Lexus F: the IS F, LFA, RC F, GS F and the F SPORT line

Lexus F performance cars history

The F badge honors Fuji Speedway and the nearby Higashi-Fuji Technical Center in Japan, where Lexus develops its performance cars.

The IS F was the first Lexus to wear the F marque. Lexus revealed it in Detroit and put it on sale in January 2008 as a 2008 model, with a 5.0-liter V8 and an eight-speed automatic. The LFA supercar followed, then the RC F coupe and GS F sedan, both with a 467-hp version of the V8.

F SPORT is a different thing. It began as a performance-parts line at SEMA in 2007 and became factory-tuned trims with sharper chassis and styling on mainstream models. F SPORT Performance, starting with the 2022 IS 500, sits between F SPORT and the full F cars.[1],[2],[3],[4],[5],[6]

Years and production numbers

Generations and key variants

Engine and drivetrain facts

• The IS F V8 made 416 hp at 6,600 rpm and 371 lb-ft at 5,200 rpm, with a 6,800-rpm redline and Yamaha-designed cylinder heads.
• The LFA’s 4.8-liter V10 made 552 hp at 8,700 rpm and drove a six-speed automated sequential gearbox; Lexus quoted 0–60 mph in 3.6 seconds and a 202-mph top speed, with a carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic chassis.
• The GS F’s 5.0-liter V8 made 467 hp and 389 lb-ft with a 7,300-rpm redline, titanium valves and a 12.3:1 compression ratio, and could switch between Atkinson and Otto cycles.

Sources:[1],[7],[8]

What changed over the years

1. 2007F SPORT performance parts launch at SEMA; the IS F makes its debut.
2. 2008IS F goes on sale in January as the first F model.
3. 2010LFA priced at $375,000; production begins in December.
4. 2011First LFA arrives in the US; GS 350 F SPORT premieres.
5. 2012Final LFA built on December 14, ending the 500-car run.
6. 2014RC F premieres in Detroit with 467 hp.
7. 2015GS F premieres in Detroit.
8. 2016LC 500 coupe premieres in Detroit.
9. 2019RC F Track Edition introduced.
10. 2021IS 500 F SPORT Performance revealed for the 2022 model year.
11. 2025Lexus LFA Concept premieres.

Sources:[2],[4],[5],[6],[7],[9]

What to check before you buy one

• Confirm a true F car from the model name in the VIN-decoded data: an IS F, RC F or GS F has the 5.0-liter V8, while F SPORT cars use the regular engines.
• Ask for track-use and service history on F cars. Brakes, tires and fluids wear faster with track days, which Lexus designed these cars to handle.
• For an LFA, insist on provenance. Only 500 were built, so documentation of the build and ownership matters a great deal to value.

Model-specific problems by generation are tracked on our Lexus RC known issues page.

Lexus F performance cars prices and values

Medians of asking prices, not transaction prices; every trim is blended, so performance variants usually sit well above these medians. "Below new median" compares each model year's median used listing with the median listing price of a new 2026 IS today. More in our Lexus IS depreciation study.

Mileage: across 5,395 used Lexus IS listings in our November 2026 study (all model years), the median odometer reading was 72,724 miles and 2.5% showed 200,000 miles or more. See how long a Lexus IS lasts.

How to verify a Lexus F performance cars's factory options

A used Lexus's model, engine and drivetrain are fixed at the factory. CarWhere decodes the 17-character VIN and, where licensed factory build data exists, lists the equipment the car was built with. It does not promise a complete option list for every VIN.