ightning Lap 2011: LL2 Class - Feature
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Three years back, an IS F turned a less-than-impressive 3:14.0. We said then, “A little attention to springs and damping might make this eager contender a real champ,” as the stiffly sprung F zapped confidence in high-speed corners.

Boy, were we right. Lexus has since tweaked all suspension elements. Spring rates are down in the front and up in the rear, and there are larger anti-roll bars, stiffer subframe bushings, and longer bump stops, which effectively increase spring rates when the car is nearing its maximum roll angle. Lexus also lightened the front hubs and control arms and slapped a Torsen limited-slip differential in the rear axle. The result is BMW M3–matching performance around VIR (3:05.4). That’s heady company for Lexus to be keeping. Especially considering that the IS F weighs 3801 pounds (195 more than the M3) and makes only two additional horsepower, at 416.

Lexus also redesigned the gauges, enlarging the tachometer and relocating it to the center of the instrument binnacle. But it could have removed the thing altogether because we did not so much as peep at it: The IS F’s audible shift warning is plenty loud, even when you are wearing a helmet. While the alert is slightly obnoxious on public roads, it lets you keep your eyes up when driving on a track.

The old F rolled around on the track like a keel-less boat in gusting winds. The aforementioned updates quell this tendency and increase confidence. Our backside impressions are supported by numbers: The F exits sector two 13.1 mph quicker than before, at 109.1. Steering is communicative, and the chassis is set up for safe, moderate understeer, but vector adjustment is just a throttle tweak away—the torquey engine (371 pound-feet) can break the rear tires loose easily. The brakes are fantastic, too. The pedal might be a tad wooden (more pliant pine than hard oak), but the system remains fade-free after multiple laps of abuse, something none of the other large sedans could claim this year. The 180-degree character change performed by this Lexus gives us hope that Toyota can still make fun-to-drive cars. Now  where’s our Supra?

Virginia International Raceway

1 2:45.9 MOSLER MT900S LL3 11/08
2 2:48.6 DODGE VIPER SRT10 ACR LL3 11/08
3 2:49.8 MOSLER PHOTON LL5 2/11
4 2:49.8 CHEVROLET CORVETTE ZR1 LL3 2/10
5 2:51.8 LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO LP570-4 SUPERLEGGERA LL5 2/11
6 2:52.3 KTM X-BOW LLU 2/10
7 2:53.5 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 (Z07) LL3 2/11
8 2:53.9 LAMBORGHINI MURCIÉLAGO LP670-4 SV LL5 2/10
9 2:54.6 FERRARI 430 SCUDERIA LL5 11/08
10 2:55.6 NISSAN GT-R LL3 11/08
11 2:55.9 PORSCHE 911 GT3 RS LL4 2/11
12 2:57.4 DODGE VIPER SRT10 LL3 10/07
13 2:57.5 PORSCHE 911 TURBO S LL4 2/11
14 2:57.6 ARIEL ATOM 3 LLU 2/10
15 2:58.0 MERCEDES-BENZ SLS AMG LL4 2/11
16 2:58.2 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 LL3 8/07
17 2:58.5 CHEVROLET CORVETTE GRAND SPORT LL2 2/10
18 2:59.0 NISSAN GT-R (all-season tires) LL3 11/08
19 2:59.5 AUDI R8 5.2 FSI LL4 2/10
20 3:00.7 FORD GT LL4 11/06
21 3:01.1 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 LL3 11/06
22 3:01.2 CHEVROLET CORVETTE (Z51) LL2 11/08
23 3:01.6 DODGE VIPER SRT10 LL3 11/06
24 3:01.8 PORSCHE 911 GT3 LL3 8/07
25 3:03.6 CHEVROLET CORVETTE (Z51) LL2 8/07
26 3:03.8 PORSCHE BOXSTER SPYDER LL3 2/11
27 3:04.0 CADILLAC CTS-V SEDAN LL2 11/08
28 3:04.0 FORD MUSTANG SHELBY GT500 LL2 2/11
29 3:04.2 CADILLAC CTS-V COUPE LL3 2/11
30 3:04.5 LOTUS EXIGE S LL3 8/07
31 3:05.4 BMW M3 COUPE LL2 2/10
32 3:05.4 LEXUS IS F LL2 2/11
33 3:05.6 BMW M3 COUPE LL2 11/08
34 3:05.6 PORSCHE 911 CARRERA S LL3 2/10
35 3:05.8 PORSCHE CAYMAN S LL3 2/10
36 3:05.8 PORSCHE 911 TURBO LL4 8/07
37 3:05.9 FORD MUSTANG SHELBY GT500 LL2 8/07
38 3:06.4 JAGUAR XKR LL3 2/10
39 3:06.5 MERCEDES-BENZ C63 AMG LL2 11/08
40 3:06.5 MERCEDES-BENZ E63 AMG LL3 2/11
41 3:07.4 FORD MUSTANG SHELBY GT500 LL2 2/10
42 3:08.3 LOTUS EVORA LL3 2/11
43 3:08.4 AUDI TTS LL2 2/10
44 3:08.6 FORD MUSTANG GT 5.0 LL2 2/11
45 3:08.9 JAGUAR XFR LL2 2/11
46 3:09.2 LOTUS ELISE LL2 11/06
47 3:09.3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE (Z51) LL2 11/06
48 3:09.5 PORSCHE CAYMAN S LL2 11/06
49 3:09.5 CHEVROLET CAMARO SS LL2 2/10
50 3:10.0 BMW M6 LL3 11/06
51 3:10.5 BMW 335i COUPE LL2 8/07
52 3:10.6 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION SE LL2 2/11
53 3:10.8 AUDI S4 LL2 2/10
54 3:11.0 FORD MUSTANG SHELBY GT500 LL2 11/06
55 3:11.0 AUDI RS4 LL3 8/07
56 3:11.7 BMW Z4 M COUPE LL2 8/07
57 3:12.0 NISSAN NISMO 370Z LL2 2/10
58 3:12.5 NISSAN 350Z TRACK LL1 11/06
59 3:12.5 FORD MUSTANG V-6 LL1 2/11
60 3:13.0 CHEVROLET COBALT SS LL1 11/08
61 3:13.3 FORD MUSTANG GT LL1 2/10
62 3:13.3 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION MR LL2 11/08
63 3:13.5 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION IX MR LL1 11/06
64 3:13.7 BMW 135i COUPE LL2 11/08
65 3:13.8 HYUNDAI GENESIS COUPE 3.8 R-SPEC LL1 2/11
66 3:13.8 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STI SEDAN LL2 2/11
67 3:14.0 LEXUS IS F LL2 11/08
68 3:14.6 AUDI S5 LL2 11/08
69 3:14.8 HYUNDAI GENESIS COUPE 3.8 LL1 2/10
70 3:15.0 HONDA S2000 CR LL2 11/08
71 3:15.7 PONTIAC SOLSTICE GXP LL1 8/07
72 3:16.0 MAZDASPEED 3 LL1 8/07
73 3:16.2 MAZDASPEED 3 LL1 2/10
74 3:16.3 DODGE CHALLENGER SRT8 LL2 11/08
75 3:16.5 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX SEDAN LL1 2/11
76 3:16.6 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX HATCHBACK LL1 2/10
77 3:16.6 LOTUS ELISE SC LL2 11/08
78 3:16.7 MAZDA RX-8 R3 LL2 2/11
79 3:17.1 MINI JOHN COOPER WORKS LL1 2/10
80 3:17.5 INFINITI G37 COUPE SPORT LL2 11/08
81 3:18.2 DODGE CHARGER SRT8 LL2 11/06
82 3:19.0 MAZDA RX-8 LL1 11/06
83 3:19.0 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STI HATCHBACK LL2 11/08
84 3:19.3 VOLKSWAGEN GTI MkVI LL2 2/10
85 3:20.6 CHEVROLET COBALT SS SUPERCHARGED LL1 11/06
86 3:20.8 DODGE CALIBER SRT4 LL1 11/08
87 3:20.9 FORD MUSTANG GT LL1 11/06
88 3:21.8 VOLKSWAGEN R32 LL2 11/08
89 3:22.9 MINI COOPER S LL1 8/07
90 3:24.8 HONDA CIVIC Si MUGEN LL2 11/08
91 3:25.1 VOLKSWAGEN GTI MkV LL1 11/06
92 3:26.5 HONDA CIVIC Si COUPE LL1 11/06
93 3:26.6 VOLVO C30 VERSION 2.0 LL1 11/08
94 3:29.3 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA LL1 11/06