Bob Carter, Lexus group VP and General Manager, explained the philosophy behind the new Lexus IS-F thusly: “This car is, in the best tradition of the factory hotrod, the result of an effort by a ‘Skunk Works’ team, a covert operation populated by a team of rogue engineers. They developed this vehicle while endorsing the ‘Lexus Musts,’ a rigorous set of development standards. We also added a couple of additional Musts, the sort of Musts that you might expect hard-core enthusiasts to demand: Must be balanced. Must be authentic. And, most importantly, Must haul ass.”