 In early 2004, just after the final XE20 design had been frozen for production, Lexus engineer Yukihiko Yaguchi, assembled a small team and on a limited budget began work on a higher performance IS.By the first half of 2005, XE20-body prototype mules with the 4.6L 1UR-FE V8 were spotted testing on the Nürburgring.These prototypes were nicknamed "IS 460" by the media.