Lexus is doing a whole new thing with the F Sport trim
level. Now on several of its models including the RX, GS and LS for 2013, and
the 2014 IS – which recently debuted at the Detroit Auto Show – they’re kicking ass and taking no prisoners! The new F Sport line totally defies the Lexus tradition at large, which like the former days of Cadillac, produced a line of luxury vehicles for the more settled and subdued.

The $47,00. RX 350 F Sport with all wheel drive rolled up in
a beautiful starfire pearl (white), on a set of 19’s, bearing a dark graphite
(versus a highly polished) finish. With it’s new Lexus signature spindle front
grill, further accented by a very bold line of LED daytime running lights
underscoring the headlights, I thought, “Damn, Lexus, y’all ain’t playing!”

Next, I opened the door to reveal the black leather trimmed seats with white
perforations, white trim—seating, and ebony maple wood on the dash and doors
and could do nothing but smile. Altogether the look transcends into a feeling
that’s much racier and far more exciting than we’ve ever seen in an RX.  And it felt good!

But the RX 350 F Sport is more than just a looker. Its 3.5
liter, 270 horse power ultra low emissions engine produces 248 lb feet of
torque across the board in all of RX’s gas engine trim levels—RX 350 AWD, FWD
and F Sport. Unlike the AWD and FWD trim levels that come with a six speed
electronically controlled automatic tranny with intelligence (ECT-I) and snow
modes for the fluffy stuff, the F Sport includes an eight speed tranny, still
with snow and sequential shift!

Also, to help feel the F Sport difference, a stiffer, F
Sport tuned suspension makes the RX handle with much more fun and vigor on the
road. I’m talking about the ability to weave through traffic when you have to
and to take a curve like you own it! All of that and still 18 miles per gallon
in the city, 26 on the highway, for an average of 18 mpg, which is not bad for
a whip that affords the driver with the opportunity to play bad boy before
picking up his girl and/or the kids.

The simple things in life tend to make a huge difference.
For me in the RX F Sport it was the heads up display revealing the speed I was
traveling and navigation directions. And speaking of navigation, the $2,775
system ‘s voice command feature is one of my favorites in the industry in the
sense that it recognized the words I spoke without me having to repeat myself
numerous times or pull over to the side of the road (out of frustration) to
manually enter driving directions. Neither did I have to take my eyes off the
road to make other changes for radio station or climate control changes.

Bottom-line on the RX 350 F Sport: It’s all man for sure…and
not old man either—unless of course, he’s rolling with Viagra!