Vroom, vroom!

Now, is that any way for a Lexus to behave?

You bet.

And just wait until you see it. It's the 2008 Lexus IS-F, the company's first truly high performance car, and it's a honey. I've driven it, and was pleasantly shocked at just how aggressive, and dominating this car is on the road.

The Lexus IS-F is by almost any measure, a brutish looking, ground hugging, take-no-prisoners high performance sports sedan that will likely shock a good number of enthusiasts and others this year.

Lift that hood and you'll find an engine that will deliver more than 400 horsepower and over 350 lbs./ft. of peak torque from a 5.0-liter V-8. That's not all. The engine has specially engineered cylinder heads that are fed by a two-stage intake system.

There's more. The IS-F is equipped with engine-oil and transmission fluid coolers for high-speed performance, and a cylinder head-scavenging oil pump for high g-force driving.

By the way, when you do hit the road in this one, don't expect this to ride like Uncle Albert's Lexus. No way. You know what every tire is doing, and because the suspension is so firm, you'll feel a lot more of the road action and the surface of the asphalt than you may be accustomed to in the Lexus. And that's OK by me.

This sports set-up includes double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension systems. The car also sits about an inch lower than other IS series models.

There's a story, incidentally, behind the "F" designation, which is part of the company's history.

The "F" originates from the "Circle-F" internal code for what became the Lexus Division nearly 20 years ago. Since then, the "F" code has come to signify a special vehicle program within Lexus that falls outside the normal engineering and development process. Much of the IS-F development took place at Fuji Speedway and the Higashi-Fuji Technical Center in Japan.

You had better get used to seeing that "F" emblem, too. Lexus is going to be rolling out ultra-high-performance models for just about its entire lineup.

They're smart to do so, too. Every luxury car maker worth its salt is hitting the high performance trail, and if you don't participate, you're going to be left in the dust -- literally -- as a car maker.

The company's arch competitors, Mercedes with its AMG series cars and BMW with its M Series cars and Cadillac with its V series products are already fielding high performance models. Lexus almost has to do this to remain competitive.

Another technical highlight is that the engine for the IS-F will use Lexus' first eight-speed direct sport-shift transmission -- and of course, it will include paddle shifting. As a result, the IS-F will zoom to 60 in an astonishing 4.8 seconds or so. That's at least as fast as a Corvette.

The IS-F features an all-new, three-mode version of the Lexus Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management system. In addition to the Normal mode, this new version of VDIM features a Sport mode that allows the driver to push the car even further before its braking- throttle- and steering-control systems kick in.

The third VDIM system mode is "Off," which allows the driver to push the IS-F to its ultimate level of handling performance on a racetrack.

The IS-F brakes are an important part of the high-performance story, too. They're both brutally strong and designed to draw attention from onlookers.

That's because these are gargantuan heavy-duty Brembo brakes that include 14.2 inch perforated front discs and six-piston aluminum calipers. high-friction brake pads are fitted all around.

And as for those onlookers, wait until they get a look at the Lexus name proudly emblazoned on the calipers -- that's the first time, too for a Lexus product.

Obviously, with all this good stuff, you want to be sure nobody misses the IS-F. Lexus took care of that issue by modifying the styling. You'll notice its dual-exhaust system and quad tailpipes, wider front fenders, and a larger grille and rear spoiler. Both the hood and lower intake were enlarged to accommodate and help cool the V-8 engine.

Inside, you'll notice unique styling with aluminum-composite trim and special surface treatments. The instrument panel includes an oil-temperature gauge and shift indicator-lights, while the "F" logo is showcased on the steering wheel and rear-center console.

There also are specially shaped and trimmed seats that hold the driver comfortably and securely in place. The special sport seats are available in black or a unique high-contrast white with black trim.

I look for the IS-F to cost somewhere in the low- to mid-$50,000 range. That would surely be less than the $60,000-plus you can expect to pay for a BMW M3, Cadillac CTS-V or comparable high-performance sedan.

Fuel mileage ratings are not yet available.