Handmade in Japan for the 2UR-GSE: Why NOVEL Racing Japan and TOM'S Racing Are Among Mod in Japan's Best-Selling Lexus F Upgrades
When we went back through more than a decade of Mod in Japan order history to see which parts Lexus F owners actually buy, one pattern stood out right away. A big share of our strongest sellers are made in Japan, by Japanese companies, for an engine that was itself developed in Japan exclusively for the Lexus F cars. Four of the top ten products in that review come from two Japanese names: NOVEL Racing Japan and TOM'S Racing.
At Mod in Japan, we're the North American master distributor, and we've spent years sourcing parts for Lexus F owners directly from Japan's best tuners. That order history is where this article comes from.
That's not a coincidence, and it isn't only about a "JDM" badge. It's about how these parts are designed, how they're built, and how well they suit the cars our customers drive: the IS F, RC F, GS F and IS500. In this article we'll walk through each of those top-selling Japanese parts, what they do, why owners keep choosing them, and what "made in Japan" really means for each one, using the manufacturers' own descriptions and the product details on our site.
The engine at the center of it all: the 2UR-GSE V8
Every part in this article is built around one engine. In NOVEL's own words, "2UR-GSE was developed exclusively for the Lexus F Models." It's the naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 found in the IS F, RC F, GS F and IS500, and it's a big part of why these cars have such a loyal following. It revs, it sounds great, and it responds well to good exhaust design.
NOVEL describes the philosophy behind its exhaust systems as a way "to awaken the potential within the highly viable V8 engine while perfecting the exhaust note." That sentence sums up why Japanese exhaust parts sell so well for these cars. Owners want two things at once: a sharper, stronger-feeling engine and a sound that matches the car's character. The Japanese parts below were developed with both goals in mind.
1. NOVEL Racing Japan Exhaust Manifold GEN III (IS F / RC F / GS F / IS500)
SKU: NOV-HEADERS | View on Mod in Japan
The NOVEL GEN III exhaust manifold is the single biggest Japanese seller in our review, and one of the top ten products in the entire Mod in Japan catalog by sales. It's an equal-length header set for the 2UR-GSE, and it fits all four Lexus F applications: IS F, RC F, GS F and IS500.
What it is
Exhaust manifolds (often called headers) collect exhaust gas from each cylinder and merge it into the rest of the exhaust. The factory part has to balance cost, packaging, emissions and noise. An aftermarket equal-length manifold is designed to give each cylinder's exhaust pulse a runner of the same length, so the pulses arrive at the collector in a more even, organized way.
NOVEL calls its equal-length manifolds "an intensive of Made-in-Japan technology," noting that the equal-length piping was "completed" in "the extremely narrow space" of the Lexus engine bay. Anyone who has looked under the hood of an RC F knows how little room there is, and that packaging challenge is a big part of what you're paying for.
Key features
- Equal-length runners, each runner individually attached for precise installation
- The GEN III version adds an all-new Vortex Merge Collector
- Made of Japanese 304 stainless steel
- The merge collector and runners are not welded together, which allows for a more precise fit and for movement during operation; spot welding the pieces is optional
- Includes all necessary hardware for installation, and OEM hardware is used during installation
- Professional installation is always recommended
- For off-road racing use only
Why it sells
There are three reasons we hear again and again. The first is sound. NOVEL says its systems create "our signature high-pitched exhaust note," and that high-pitched, almost race-car character is exactly what many F owners are chasing. The second is that one part covers four cars. Because the 2UR-GSE is shared across the F lineup, the same manifold serves IS F, RC F, GS F and IS500 owners, which makes it a natural first big upgrade for the whole community. The third is that it's a foundation part. Headers sit at the very start of the exhaust, so owners planning a full system often start here and build outward.
How and where it's made
This is where NOVEL really sets itself apart. According to the product details, each manifold is "handmade and hand welded in Japan by only 2 specially trained Japanese artisans," using Japanese 304 stainless steel. NOVEL's own English site says its manifolds are "handcrafted by our seasoned artisans." That's not a mass-production story. It's a small-batch, hand-built one, and it's a big part of why owners who care about craftsmanship choose NOVEL.
2. NOVEL Racing Japan Valved Catback Exhaust for the Lexus IS500
SKU: NOV-IS500-013 | View on Mod in Japan
The IS500 is the newest car to carry the 2UR-GSE, and NOVEL's valved catback for it has become one of our top performers even though it's a premium, low-volume part. It's made up of the center pipe and rear muffler, and it pairs naturally with the NOVEL manifold above.
What it is
A catback exhaust replaces everything behind the catalytic converters: the mid section (center pipe) and the rear muffler. On the IS500, NOVEL's version adds an electronically controlled valve system, which is the feature owners mention most.
Key features
- Electronically controlled exhaust valves let you adjust volume with a switch
- Handmade and hand welded in Japan by two specially trained artisans
- Constructed from Japanese 304 stainless steel
- Designed to improve horsepower, torque and engine response
- Tuned to create NOVEL's signature high-pitched exhaust note under acceleration
- Includes necessary installation hardware, while using OEM hardware during installation
- Equipped with a 200 CEL CAT and intended for off-road racing use; professional installation is always recommended
Why it sells
The valve is the reason. NOVEL puts it simply: "With a flip of a switch experience a comfortable volume or unleash the full range of sound, it is entirely up to you." Many IS500 owners drive their cars every day. They want a quiet cold start in the morning and a full V8 voice on a back road. NOVEL's own site describes the rear muffler's volume-switching valve as adjustable "from pleasant sound to stock-level sound." That flexibility makes a loud, hand-built exhaust far easier to live with.
How and where it's made
Like the manifold, the IS500 catback is handmade and hand welded in Japan by NOVEL's artisans, from Japanese 304 stainless steel. NOVEL describes the center pipe and rear muffler as a place where the "knowhow of Japanese craftman technology is put in everywhere." For owners who want a true Japanese full system, pairing this catback with the NOVEL manifold gives you a complete exhaust built by the same small team.
3. NOVEL Racing Japan Carbon Fiber Cooling Bonnet for the Lexus IS F
SKU: NOV-ISF-005 | View on Mod in Japan
Not every Japanese top seller is an exhaust part. NOVEL's carbon fiber cooling bonnet (hood) for the IS F is one of our ten strongest products overall, and it's a great example of a part that's both functional and visual.
What it is
It's a vented carbon fiber (CFRP) replacement hood for the IS F. The vents are designed to increase airflow through the engine bay, and the carbon construction gives the car a purposeful, motorsport look.
Key features
- Handmade in Japan from Japanese carbon fiber
- Developed from NOVEL Racing Japan's motorsports activities at the Nürburgring in the VLN Series
- Designed and tested to be functional, not just a cosmetic replacement
- Vented design; the hood does not come with mesh wire, to allow maximum airflow
- Includes all necessary hardware for installation
- Installation is a simple remove and replace, and it mounts securely to the OEM mounting points
- Fitment is for the Lexus IS F
Why it sells
The IS F is a car people keep and improve for years, and a hood is one of the most visible changes you can make. This one isn't just for show. Its design grew out of NOVEL's racing at the Nürburgring, and its vents are meant to move heat out of a tightly packed V8 engine bay. It also installs on the factory mounting points, so it's a straightforward swap. For IS F owners, it hits the sweet spot between looks, function and ease of install.
How and where it's made
The bonnet is handmade in Japan from Japanese carbon fiber, according to the product details. Carbon parts vary a lot in quality depending on who makes them and how. A part made by hand by a company that races its own cars is exactly what many owners want when they're putting a big, visible panel on the front of their car.
4. TOM'S Racing "TOM'S Barrel" Axleback Exhaust for the Lexus GS F
Current SKU: TMS-17400-TUL15 (previously sold as TMS-17400-TUL10) | View on Mod in Japan
TOM'S Racing is one of Japan's best-known Toyota and Lexus tuning names, and its "TOM'S Barrel" axleback for the GS F is the top-selling Japanese exhaust in our order history. It's one of the top five products in the entire Mod in Japan catalog.
What it is
The TOM'S Barrel is an axleback system, meaning it replaces only the rear section of the exhaust. It's a focused upgrade that changes the sound and rear styling of the GS F while keeping a clean, OEM-like fit.
Key features
- Axleback rear section only
- Made in Japan from high-quality stainless steel and titanium
- Real titanium tips that can be burnt for additional color
- Piping diameter: 60 mm x 2
- Tip diameter: 100 mm x 2 and 90 mm x 2, for a quad-tip look
- Sound level: 89 dB
- Can be combined with a mid pipe to make a complete catback system
Why it sells
The GS F is a grown-up sports sedan, and its owners often want more sound and a sportier rear view without turning the car into something loud and harsh. A rated 89 dB sound level tells you TOM'S aimed for a sporty but controlled tone. The titanium tips are a big visual draw too, since they can be heat-colored for that classic burnt-titanium finish. And because it's an axleback, it's easy to build on later. Our product page links to two mid-pipe options, a resonated version for a deeper, milder tone and a non-resonated version for a raspier, louder one, so owners can tune the full system to taste.
TOM'S also offers a full-titanium version for the GS F (TMS-17400-TUL11) for owners who care most about weight. Its product details list the OEM rear section at 46.29 lb (21 kg) and the TOM'S full titanium system at 15.43 lb (7 kg), a reduction of over 30 lb. The details also state that it fits standard bumpers as well as the TOM'S rear diffuser.
How and where it's made
TOM'S makes the Barrel axleback in Japan from stainless steel and real titanium, according to our product details and the TOM'S Racing online shop listing for the GS F "TOM'S Barrel" system. The full-titanium version's product details highlight "the highest level of quality welding and production as it's Made in Japan." For many GS F owners, a TOM'S part carries real weight, because TOM'S has been associated with Toyota and Lexus performance for a long time.
What "made in Japan" means for these parts
It's easy to treat "made in Japan" as a marketing line. For the four parts above, it describes something specific:
- Small-batch, hand-built work. NOVEL's manifolds and IS500 catback are handmade and hand welded in Japan by two specially trained artisans. That's craftsmanship you can see in the welds.
- Japanese materials. NOVEL lists Japanese 304 stainless steel for its exhausts and Japanese carbon fiber for the IS F bonnet. TOM'S builds in stainless steel and real titanium.
- Development on the track. NOVEL's bonnet came out of its racing at the Nürburgring in the VLN Series, and TOM'S is a racing name first.
- Parts designed by people who know the car. The 2UR-GSE was developed in Japan for the F cars, and these companies build parts specifically for it, not as one-size-fits-all products adapted afterward.
That combination is why our customers are willing to wait for, and invest in, Japanese parts. They aren't the cheapest way to make an F car louder. They're the way to do it with parts built by people who obsess over the same engine and the same cars.
Building a Japanese F car: how these parts fit together
If you're planning a build, here's how these top sellers can work together:
- Start at the front of the exhaust. The NOVEL GEN III manifold fits the IS F, RC F, GS F and IS500 and is the foundation of a NOVEL full system.
- Pick your rear section by car. IS500 owners can add the NOVEL valved catback for switchable sound. GS F owners can choose a TOM'S axleback, in stainless with titanium tips or full titanium, and add a mid pipe for a complete catback.
- Add function up front. IS F owners can pair their exhaust work with NOVEL's vented carbon cooling bonnet for airflow and a motorsport look.
- Plan for a professional install. NOVEL recommends professional installation for its exhaust parts, and several of these items are listed for off-road racing use only, so check what's right for where and how you drive.
A note on fitment and lead times
Japanese parts like these are often built in small batches, and availability can change. Before you order, it's worth confirming fitment for your exact car and asking about current stock and lead time. Our team is happy to help with both.
Get the right Japanese parts for your Lexus F
Mod in Japan has spent years helping Lexus F owners choose and source parts directly from Japan's best tuners. If one of these parts is on your list, open the product page linked above and use Add to Quote to request a quote for your exact car. Have a question about fitment, stock or lead time? Reach out to the Mod in Japan team and we'll get you a clear answer before you commit.
Handmade in Japan, built for the 2UR-GSE, and chosen again and again by F owners: that's why NOVEL Racing Japan and TOM'S Racing sit among the best sellers at Mod in Japan.
Sources: product details on modinjapan.com (linked above); NOVEL official site, https://www.novel-japan.jp/en/exhaust/exhaust-system-for-rc-f/ and https://www.novel-japan.jp/en/exhaust/exhaust-system-for-is500/; TOM'S Racing online shop, https://tomsracingonlineshop.com/products/exhaust-system-tom-s-barrel-titan-tail-for-lexus-gs-f.
