Before the introduction of the IS sedan in 2001, Lexus didn't have a rear-wheel drive sports sedan to challenge BMW's 3 Series and Audi's A4. The IS 300 prioritized athletic road manners over quiet comfort, unlike its softly-tuned ES sibling.
A 2006 redesign split the IS into two models -- the IS 250 and IS 350 -- that continue into a third generation for 2014. The more potent IS 350 features a 306-horsepower V6 and a 0 to 60 mph time of only 5.5 seconds.
