Toyota caught out cheating with their new Lexus IS-F racer - GT-R Register - Official Nissan Skyline and GTR Owners Club forum

monaroCountry · 22nd January 2008, 09:35 AM

Lexus IS-F racer actually a 2004 Opel Vectra DTM car?

Posted Jan 21st 2008 4:57PM by Jonathon Ramsey

Remember that luscious Lexus IS-F racer study that received its fair share of unrequited attention the Tokyo Auto Salon? According to AutoBild, it turns out the car isn't an IS-F racer at all -- well, at least not beyond the hood and fact that it has four doors. The German paper reports that the car is actually a Lexus reskin of a 2004 Opel Vectra DTM racer (above, top). Even the engine is from the Opel DTM car, and not a Toyota V8. This could explain why no one at the Lexus stand at the salon would say a word about the car.

So Lexus might get away with never claiming it was a Lexus... cough, cough... but it's a bit odd that they would let Winding Road get the idea that it's the pet project of the IS-F's chief engineer, designed to show the true potential of Lexus' hot sedan and "something of what a full race IS-F might just feel like." Perhaps what a full-race IS-F might look like. Unless Lexus really intends for a full-race IS-F to feel like a 4-year-old Opel.

Thanks for the tip, Georg!

Lexus IS-F racer actually a 2004 Opel Vectra DTM car? - Autoblog

monkey_rings · 22nd January 2008, 09:59 AM

Im not so sure that they are the same car.

The body lines of the side of the car, the rear door window and the boot are all different in those pictures. It may have an opel engine in it but no way are the two bodys the same.

Lee_Pendlebury · 22nd January 2008, 10:03 AM

I dont even see what the big deal is. This has happened loads with proper cars that actually raced nevermind ones that just stood on an ehibition to look pretty.

gtrlux · 22nd January 2008, 10:03 AM

Autobild . . .arghhhhhh

I tell you it`s a GTR R36 under the body, as I am a more credible source . .!!

I live in Toyota prefecture Aichi in Japan,even if I don`t like toyota , I can assure you that toyota has the budget to build 10 DTM cars and let them race in germany next month! They are truly a Mega-company with unlimited ressources . . . I mean my appartement is build by Toyota Homes, my heater is from Toyota-Denki . . . . so why the hell would they need to ask Opel to help them out with the IS-F???

Thought if it`s true it`s bloody cold calculated, it`s Toyota, not Disneyland.

Snowfiend · 22nd January 2008, 10:11 AM

I work for Toyota & Lexus. I cant comment on the IS-F Racer, but I've seen a sneek preview of the IS-F road going car with my own eyes in america and can confirm it certainly isnt an Opel !

Thrust · 22nd January 2008, 11:57 AM

The title could be libellous/defamatory as Toyota have in the past been caught out in WRC and F1. I know it's a joke, but isn't it a trifle strong?

I took a couple of shots of it and the blurb at TAS. Once I can get Image Shack to reply properly I'll post them.

Thrust · 23rd January 2008, 03:45 AM

Image Shack is there one minute, gone the next, but it seems to be working at about 50% today. Here are some shots, maybe :fingerscrossed:

Nope. Not uploading... grrrrrrrrrrr.............

Edit. OK, now we're talking. First the blurb:

then some awkward surrounding shots.

The car had buckets and harnesses and a race-type interior

side shot

Thrust · 23rd January 2008, 08:11 AM

Well, it is very vague what the explanatory plaque says.

"This car was created as part of the development of the IS-F."

It seems to be suggesting that this is what the car could look like when it has been tuned somewhat by someone for circuit use.

Sidious · 23rd January 2008, 12:04 PM

Why does MonaryCountry threads only contain propaganda info about GM cars?

First it was about how superior the Corvette is everything else, then another thread about how much greater anothe Corvette is, now he accuses Toyota for plaguerising Opel?

22nd January 2008, 09:35 AM	#1 (permalink)
monaroCountry GTR Register Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 46	Toyota caught out cheating with their new Lexus IS-F racer Lexus IS-F racer actually a 2004 Opel Vectra DTM car? Posted Jan 21st 2008 4:57PM by Jonathon Ramsey Remember that luscious Lexus IS-F racer study that received its fair share of unrequited attention the Tokyo Auto Salon? According to AutoBild, it turns out the car isn't an IS-F racer at all -- well, at least not beyond the hood and fact that it has four doors. The German paper reports that the car is actually a Lexus reskin of a 2004 Opel Vectra DTM racer (above, top). Even the engine is from the Opel DTM car, and not a Toyota V8. This could explain why no one at the Lexus stand at the salon would say a word about the car. So Lexus might get away with never claiming it was a Lexus... cough, cough... but it's a bit odd that they would let Winding Road get the idea that it's the pet project of the IS-F's chief engineer, designed to show the true potential of Lexus' hot sedan and "something of what a full race IS-F might just feel like." Perhaps what a full-race IS-F might look like. Unless Lexus really intends for a full-race IS-F to feel like a 4-year-old Opel. Thanks for the tip, Georg! Lexus IS-F racer actually a 2004 Opel Vectra DTM car? - Autoblog

22nd January 2008, 10:11 AM	#5 (permalink)
Snowfiend Team TBD / TYSI Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Deciding... Posts: 3,690	I work for Toyota & Lexus. I cant comment on the IS-F Racer, but I've seen a sneek preview of the IS-F road going car with my own eyes in america and can confirm it certainly isnt an Opel ! __________________ GTROC "SKY LINES" MAGAZINE EDITOR (O-O) SKYLINE (O-O) The darkside is calling....

23rd January 2008, 03:45 AM	#7 (permalink)
Thrust GTROC Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Japan Posts: 3,130	Image Shack is there one minute, gone the next, but it seems to be working at about 50% today. Here are some shots, maybe :fingerscrossed: Nope. Not uploading... grrrrrrrrrrr............. Edit. OK, now we're talking. First the blurb: then some awkward surrounding shots. The car had buckets and harnesses and a race-type interior side shot __________________ All play and no work makes Jack a right berk. Spider Godwin Action Group for the Ban against Skirts to be Lifted Last edited by Thrust; 23rd January 2008 at 04:04 AM.

23rd January 2008, 08:11 AM	#8 (permalink)
Thrust GTROC Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Japan Posts: 3,130	Well, it is very vague what the explanatory plaque says. "This car was created as part of the development of the IS-F." It seems to be suggesting that this is what the car could look like when it has been tuned somewhat by someone for circuit use. __________________ All play and no work makes Jack a right berk. Spider Godwin Action Group for the Ban against Skirts to be Lifted

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22nd January 2008, 09:59 AM	#2 (permalink)
monkey_rings GTR Register Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Reading, Berkshire, UK Posts: 119	Im not so sure that they are the same car. The body lines of the side of the car, the rear door window and the boot are all different in those pictures. It may have an opel engine in it but no way are the two bodys the same.

22nd January 2008, 10:03 AM	#3 (permalink)
Lee_Pendlebury GTR Register Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: W.Sussex Posts: 1,348	I dont even see what the big deal is. This has happened loads with proper cars that actually raced nevermind ones that just stood on an ehibition to look pretty.

22nd January 2008, 10:03 AM	#4 (permalink)
gtrlux Registered user Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: with mom or in the garden Posts: 5,064	Autobild . . .arghhhhhh I tell you it`s a GTR R36 under the body, as I am a more credible source . .!! I live in Toyota prefecture Aichi in Japan,even if I don`t like toyota , I can assure you that toyota has the budget to build 10 DTM cars and let them race in germany next month! They are truly a Mega-company with unlimited ressources . . . I mean my appartement is build by Toyota Homes, my heater is from Toyota-Denki . . . . so why the hell would they need to ask Opel to help them out with the IS-F??? Thought if it`s true it`s bloody cold calculated, it`s Toyota, not Disneyland.

22nd January 2008, 11:57 AM	#6 (permalink)
Thrust GTROC Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Japan Posts: 3,130	The title could be libellous/defamatory as Toyota have in the past been caught out in WRC and F1. I know it's a joke, but isn't it a trifle strong? I took a couple of shots of it and the blurb at TAS. Once I can get Image Shack to reply properly I'll post them.

23rd January 2008, 12:04 PM	#9 (permalink)
Sidious GTR Register Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: S.E London Posts: 557	Why does MonaryCountry threads only contain propaganda info about GM cars? First it was about how superior the Corvette is everything else, then another thread about how much greater anothe Corvette is, now he accuses Toyota for plaguerising Opel?