Speaking at the ceremony, Chairman of the Ulster Motoring Writers’ Association, Jim McCauley, said: ‘When Lexus decided to challenge the dominant German brands in the executive sector, they knew from the onset that they could introduce levels of refinement and quality never before experienced in this class. Each model further typifies the excellence of the brand and the IS is a worthy class winner.’

With the IS, Lexus has surged ahead of the other top contenders. Start with the exterior: Designed in southern France at the Europe Design Development, the IS represents the continuation of the L-Finesse design philosophy and is the second production car after the GS to receive this treatment. Lexus says L-Finesse is deeply rooted in Japanese culture, with three fundamental elements including "incisive simplicity," "intriguing elegance" and "seamless anticipation." Er, whatever. Basically, the IS just looks cool. The car's lines combine the best of the LF-C concept shown at the 2004 New York show (AW, April 19, 2004) with a touch of sinister avant-garde that likely has the SEMA set already whittling away at body kits.

The IS’s stance is wide and low, the beltline is high and sharp, and the rear end -with dual exhaust and a chunky bumper - looks good. The same goes for the "arrowhead" C-pillar configuration; it is intended to represent "Kirikaeshi," a rapid yet fluid change of direction seen throughout the car's design.

Expect the rear-drive IS to change direction on the road just as smoothly. Built from a new platform that Lexus says shares no parts with any of the company's other offerings. The hood is aluminum, as is the new suspension: double wishbones up front and a multilink setup with toe control arms at the back. The electrically assisted steering system is new, as are the brakes, now activated via a variable-ratio pedal designed to offer a more progressive feel. As with the current IS 300, 17-inch wheels likely will be standard.

The engines mate to six-speed manual and automatic transmissions, the automatic featuring steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles. Inside, there is a navigation system that is the world's most advanced, with the fastest route-calculation capability available. The system incorporates Bluetooth® technology, while the standard stereo features a six-disc changer and will play MP3 and WMA files. The overall interior layout is clean and modern, with nary an outlandish designer's indulgence; that's good news for serious drivers.

The best news, however, is that with the IS, the iconic sport sedan sector gets even stronger. In Oman, Lexus vehicles are brought to you by the Saud Bahwan Group – with a whole host of Lexus ownership benefits and privileges such as a 6 years unlimited extended mileage protection – AMAN BAHWAN and Lexus Prestige Club Card that offers 24 hours on-road assistance from AAA, shopping discounts from premium outlets and more.

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