Fuji Speedway is the place where Lexus is permitted to carry out all high speed testing of the company’s performance cars.

Lexus has now paid repaid the courtesy, by badging all high performance vehicles 'F' -- for 'Fuji'.

If the first car to go on sale in Australia -- the Lexus IS-F -- is anything to go by, 'F' series vehicles from Lexus will be very special cars indeed. The IS-F (pictured) is due in the closing half of next year.

Locally delivered cars will be fitted with a 300kW V8 engine displacing five litres, an eight-speed (yes, you read that right) automatic transmission and limited slip differential.

Divisional Manager for Lexus Australia, John Roca, made no bones about it; the IS-F will compete with European rivals and penetrate a market niche not previously explored by Lexus.

"Much as the LS 400 did in the luxury market, the IS-F will challenge performance rivals in its field - providing a level of performance and on-track ability unlike any previous Lexus" he said.

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