driven hard. Even with a technologically advanced 8-speed gearbox and ultra-fast shifting, this car would be much better with one or two fewer gears and a manual transmission.