Forget The Skyline: The IS300 Is Now The Drift King

As the motorsport of drifting expands and matures in the United States, the range of cars competing at events has grown beyond the stereotypical Nissan Silvia (240SX) / AE86 Toyota Corolla / Nissan Skyline / Toyota Supra contingent. The first we heard of a Lexus IS300 entering the drifting scene was in 2004, when Chuck Goldsborough's Performance Engineering, Inc. (then doing business as Team Lexus) set up one of his cars for drifting, and entered it in several U.S. Drift series events that year.

Early the following year, Super Street magazine's February 2005 issue featured a cover article on the HKS Drift Altezza that competed in the D1 Grand Prix series. Then, in mid-2006 came word of Team Lexus' return to the drifting scene, with their third-generation car now running under the aegis of the Formula Drift series. And this past April brought us word that Team Falken decided to put together a Lexus IS350 drift car to be driven by Hiro Sumida which would eventually compete in the aforementioned Formula Drift series.


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Will_ - 7/2/2007 9:37:19 AM

-3 Boost

Let's see a POS BMW 3-Series do this.


*kidding*

Will_ - 7/2/2007 9:54:09 AM

+2 Boost

Lexus, Lexus, Lexus!!!

It's good to be back...

Will_ - 7/2/2007 4:15:54 PM

+2 Boost

From the few insults I've seen you throw at random people, I counter your claim with a big fat "fcuk you."

Htay7500 - 7/2/2007 9:46:04 AM

-3 Boost

ahh I love watching D1, (dont mention tokyo drift because drifting was around wayy before tht boring movie)great to watch.

alfistiDK - 7/2/2007 10:01:11 AM

+1 Boost

Hehe you could setup anything decent RWD vechicle to drift...hell even a mustang is doing good in D1..not exactly known to be the best handling car :]

Htay7500 - 7/2/2007 11:19:09 AM

-1 Boost

with a japanese drifter behind the wheel.

Htay7500 - 7/2/2007 11:19:09 AM

-1 Boost

with a japanese drifter behind the wheel.

markusck - 7/2/2007 10:10:30 AM

-2 Boost

Not a good image for the brand however...

alfistiDK - 7/2/2007 10:15:36 AM

+4 Boost

I think its pretty boring to watch to, but some of those boys are very talented drivers, its not just for fun drifting with 100+ Mph´s , 3 inches from the concrete wall!
But i guess this is the kind of sport that are way more fun to do than to watch :)

jon21 - 7/2/2007 11:35:58 AM

+1 Boost

Good for the IS sport.

STJ88 - 7/2/2007 12:54:10 PM

+1 Boost

If team falken is making a IS350 drift car they will probably make it a manual.

LexusLunatic - 7/2/2007 5:39:02 PM

+1 Boost

the IS300 is not the king. the driver of the IS300 is king. dont get it twisted and confused between driver and car. It's the person who operates who should get credit not the car.

what if the other drivers were having bad day? all play important role in decision.

EnnNorak - 7/2/2007 8:05:11 PM

+1 Boost

I guarantee that when drifters grow up they won't believe they ever succumbed to the drifting fad. Drifting is a gross abuse of the automobile.

alfistiDK - 7/3/2007 9:32:43 AM

+1 Boost

Maybe some people just think its great fun to go sideways all the time...just as some like going in a straight line all the time :)

Its not abuse if the car is prepped for it, the pros are driving 150.000 $ cars

alfistiDK - 7/3/2007 1:19:23 PM

+1 Boost

The Hachiruko is legendary...a litlle underpowered but very light & balanced..great car

2JZSoarer - 7/3/2007 11:16:08 AM

+1 Boost

Best drift car is the all mighty AE86 Corolla/Trueno!!

bevisroy - 7/5/2007 6:12:01 PM

+1 Boost

Lexus ALWAYS understates their 0 - 60 times by at least .5 seconds. Here are the results of the 5 Top Luxury Cars in this test which was reported in the January Issue of Car and Driver. Please note these tests were all done on the same day at about the same time and at the same altitude. The results reflect the average of 3 runs and all cars are the 2007 vintage.

Mercedes S550 5.6, 0 - 60 quarter mile in 14.1 (Benz show 5.4 in their specs)
BMW 750iL 5.7, 0 - 60 quarter mile in 14.2
Jag XJ Super 6.0 0 - 60 quarter mile 14.5
Lexus LS460L 6.2 0 - 60 quarter mile 14.6
Audi A8 6.8 0 - 60 quarter mile 15.2

Note that Lexus, as usual, is more than the 5.4 the manufacturer CLAIMS to get by .8 seconds.

Also note the LS430 (prior model the LS460 replaced) was rated at 295 HP and was actually 278 when Lexus corrected their rating. And there were no refunds or apologies from the so-called "quality" car company. ABC - Always Be Careful what you buy from the (REPREHENSIBLE) Toyota/Lexus people.....