Inspired by a combination of the new Lexus IS C retractable-hardtop convertible and the success of the
Fox Marketing and Artisan Performance IS F sedan at the 2008 SEMA show in Las Vegas, Brian Fox of his namesake marketing firm and Kenny Strickler of Artisan Performance/Turbochargers.com are once again teaming up for a sequel. Initial information has been scant, as the rendering at the top of this story first appeared on
the VincentWong.com website with word that "One of this year's projects is this amazing Lexus IS Coupe that will be widebodied, repainted, and twin turboed in time to be displayed in (the) Lexus booth this year at SEMA. Josh Cloud did another amazing job on the rendering", and, later, the story was picked up by
The Lexus Enthusiast blog.
Beguiled by that rendering but frustrated by the lack of concrete information, what else is a curious journalist to do but pick up the phone and call Brian Fox, whom we met and
interviewed at the aforementioned 2008 SEMA show. Thankfully, Brian was forthcoming with plenty of information. First off, in spite of the obvious IS F-style front fenders and Artisan Performance/Turbochargers.com's previous twin-turboed 2UR-GSE 5-liter V8, this is
not an IS F/IS C mashup, but an IS 350C that has received Seibon's IS F carbon-fiber hood and front fenders (as shown in
our Lexus ISs at SEMA 2008 Front Page article) combined with the IS F's stock, original-equipment side skirts. That, however, is as far as the IS F influence goes, for under the hood lies the 2GR-FSE IS 350 V6. Further downstream, in true Artisan fashion, sits a
single center-mounted turbocharger, slated to go on sale next month for approximately $6000 installed.
Other exterior modifications will include wide-body rear fenders in true Brian Fox fashion, with the tough stance further accentuated by Yonaka Motorsports coilovers (currently available for the
Lexus IS 300 and coming for the IS 250/350 at the end of July) and
iForged Sprint wheels, 20" x 12" at the rear and a narrower, undetermined size up front. The Fox Marketing Lexus IS 350C will use them with an anthracite center and "cream white" bolts to match the Alabaster interior, and lurking behind them lie Lexus' own F-Sport "big brakes". As to that in-your-face shade of green for the exterior, Brian has turned, as always, to BASF's Glasurit paint line and had them custom-formulate that shade, appropriately named Foxy Green. Hey, if it's to your specifications, why not name it after yourself?
The interior modifications won't be quite as extensive, but the rendering shows Lexus' "Circle L" logo emblazoned on all four headrests, and Brian reveals that the floor and trunk will be redone in Dark Birch Hardwood. Finally, matching interior and trunk flooring on an IS C!
Although its ultimate destination, as stated earlier, is the 2009 SEMA Show, Brian will, in fact, officially unveil his latest creation in July 2009.
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