Is This The First Race Version Of The IS350 Being Tested?

Is Lexus creating a competition model of the new IS?   These shots first posted earlier in the day of an IS refresh, seems to indicate they might just be doing so.  

Take a look at the shots and notice the following:

It has the IS350 brakes, so this is probably an IS350.
It sits much lower than a stock IS350 does.
The exhaust is different.
There is an obvious bulge in the hood.
There is no sunroof (As far as I know you can't order an IS without one anywhere).
There is an obvious roll cage in the car .

Now it is no secret that Lexus has entertained the idea of entering road racing in the past.  But most of these efforts have had limited success and funding.  However what a better way to establish yourself  than to go on the track and show you can compete toe to toe with the likes of BMW?

If this is indeed the intended test bed for such a car racing on there shores, then I would expect it to compete in the SCCA World Cup Challenge or perhaps ALMS or even some form of Rolex racing where Lexus already has a presence. However the intended audience for such a car may most likely be the World Touring Car Championship racing in Europe.

 So have we stumbled on to something?

Agent009 - 5/8/2008 3:46:50 PM

+1 Boost

This would go a long way to make a name for Lexus in Europe.

thisismyname - 5/9/2008 6:38:41 AM

+1 Boost

you are too stupid for words..... "plus unrivaled quality"

I almost fell out of my chair....rofl...

theoptimisticpessimist - 5/8/2008 3:29:03 PM

-4 Boost

POWERED BY OPEL

Agent009 - 5/8/2008 3:46:21 PM

-1 Boost

LOL! I remember that fiasco. Re-skin an Opel with Lexus body and call it your own... Ouch! what a fiasco.

M35MT - 5/9/2008 7:45:03 AM

+2 Boost

Your new name is AgentFiasco.

Agent009 - 5/9/2008 10:57:25 AM

0 Boost

I like that!!!! 001 are you listening?

lexusrox123 - 5/8/2008 6:43:13 PM

+2 Boost

looks nice i guess, but kinda hard to tell under all the camo crap

Schwitz916 - 5/8/2008 7:54:40 PM

+2 Boost

but wouldn't they use a modified IS-F which is more set-up than the IS350. I know in the GT series the car has to be offered in the market within 6 months of debuting on the circuit. That's why the V8 M3 a few years ago got booted off the circuit. I don't know enough about these two racing series, but just curious why a 350 when they have the F?

BimmerGuyFL78 - 5/8/2008 10:10:11 PM

+2 Boost

The Lexus IS350 is a nice car it really is. But Since they have the technology as proven in the Toyota Supra Twin Turbo inline 6 engine, they should update the IS350 with a new Inline 6 twin turbo to compete with the BMW 335i.

The performance upgrades to these engines are incredible.

While there at it since these car now a days have so much power and torque, Please add an LSD as standard equipment. I like to know I would be able to do a two wheel burn out instead of since wheel burn out.

Matthew1 - 5/8/2008 10:53:02 PM

+3 Boost

Could be just as IS Facelift...

Many manufacturers fit their test mules with roll cages, especially when testing them on track.

deepwater - 5/9/2008 2:01:37 AM

+1 Boost

This is not a facelift. The vehicle is RHD and no change on the body except hood. The vehicle looks heavy, therefore it can be special technologies in it:
- Hybrid technology test.
- New V8 diesel implementation for passanger cars.

For me the V8 diesel test seems reality, because black smoke looks on the rear bumper.

Matthew1 - 5/9/2008 2:38:10 AM

+1 Boost

Completely implausable.

For one, it is VERY unlikely Lexus would but a diesel V8 in the IS, or even make a passenger V8 diesel at all...

Second, a V8 wouldn't make the car sit that low, engineers adjust suspension for different engine sizes...

Third, the IS, like the GS, would only recieve a minor facelift, which is why nothing looks like it has changed.

_43LE - 5/9/2008 9:19:58 AM

-1 Boost

Ironic that this comment would come from you.

deepwater - 5/10/2008 2:32:11 AM

+2 Boost

Hi Matthew1.
This is a diesel V8 IS. Lexus is testing the V8 diesel in the passanger car lineup. The new CO2 regulations are coming in Europe and only high power diesles can fulfil the standards. Unfortunately the Lexus Hybrid lineup is not suitable for the emission rules.
The other benefit of V8 diesel is that the trunk size can remain, but in case of the hybrids the trunk becomes half of the normal size.
We have to understand that European market is more and more important for Lexus, and the Luxury market majority become diesel.
To testing diesel in IS is not meaningless project, but starting to catch up a market trend in Europe.