Our previous Front Page story on the Team Falken Lexus IS350 Drift Car was, quite frankly, more of a "teaser" announcement of the car's participation in the Formula DRIFT series, and a listing of the series' fourth season schedule. With the first event of the series having passed, we can now bring you photos and information on what is seemingly the first Lexus IS350 to participate in any sort of motorsports competition. Be prepared, though, for a couple of unexpected surprises.
My.IS' intake king and newest Senior Moderator,
Joe Z, attended (courtesy of his beautiful wife) the initial 2007 Formula DRIFT event,
No Room For Mistakes, on Saturday April 7 at California's Streets of Long Beach. And the Team Falken Lexus IS350 Drift Car had a beautiful showing... under the Discount/America's Tire tent! Unfortunately, the car wasn't fully tuned in time for the Long Beach event, and thus didn't compete. It will surely be ready for Round 2, however,
Fight Night at Road Atlanta on Saturday May 12, where Team Falken driver Hiro Sumida will take the helm and make this baby dance.
The black, white and red paint scheme is eye-catching enough, but popping the hood is downright jaw-dropping, and it's not just because all the noise-insulating engine covers are gone. The 2GR-FSE V6 is gone, too, replaced by a 2JZ-GTE Supra Turbo Motor with a Haltech Engine Management System!
This decision led to a good deal of baffled disappointment among those of us who were hoping that Team Falken and Placentia, California's SPD Metal Works would expand on the beachhead opened by
Japan's TOM'S line of 2nd-generation IS modifications. Others correctly wondered why Team Falken spent an extra $5500 or so more on an IS350 over an IS250 if the engine was going to be swapped, anyway.
The answers were provided by my.IS member
IS300eR. Team Falken originally planned to use the stock motor, and had conquered the basic research & development as well as hardware issues, but were tripped up by issues with "software", sensors, wires, harnesses and the like that neither Haltech nor AEM were able to overcome. Fortunately, it seems that they're not giving up, and the Team Falken folks are determined to see a modded IS350 engine in that Drift car.
If nothing else, the way that 2JZ-GTE engine fits in the 2nd-generation Lexus IS engine bay gives us fans of torque-monster diesel engines hope that
a Lexus IS330d might become a reality.
For more on this story, and to view more pictures of the Team Falken Lexus IS350 Drift Car, check out
this story from our General Discussion forum.
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