Lexus to Showcase F Series in Geneva

No stick.

Yes because the manual transmission now offered in the 2007 M5 was such an improvement over 7spd SMG right?

Mazman

The M5s engine was maed to fit the SMG transmission and not a manual. Also BMW was lazy and didnt develop a new manual, they just borrowed it from the e39 m5. Anyway why are u bringing bmw into this? Lexus wishes it had an m5 in their line up......

M53R

I am trying to make a point that a manual transmission is no longer needed to make a car "high performance". Take for example a BMW 335i, the new Automatic in that car is equally as quick as the manual, and doesn't need an F1 Driver to pull off consistent acceleration times. Take the 911 Twin Turbo, faster as a tiptronic than a manual. By the way, the 6 Speed Manual in the M5 is not from the E39 M5, its actually from the 550i. If Lexus offered a 6 Speed Manual in the IS-F I would still opt for the 8 Speed Auto.

well at this point it's just a claim. lexus hasn't yet built a performance car (fyi--performance does not equal goes fast in a straight line). wish them the best. but not drawing any conclusions until someone actually gets to drive the IS-F.

Its too bad that Lexus felt it necessary to give it a 'boy racer' look by tacking on bits and pieces instead of a more 'wolf in sheeps clothing' look ala AMG, BMW M, or Audi S series. I think it cheapens the image. I would like to have one but not if it looks like a tarted up (pimped) Civic.

agreed the look is unfortunate. the bulbous hood and stretched front end make it apparent that this car wasn't initially designed to house a v-8.

lewissalem, do you really think that Lexus spend hundred of million of dollars, and not going to offer a stick version? I think not, belief once it is released there will be a stick version offer for sure.

they did just that. at the auto show and on the lexus site they say the car will only come with an 8-speed auto. i'm sure they be bragging if they had some great manual in the works...especially since many enthusiasts are complaining about the lack of a stick.

There will be no stick version.

have you driven the car?

I thought Lexus gave this car paddle shifters.

I could be wrong.

They really messed up on the body kit. I agree that it has a "boy racer" look to it and that's not a good thing. Lexus customers are usually serious people (excluding the fanboys and imaginary Lexus "owners" on this site). I will be interested to see if some of them will be put off by the styling.

Bill, this car is not made to appeal to the same people who buy the LS/ES. The people who will buy this are quite interested in the styling this car offers.

You know Lexus customers better than me, Mitch, but I still think they could have styled the body kit a bit better. I feel that it is to ostentatious - doesn't fit the conservative Lexus image at all.

I also find it lacks "aggressiveness", thanks in part to the riceish look of the body kit.

Lexus is weird with there options, It all depends on where the car is going to. Like up in the the north east. You cant really find say an is250 rear wheel drive. Just b/c there really isnt a demand for rear wheel drive. There mostly all all wheel drive, with paddle shifters, still automatic though. Im sure with this car will deffinetly have a stick option. If not, thats totally retarded.