FirstDrive: the Lexus IS: This probably doesn't deserve the title of first drive, for we only spent at most 30 minutes in the new IS, and then only at a rain-soaked race track.
It's hard to judge the merits of interior trim and stereo sound quality when you're delicately tiptoeing your way around the minor streams running across the corner apexes of a racetrack.
Yet, in between our laps we did get a chance to poke and prod our way to first impressions. So from these we offer the following judgement: the IS is a real contender against the dominance of BMW's 3-Series in the small executive market, and a lot closer than its predecessor.
That's largely due to two strengths that continue to feature in the IS, Toyota's reputation for build quality and reliability, and a high level of specification.
It's the minor touches that put it in the running: from the thicker carpet to the more fashionable (and more user-friendly) central console.
Even the dials are stylish, retaining their watch-like look; all part of the attention to detail we have come to expect from the image-conscious Japanese at Lexus.
Driven by its new design ethos of L-Finesse (don't ask, for try as we may, we still don't quite understand it) Lexus is bringing all its models into line, giving them a familial look and feel, though there are obvious differences across the range.
The brand seems to be seeking to define itself through refinement and performance. At the top end that means whisper-quiet motoring. In terms of performance, we may have to wait until the launch of a road-going version of its LF-A concept supercar to see the true potential of work in this area.
Externally, the first time we came across the IS we reckoned it looked strikingly similar to the 3-Series. That didn't particularly change at the static launch in Dublin two weeks ago, but the car is starting to show its own identity out in the fresh air.
Of course there are similarities, particularly in the side profile, and to our untrained eye the c-pillar lines remain very BMW-esque, along with the higher rear haunches. Yet even if it does take the 3-Series as a template, the end result is arguably a more stylish look than the Bavarian offering.
So it seemingly meets the challenge in terms of refinement - and appearance; but what of performance? Again, with only limited track time to test it, our views are qualified, but we found the new diesel relatively quiet, though when pushed on the racetrack the engine noise does dissipate into the cabin.
Powered by a 2.2-litre unit offering 177bhp and 400Nm of torque, on paper it's better than the entry-level diesels of its main rivals, though it never really offered up the sort of power surge we would have expected.
It's a welcome arrival to the Lexus range - amazingly the first diesel offering from them - but it perhaps lacks some of the bite that the Germans seem to have.
Sadly only manual transmission is on offer on the diesel for now, and what is apparent is that the difference between the normal ratio gearbox and the sports version is quite significant in terms of getting the most out of the power output. We managed to sneak a drive in both versions, and though it's hardly enough to offer any overall opinion, if going for manual we'd have to opt for the sportier transmission.
In fact the biggest complaint we had with the new IS was with the six-speed manual gearbox.
The previous IS suffered from the positioning of the reverse gear being too similar to first gear, leaving tailing motorists with heart failure as you flashed your reversing lights at them at traffic lights while trying to engage a forward gear.
This time they've added a lifting switch on the gearstick, thus preventing such surprises. However, the long gates and gaps between the gears means it's far from the short snappy box on offer from some. We'd come to expect that if you are offering engines aimed at supposedly sporty car buyers, a short-throw gearbox would be the order of the day.
Our annoyance with the box became more apparent on the racetrack than perhaps it would in normal driving conditions, but left us fumbling for gear before we entered the corners, like some American learning to drive "stick".
On the plus side, the IS manages to meet the challenges in its handling, which is sharp and precise, with plenty of information feeding back through the steering. That was a trait with its predecessor, and it's carried forward here.
In its petrol format, the 2.5-litre engine is more in tune with the performance criteria laid out in the brief under the L-Finesse guidelines. Offering 208 bhp from its V6 format, it's the one we'd opt for and seemed to offer a smoother performance range. Competitors may offer diesels that easily beat their petrol equivalents, but for now Lexus remains a petrol choice.
The petrol advantage is enhanced by the fact that, unlike with the diesel, a 6-speed automatic gearbox with steering-mounted paddle shift controls is on offer.
Add in the fact that Lexus claims this autobox is more fuel efficient than the manual version and you'd be hard pushed to opt for "stick".
There may be a €2,295 premium for automatic, but it's worth it if you enjoy driving. It had none of the problems we found with the manual.
Again, we'll have to reserve our final judgement until later, but initial impressions are of a car that's close to the latest offering from the Bavarians, clearly the benchmark against which others must be measured.
The new IS is bigger than its predecessor, better looking and more spacious inside. We await a proper chance to poke around and wind it along ordinary roads, but you'd have to be confident that Lexus has an opportunity to finally challenge the Germans in a serious way with this offering, if for no other reason than the diesel option.
