| 2010 Lexus IS-F vs 2010 BMW M3 | January 7, 2010 | AUTORIVALS.NET |
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| Some regard the BMW M3 as the best car in the world. The original M3 was born in 1986 but wasn't available in America until 1988. Since then, it has become legendary with its high level of performance, refinement, and luxury. It has come a long way since with upgraded luxury and perhaps more importantly, performance. The current generation M3 is powered by a V8 for the first time in history which gains fifteen percent more power over its predecessor yet is also more fuel efficient. Competitors have tried and tried again to knock off the M3 from the top with Lexus being the newest rival. Lexus is relatively new to the sports sedan world. Their traditional goals sought luxury and refinement with performance being sacrificed for a soft, supple ride. All that changed with the introduction of the Lexus IS-F. The IS-F is based on the Lexus IS obviously but was developed at Fuji speedway for a performance makeover. It comes packed with a 5.0L V8 that rivals the BMW's 4.0L V8 engine along with a tuned sports suspension. | ||
| 2010 Lexus IS-F | vs | 2010 BMW M3 |
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| The IS-F's front fascia gets
heavily modified from the regular Lexus IS. A more aggressive
bumper gets pushed out the front end and incorporates larger air
intakes to help cool the engine. Shoving a V8 into a V6 engine
bay required a new hood with a massive power bulge in the center
to allow for adequate space and cooling. The M3 gets a new hood of its own with a more modest power dome than the IS-F. The front fascia gets reworked to incorporate larger air intakes as well which replaces the fog lamps on the 3 Series sedan. The rest of the design stays true to the 3 Series form and looks less modified than the IS-F. The difference between the two vehicles is that the 3 Series was designed with the M version in mind whereas the IS-F was designed well after the IS sedan was already in production. |
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| The IS-F's front fascia gets
matched with wider front fenders with a slit behind the front
wheels for ventilation. Body pieces look more like aftermarket
pieces on the IS-F than the M3. The front bumper bulges out from
the front more than it should making it look less integrated in
the design. The bulging hood however, manages to look good
giving spectators an indication that something powerful is
lurking under the hood. The M3's design cues have some familiarity from the previous generation with vents on the front fenders, now an M3 trademark. The side mirrors are new and come with an interesting aerodynamic design (best seen from the front view above). Body pieces on the front end are well integrated with one another giving a muscular and aggressive demeanor. |
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| The IS-F's profile has its ups and
downs. The front end looks a tad long, especially with the
extruded front bumper. The rest of the design looks good with a
roofline that flows better into the rear than the M3. The window
shape makes the C-pillar look more coupe like giving the IS-F a
sleeker look. The IS-F gets fitted with custom 19-inch forged
alloy wheels specially designed by BBS. The M3's body takes the usual 3 Series form with the exception of the new wheels and front fender vent. It's not quite as sleek as the IS-F with a taller look due to a slightly taller body and windows. The M3's wheels are a nice balance of sport and luxury. |
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| Lexus went a little over the top with the exhaust design. The stacked exhaust pipes on both side are a bit peculiar but aren't necessarily bad, just peculiar. The M3's tail pipes are simpler, more traditional with placement more towards the center. Small lip spoilers are placed on both cars but the rest of each design is left untouched from their regular sedan counterparts. It's unfortunate that BMW left the tail lights untouched because the jagged egg-shape from the 3 Series don't look befitting on such a powerful car. The 3 Series coupe's tail lights would've looked much better. | ||
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| Both interiors get minor upgrades from the regular sedans. F and M Logos are placed in various locations to signify the performance orientation of each vehicle. The IS-F gets added metal trim for the center stack and console along with an oil-temperature gauge and shift indicator lights. Some features are added for 2010 such as Bluetooth, USB connectivity, and available voice-activated navigation. The M3 gets HD Radio as standard equipment for 2010 while the rest of the interior remains unchanged. One unique feature still in place is a warning zone on the tachometer that recommends engine speed based on the engine oil temperature that changes to yellow and red. | ||
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PROS +Sleeker profile +Power bulge hood is intimidating CONS -Front bumper protrudes out |
PROS +Better integrated body pieces +Aggressive but more subtle than the IS-F CONS -Regular 3 Series elements such as the tail lights |
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| Video Source: Car and Driver via YouTube |
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