There’s a catch to this good news. While the hot rod has returned …. It’s only for the land of the hot dog.

NO chance: That’s the response in precis from Lexus New Zealand when asked about potential of the just-revealed flagship of its new IS compact luxury sedan line reaching this market. 

The local distributor, operating as an adjunct to Toyota New Zealand, has reiterated a view expressed in other right-hand-drive locales: Namely, that the new car is only for North America. Specifically, the United States.

What Kiwis knew as the IS-F, ultimately in a sizzler Redline edition, until it was curtailed in 2014 is now called the IS500 F Sport Performance.

Power is from the 5.0-litre naturally-aspirated petrol V8 seen under the bonnet of the RC-F and GS F performance cars, but also involved with the IS-F since it was born in 2008.  

In this latest application it develops 352kW of power at 7100rpm and 536Nm of torque, at 4800rpm. That’s a 41kW and 31Nm lift over the outputs cited for the last of the IS-Fs, which in its own right moved with astounding alacrity.  

The extra wallop would certainly enhance the pedigree when measured against two of the best in the business, the BMW M3/M4 and Mercedes Benz C63.

Lexus claims a 4.5 second 0-100kmh time. Kerb weight is rated at 1765kg, up just 65kg over the most exciting model in the current NZ line-up, the rear-wheel-drive IS350 F Sport.

Under the skin, the 'standard' IS's 'Dynamic Handling Package' has been fitted as standard to the IS500 to help cope with the extra grunt, with additions including adaptive suspension, a Yamaha rear performance damper (designed to reduce body flex and increase rigidity), and a Torsen limited-slip rear differential. 

19-inch Enkei alloy wheels fill the arches – which are said to be 2.7kg lighter in total versus the regular IS F Sport's 19-inch wheels – hiding larger 356mm two-piece front and 323mm rear sports brakes.

Styling upgrades over NZ-familiar IS F Sport models largely comprise a 51mm-taller bonnet to accommodate the V8 engine, "lengthened" front bumper and quarter panels, a new rear diffuser with the brand's signature stacked quad exhaust tips, black window surrounds, black badging and a black lip spoiler.

Inside, the standard model's 10.3-inch infotainment touchscreen and digital instrument cluster are carried over, with changes limited to F Sport Performance badging on the steering wheel, metallic pedals, unique illuminated door sill plates and an IS500-specific start-up animation for the instrument cluster.

 The full Lexus Safety System Plus driver assistance suite carries over to the flagship.

By chance, in an interview given to MotoringNZ.co, just weeks ago – when the IS500 was still under wraps – the potential of there ever being another IS-F was discussed by Lexus NZ boss Andrew Davis.

At that time, he said he did not know of anything on the horizon, but added: “There is speculation on IS-F and I think this speculation just shows there is still market interest in those sorts of cars.”

Lexus has RC-F and has had GS-F, so there’s logic to think there might still be space for another IS-F, he said then. That the old model has established a cult following also weighed into it.