This Concept Brought To You By The Letters T,M,G,L,S, And Probably A, Too

Jack Baruth
by Jack Baruth

My experience with the Lexus IS-F was both impressive and rather sterile. I was put in mind of Samuel Johnson’s observation regarding Milton’s Paradise Lost: “[it is] one of the books which the reader admires and puts down, and forgets to take up again. None ever wished it longer than it is.”

The same might be true of the IS-F… but here’s a fast Lexus that’s not just longer, it’s wider. And taller. And just plain big.

From Toyota Motorsport GmbH, a fully-recognized partner of the Big T themselves, comes this “TS-650”. It’s obviously a pre-facelift LS460 that’s been tuned, tweaked, quad-piped, and so on to create a big Toyota Celsior Bongo Funtime Lexus for the autobahn. The most fascinating part of the vehicle, other than the mere fact of its existence (cf. another Samuel Johnson quote) would be the gorgeous twin-turbo V-8 which is claimed to rev to a totes awesome 9000 rpm and produce 641 horsepower.

The TMG TS LS probably has a Bret Easton Ellis’s chance of actually entering production, but it has to be on everyone’s mind that there is ample precedent for a factory-affiliated speed shop to make big bucks by hopping-up staid production sedans. “TMG”, after all, sounds a lot like “AMG”, doesn’t it?

Jack Baruth
Jack Baruth

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  • Raph Raph on Nov 28, 2012

    Hah, Ford called, they want their GT500 heat extractors back.

    • Dolorean Dolorean on Nov 28, 2012

      BMW is on line two. They want to discuss the obvious theft of the Hofmeister kink in the C pillar and the 5 series side profile.

  • HiFlite999 HiFlite999 on Nov 28, 2012

    Lexus, Infinity, Lincoln, and to a large extent, Volvo, now have naming schemes so complex and ridiculous, I don't even attempt to learn them. Amorphous blobs all.

  • Analoggrotto Ford wishes it could be Hyundai Kia Genesis.
  • John I used to have a 2016 Chevy Spark EV (leased, 85 miles range when new) as our family's 3rd car. Loved it. When the lease ended the only cheap EV was the bolt but I couldn't stomach the tuperware interior so I bought a used Cayman instead and have been waiting now for another a cheap EV for almost 5 years. My bigger problem would be that I dislike giving Elon Musk even more $$, but the tesla supercharger network makes long trips (within CA at least) an option.
  • SCE to AUX "...it’s unclear how Ford plans to reach profitability with cheaper vehicles, as it’s slowed investments in new factories and other related areas"Exactly. They need to show us their Gigafactories that will support the high-demand affordable EV volume.
  • 1995 SC I have a "Hooptie" EV. Affordable would be a step up.
  • Buickman if they name it "Recall" there will already be Brand Awareness!
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