In 2008, Lexus began launching a series of F-branded cars, starting with the legendary Lexus IS-F. The intention was to bring a great big shot of adrenaline to a brand normally shopped by folks after bulletproof reliability and smooth, low-friction luxury. In this era, high-performing competitors like the Audi RS5, BMW M3, and Ford Mustang were in their naturally aspirated glory days, and screaming V8 engines with a lot of revs were all the rage.
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