2008 LEXUS IS

The IS sedan is Lexus' latest attempt to field a sporty four-door that rivals BMW's well-regarded 3 Series. Changes for 2008 include a handful of interior tweaks. Competitors include the BMW 328i, Audi A4 2.0T and Mercedes-Benz C300; the more powerful IS 350 plays against beefier versions of those same cars.

Lexus redesigned the IS sedan for the 2006 model year. The IS 250 comes with a 2.5-liter V-6.

A six-speed manual transmission is standard in the IS 250, and a six-speed automatic transmission is optional. The automatic's steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters give the driver extra involvement when desired. The IS 250 is the only IS to offer optional all-wheel drive; rear-wheel drive is standard.

High-tech features include a twin-chamber front-passenger airbag, dual knee airbags and a standard Smart Access keyless entry system with a push-button engine starter. Revised seatbacks, wheels and a few cabin details are new for 2008.

Exterior
Lexus' recent LF-series concept cars influenced the IS 250's styling. The company says the latest IS bears a strong family resemblance to its larger, GS series of sport sedans, themselves given substantial styling updates for 2008. A long wheelbase and wide stance help give the IS 250 a muscular look.

Standard wheels hold 17-inch tires, but 18-inch tires are optional. Built on a 107.5-inch wheelbase, the IS 250 is 180.1 inches long overall and 56.1 inches high. Despite its increased dimensions, the IS 250 still ranks as a compact car. Adaptive headlights that swivel in the direction of wheel travel are available. An optional X Package adds a sportier suspension, sport pedals, a front lip spoiler and 18-inch wheels.

Interior
Up to five occupants can fit inside the IS 250. Bright electroluminescent instruments light up the dashboard. Metallic trim is standard, and maple trim is available. A 13-speaker sound system includes iPod and MP3 compatibility.

Options include ventilated front seats, dynamic radar cruise control, a power tilt/telescoping steering wheel and a navigation system that incorporates a backup camera that can help with parking chores.

Under the Hood
The IS 250's 2.5-liter V-6 develops 204 horsepower and 185 pounds-feet of torque. When equipped with the standard six-speed manual transmission, the automaker says the sedan can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 7.9 seconds. A six-speed automatic transmission is optional for the rear-drive IS 250 and standard for the all-wheel-drive model.

Safety
Antilock brakes, an electronic stability system, knee airbags for both front occupants and a new twin-chamber front-passenger airbag are standard. Side-impact airbags for the front seats and side curtain airbags for both rows are also standard. An optional Pre-Collision System uses radar to detect impending collisions. If it does, it can tense up the seat belts and preload the brakes for maximum stopping power.

The IS sedan is Lexus' latest attempt to field a sporty four-door that rivals BMW's well-regarded 3 Series. Changes for 2008 include a handful of interior tweaks. Competitors include the BMW 335i, Infiniti G35 and Mercedes-Benz C350; the entry-level IS 250 plays against some of those cars' less-powerful siblings.

The IS 350 has a 3.5-liter V-6 that whips up a robust 306 horsepower. Lexus also offers an IS 250 and an IS-F, powered by a 2.5-liter V-6 and 5.0-liter V-8, respectively.

A six-speed automatic transmission is standard in the IS 350. The automatic's steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters give the driver extra involvement when desired.

High-tech features include Lexus' Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management system, which combines the electronic stability system with a host of other dynamic controls for an all-encompassing — or all-encroaching, depending on how you see it — path to safety. Also standard are eight airbags and a Smart Access keyless entry system with a push-button engine starter.

Exterior
Lexus' LF-series concept cars influenced the IS 350's styling. The automaker says the latest IS bears a strong resemblance to its larger, redesigned GS series of sport sedans. A long wheelbase and wide stance help give the IS 350 a muscular appearance.

Built on a 107.5-inch wheelbase, the IS 350 measures 180.1 inches long overall and 56.1 inches tall. Despite these dimensions, the IS 350 still ranks as a compact car. Adaptive headlights are available. An optional X Package includes a sport suspension, sport pedals and a front lip spoiler. It also swaps the standard 17-inch wheels for 18-inchers.

Interior
Five occupants can fit inside the IS 350. Bright electroluminescent instruments light up the dashboard. Metallic trim is standard, and maple trim is available. A 13-speaker sound system includes Apple iPod and MP3 compatibility.

Options include ventilated front seats, dynamic radar cruise control, a power tilt/telescoping steering wheel and a navigation system that incorporates a backup camera that can help when parking.

Under the Hood
The IS 350's 3.5-liter V-6 cranks out 306 hp and 277 pounds-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard.

Safety
Antilock brakes, knee airbags for both front occupants and a new twin-chamber front-passenger airbag are standard. Side-impact airbags for the front seats and side curtain airbags for both rows are also standard. The VDIM system is designed to let drivers push the car toward its handling limits, but it discreetly applies braking, throttle and steering control as needed to avoid loss of control.

It took an awfully long time, but Lexus has finally thrown its noodle into the alphabet soup of automotive performance variants. Where Audi's A4 comes as a souped-up (oh, the irony) RS4, the BMW 3 Series comes as an M3, and the Acura TL comes as a TL Type-S, the Lexus IS compact sport sedan now comes as an IS-F, the first but definitely not the last in Lexus' high-performance line.

If the IS-F is any indication, the Fs will be serious contenders. Equipped with a 400-horsepower, 5.0-liter V-8, the IS-F is claimed to sprint from zero to 60 mph in less than 4.9 seconds.

Exterior
Cosmetic exterior and interior changes are always part of the high-performance package. BMW and Mercedes-Benz have always taken a more subtle approach, as does Audi with its S lineup. However, Audi has a newer souped flavor, RS, and the resulting RS4 is more showy than the S4.

The IS-F takes more of an RS approach, with wider fenders, a deep, flared bumper with a larger mouth, vents behind the front wheels and a high-domed hood. In fairness, these items serve a purpose, managing airflow and making room for the larger, taller engine. It really is a tall engine, requiring a power dome so high that the IS-F's profile view evokes a beluga whale.

An admirable exercise in restraint, the IS-F's tail has a trunklid spoiler so modest it could easily go unnoticed. Quad tailpipes, in two stacked pairs, are a nice touch.

Interior
The interior gains body-hugging sport seats, in black or white, and other special touches like F logos here and there, carbon fiber trim and chrome shift paddles.

Under the Hood
The 400-hp V-8 cranks out 350 pounds-feet of torque. The redline is 7,000 rpm. The car has one transmission — with enough gears for two. The eight-speed automatic has a manual mode and steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles. There is no true manual, which is sure to turn off some driving enthusiasts. Lexus says the transmission, which it calls direct-sport shift, changes gears within one-tenth of a second and executes rev matching for smoother downshifts and decreased wear. Not to be confused with some automated-manual transmissions, like Audi's S tronic, this one uses a fluidic torque converter — but it locks up in 2nd through 8th gears.

Upgraded brakes include larger, cross-drilled discs and six- and two-piston calipers in the front and rear, respectively. The Brembo-brand calipers are gloss black and bear the Lexus logo. The standard 19-inch wheels wear performance tires.

Practically everything but the front double wishbones and multiple rear links in the suspension are upgraded. Springs, shocks, stabilizer bars, bushings and steering tuning are all optimized for performance driving. The car rests an inch lower than its mild-mannered sibling. The standard electronic stability system adds a special mode between fully engaged and fully defeated. Sport mode allows more wheelspin and sliding before interrupting and keeping you on track.

Safety
In addition to the required frontal airbags, the IS line has knee airbags and side-impact torso-protection airbags for both front occupants. Side curtain airbags protect the heads of front and backseat occupants in a side impact. Where most cars have seat belt pretensioners for the front seats only, the IS has them for the backseat, too. Antilock brakes and an electronic stability system are standard.