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Ground Zero
Lexus and Five Axis drop a bomb on SEMA with their jet fighter inspired IS-F
For their first-ever appearance at SEMA, Lexus decided that making a big splash was a big priority. Sure, they had the brand new IS-F to show off, offering test drives to industry members before the majority of the world press even had a chance to test out the car. On top of that, rumors abounded that Lexus would release an F-Sport “aftermarket” performance line for the IS250 and 350 – and Lexus delivered.
To really push the envelope, however, the usually stuffy Lexus execs decided to embrace the SEMA ethos and commission a truly one-of-a-kind vehicle. They contacted Troy Sumitomo at Five Axis to do the job. Sumitomo has a long history of working with the Toyota group of companies, having developed SEMA cars for Scion in the past and even having worked on the FT-HS, unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show last year.
A NEW CHALLENGE
In an interview with Sumitomo, we asked what challenges his team faced with this new venture.
“Our audience for this project was different from the Scion crowd in that we had to be considerate of a much more discriminating market and more importantly, a higher-end brand,” he said. “Unlike the Scions, we were more focused on refinement and emphasizing sports luxury as opposed to wild colors, over-the-top modifications and extreme entertainment.”
However, says Sumitomo, some aspects of the team’s design philosophy didn’t change. “Our approach to all our design programs follows a simple yet universal formula: know your audience, capture their attention, but do so with good, clean, responsible design and always respect the original design intent of the vehicle we start with.”
“Lexus’s wish list was pretty straight forward,” says Sumitomo. “They wanted us to create a car that pushed the envelope of styling with a strong emphasis on performance! They also wanted to give it that developmental, top-secret, test-car appearance and therefore requested we paint it with a matte black finish.”
JET-FIGHTER INSPIRED
To accomplish this goal, Sumitomo’s team at Five Axis looked to jet fighters for inspiration. “The stealth-like matte black finish and the flowing lines are all synonymous with the sleekness and agility that these fighters represent,” he says. “The body of the Project IS-F has many twisting and flowing surfaces that were inspired by the contrails jet fighters leave behind when ripping through the air. These dynamically styled surfaces also give the body a sense of speed and movement, even when the car is at standstill.”
DESIGN DETAILS
The body of the car is undeniably an incredible work of art. Using fiberglass, the already-bulging IS-F fenders were extended an additional three inches on each side.
While making the overall appearance more jagged and complex, the team simplified certain aspects, removing details on the upper half of the car’s body. The door handles have all been shaved off and are operated by the key fob. Sumitomo did add faux handles for the front doors to accentuate the driver-oriented feeling of the IS-F.
As for the stock side mirrors, Sumitomo had a plan. “We wanted to eliminate the bulky, stock sideview mirrors in order to accentuate the surface that extends from the front fender, through the body shoulder and into the base of the C-pillar,” he says. What he came up with are tiny cameras that film what’s behind the car, with the image projected onto the windshield by heads-up display technology.
Angular new sideskirts continue the fighter jet style and join the front fascia to the rear of the car – which is easily the car’s best angle. The subtle trunk spoiler and concave diffuser minimize the car’s huge rear end and the new tailpipes, while a little excessive, might just look better than the stock units. The use of the satin-bronze colored metal for the rear is appealing, especially considering it matches the wheels.
Five Axis lowered the car with Tein coilovers before fitting 20-inch rollers to each corner. While most everything on the car is either a prototype or custom part, the wheels are not. The S5:F wheels are actually part of the new Five:AD line of wheels just launched by Five Axis.
The interior of the car received a suitably wild transformation. Better-bolstered front seats were designed, and while Alcantara coats most of the surface, the seat centers (as well as the headrests and door inserts) were upholstered with a weave of leather and stainless steel strands. We’re not sure what Zebras have to do with fighter jets, but at least the stock carbon fiber was tinted to match.
STAGE 2: MORE POWER
When unveiled at SEMA, only the aesthetics of the car had been completed, but a full engine package is in the works. For phase two, Sumitomo says he wants to “push the limits” of performance and handling. “This car is already equipped with state-of-the-art technology… and our goal is to squeeze every last ounce of performance out of this bad boy, just short of blowing it up.”
“But don’t tell Lexus,” he jokes.
The 5.0L V8 will undergo an all-motor build from the crank to the cams, a build which could produce as much as 600 hp! “We are coordinating with one of the best teams out there known for making Toyotas scream. I can promise you this: if extra horsepower is there to be had, we’ll use it and maximize the heck out of it.”
As it stands, the car is still an impressive performer with the stock engine producing 416 HP. “@#$!, it is fun to drive,” exclaims Sumitomo. “It has good low-end torque and smooth acceleration. The paddle shift works great and the downshift throttle blip sounds really cool, especially with the louder exhaust.”
LEXUS AND THE AFTERMARKET
Lexus’s involvement in this project is a little shocking not only because of the company’s traditional conservatism, but also because the Five Axis car was unveiled even before the stock IS-F was available in dealerships. On top of that, Lexus’s German competitors wouldn’t be caught dead at SEMA.
But what Lexus understands that the German OEMs don’t is that while you can label everyone at SEMA a tuner, you can also label them an enthusiast. So making the world’s largest aftermarket trade show ground zero for their assault on the industry was a no-brainer.
“With the … introduction of IS-F … Lexus is reaffirming its commitment to performance, overall, and to enthusiasts, in particular,” says Justin Hood, Lexus project manager for the Five Axis build. “The development of Project IS-F provides a demonstrative means of showing our own excitement for pushing Lexus’ boundaries and reaching out to a new audience.”
Lexus vehicles have never been a big hit with the aftermarket crowd, but the IS-F is likely to change all that. While independent tuners are soon to start work on superchargers and turbochargers for the IS-F, Lexus has decided to launch their own F-Sport performance parts line for the IS250 and 350, including sway bars, exhaust systems, and big brake upgrades – none of which will void the car’s warranty.
In our interview with Hood, he perfectly encapsulated Lexus’s aftermarket philosophy: “We recognize the importance of enabling consumers to drive vehicles that truly reflect their personalities.”
So with Lexus’s open mind about the aftermarket industry, as well as their commitment to enthusiasts demonstrated by cars like the IS-F and the upcoming LF-A, we’re sure to be seeing many more modified Lexus vehicles driving down the street and into the pages of MLE.
SPECIFICATIONS & DETAILS
Lexus IS-F
ENGINE
Lexus 5.0-L V8
BODY, CHASSIS
One-off Five Axis body including new front and rear bumpers, hood, side skirts, three-inch flared fenders, trunk lid spoiler, shaved door handles, cameras in place of side mirrors, satin-black pearl paint, satin-bronze detailing, including custom exhaust pipes and rear diffuser
WHEELS, TIRES
(f) Five Axis 20x8.5-inch satin-bronze S5:F wheels with 245/30/20 Yokohama Advan Sports tires; Brembo six-piston calipers with 15-inch rotors;
(r) Five Axis 20x10.5-inch satin-bronze S5:F wheels with 295/25/20 Yokohama Advan Sports tires, Brembo two-piston calipers with 13.6-inch rotors
SUSPENSION
Tein fully adjustable coilovers
INTERIOR
Custom designed front seats covered in Alcantara with a basket-weave seat insert of leather and stainless steel strands (also used for headrests, door inserts and center console), Alcantara rear seats, Chilewich floor mats, tinted carbon fiber details
NUMBERS
Horsepower: 416 HP @ 6600 rpm
Torque: 371 ft-lbs @ 5200 rpm
Zero-60: 4.6 sec.
Top Speed: 170 mph
SOURCEBOX
5 Axis Models
7612 Woodwind Drive
Huntington Beach, CA 92647
T: 714-842-9677
W: www.fiveaxis.net
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