Think
Lexus and what comes to mind? For most, it's a sleek fine-tuned,
understated luxury car, with the kind of quiet refinement
reminiscent of old moneyed families that don't have to brag
about what they have.
Check
out the major about-face this Fall in the shape of the redesigned
IS entry luxury sports sedan models that break away from
everything you've ever expected from Lexus. This is a deliberate
statement that from now on there will be two distinctly
different lineups, not one, from the luxury offshoot of
Toyota. For Lexus, the ideal for this branch of the family
will be the likes of BMW 3 Series autos fading away in the
rear view mirror of the IS. For entry level luxury car buyers
who want some spice with their sophistication, this means
another entrant into the more budget-minded prestige level
driver's car field to choose from.
For
2006, Lexus is re-introducing the five-year-old
IS in two aggressive, revamped iterations, IS
250 and IS 350, for spirited up-and-comers opting
for entry lux on the way to premier. Gone, or
at least subdued here, are traditional soft-touch
Lexus road manners. The IS has more punch and
sportier road feel, even a touch more ambient
sound than the hushed grown-ups that share its
heritage. To make its point, Lexus has heaped
the IS with loads of technological firsts, and
the kinds of amenities one would expect from a
much costlier luxury vehicle than one with a base
hovering around the $30 K mark. Although the vehicle
felt agile and kicky during a brief introductory
run, it would take some demanding testing to determine
just how much of a driver's edge response and
precision it offers.
Lexus
powers this baby into action with a 3.5-liter, 306-HP powerplant
loaded with engine-enhancing tweaks, such as variable valve
timing. It lets the driver play with responsiveness by letting
her or him set the tachometer's red line to decide the gut
level punch during foot-to-the-floor acceleration. Styling
is aimed at a far younger, more free-thinking buyer than
Lexus owners before. Looks and stance are more aggressive
and sleek. Attitude abounds. Company officials point to
less anti-slip invasion for that fun, slide-around-the-corner
abandon that's so tempting from rear drive. (All-wheel models
are available.)
Spiritual
necessities such as IPOD connectivity, and steering wheel
paddle shifters for the automatic's manual mode haven't
been overlooked. It's there, along with an earth-coddling
ultra low emissions rating. With this mold-breaking maverick,
maybe a good description would be "Lexus gone wild."
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