by Gabrielle DeSantis

20 years ago the Nissan R390 GT1 was built for the grueling demands of the 24 hour Le Mans endurance race. This powerful machine was largely forgotten by history but it lives on today thanks to McLaren. The bespoke automaker bought the rights to the R390’s engine and brought it roaring back to life.

Dev

In 1987 Yoshikazu Ishikawa designed the first Nissan signing purpose-built for racing. The VEJ30 failed to meet expectations and was redesigned the following year. Yoshimasa Hiyashi further refined this new version which was named the VRH30. A second racing engine, the VRH35, was developed alongside it.

In 1997 the automaker paired with Tom Walkinshaw Racing to develop the VRH35L. This engine was developed with Le Mans in mind, and Nissan pulled out all the stops. They created a car with an iconic design that never got the appreciation it deserves. Several distinctive features make the R390 unique. It’s

Only one Nissan R390 GT1 road car was ever built. It underwent a VIN and color change which has led to a persistent rumor that there was a second R390 floating around. The sole R390 road car is now being stored at Nismo’s Zama warehouse. If offered for sale today, the car would be worth more than $2,000,000.

Racing

Nissan built the R390 Gt1 with a purpose. The car was designed to be a grand touring contender in the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race. Nismo partnered with Tom Walkinshaw Racing famous for its work with McLaren)  to develop the R390.

The R390 allegedly had a top speed of 354 mph, however, this claim was never officially verified. The car would, unfortunately, meet its end before it could take home any wins. In 1998 the GT class Le Mans rules changed. This was in an attempt to curb the abuse of loopholes that manufacturers were taking advantage of. Unfortunately, rule changes meant that the R390 no longer fell within regulations.

McLaren tie in

The VRH3h weighed just over 374 pounds. It featured two IHI turbos. The street-legal R390 has over 550 lb-ft of torque and a redline of 4400 rpm. In the earliest stages of development of the MP4-12C McLaren bought the rights to the VRH35. They worked closely with Ricardo to rebuild the engine exactly to their specifications. This engine reborn was. named the M838T.

The M838T became the center of the P1’s hybrid drivetrain. A 4.0-liter powers the 720S. McLaren developed the M840T which amps the power up to 710 hp with an 8,500 rpm redline. The engine has come a long way since its racing roots.

Even with Nismo’s contributions to the racing world the two brands could not be more different. The historical bond between the two is an interesting footnote that’s worth exploring.

The post At the Heart of Every McClaren Is a Nissan appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Luxurious comfort and reliability might be Lexus’s main strengths, but the Japanese brand also has a performance side. One that’s getting an upcoming boost thanks to the 2022 IS500 F Sport Performance. That car, though, owes its existence to this week’s Cars and Bids bargain car: a 2008 Lexus IS F.

The Lexus IS F is a luxury sedan “with true enthusiast credentials,” Car and Driver says

When Lexus unveiled the IS F in 2008, it caused a significant stir. Remember, this is several years before the LFA supercar. Up until this point, Lexus was mostly known for making comfortable luxury cars and hybrids, not performance vehicles, Autocar notes. Indeed, Car and Driver called the IS F both a segment-changer and “a radical shift in its maker’s attitude.”

Much of that ‘shift’ comes from what’s under the hood. The 2008 Lexus IS F has a 5.0-liter V8 co-developed with Yamaha (shades of LFA?) rated at 416 hp and 371 lb-ft, Car and Driver reports. And it sends that power to the rear wheels via a sports-tuned version of the world’s first production eight-speed automatic, PistonHeads reports. With all this, the 2008 IS F goes 0-60 mph in 4.2 seconds.

That V8 isn’t the only upgrade the 2008 Lexus IS F offers over the standard car, though. It has BBS wheels, Brembo brakes, and stiffer suspension, MotorTrend reports. Arguably too stiff, which is why Lexus retuned it for the 2011 model year, MT notes. That same year also brought a standard limited-slip differential and a retuned power-steering system. The leather sport seats, alloy pedals, multiple driving modes, and performance tires were there from day one, though, Car and Driver reports.

It’s worth pointing out that the first-gen Supra-engine IS 300 was a genuine BMW 3 Series competitor. And the same applies to the Lexus IS F and the contemporary E46 M3. The BMW is “more of a precision instrument,” Autoweek reports; especially compared to pre-2011 IS Fs, Car and Driver points out. But even so, the Lexus is “a true M3 chaser,” MT reports, with the ability to freely switch between a luxury cruiser and a performance sedan.

The 2008 Lexus IS F on Cars and Bids

RELATED: Choose a 2021 Lexus RC 350 Over a Toyota Supra if You Value Comfort Over Sportiness

As a 2008 model, the Lexus IS F currently listed on Cars and Bids doesn’t have all the updates the later cars received. But it’s also unmodified, has less than 29,700 miles on the clock, and only has a few scrapes. The seller notes, though, that there is a loan on it.

Plus, this 2008 IS F comes well-equipped. In addition to the F-specific features mentioned earlier, this car has heated seats, adaptive HID headlights, and a Mark Levinson audio system with a six-disc CD changer and XM compatibility. It also has push-button ignition, a power-adjustable steering column, GPS navigation, Bluetooth, a sunroof, a rear-view camera, and front and rear parking sensors.

RELATED: Is the 2021 Lexus LC 500 Faster Than a Speeding Ford Mustang Bullitt?

Cars and Bids reports this 2008 Lexus IS F has an accident-free history. The seller also recently replaced the oil and oil filter, the battery, and the passenger-side rear tire-pressure monitoring sensor.

It’s a more reliable BMW M3 alternative bargain

RELATED: The 2021 Lexus RC 350 F Sport Makes Commuting a Relaxing and Thrilling Experience

As of this writing, this 2008 Lexus IS F is listed on Cars and Bids at $25,678 with three days left in the auction. Given this car’s mileage and condition, that’s below the average asking price on Autotrader, and that’s including high-mileage examples. Limiting the search to pre-update models, the cheapest IS F on Autotrader with similar mileage is almost $15,000 more expensive.

Although the E46 M3 is arguably the sharper car, the Lexus IS F has the reliability advantage. The Lexus V8 doesn’t have to deal with VANOS issues, for one. And with proper maintenance, IS Fs can rack up well over 200,000 miles without issue, Motor1 reports. Perhaps that’s why an updated version of the IS F’s V8 is found in the upcoming IS500 F Sport Performance.

If you’re looking for a reliable luxury sports sedan, then, this Lexus IS F is a bargain worth considering.

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The post Cars and Bids Bargain of the Week: 2008 Lexus IS F appeared first on MotorBiscuit.