The IS range was always one of Lexus' best selling models. The original model transformed the Lexus franchise and put it in direct competition with the likes of Saab, BMW and Audi. Many saw the original as a serious competitor for the BMW 3-series but it was let down by the lack of diesel engine and sports model. The latest IS looks has changed all that. The Lexus IS is one of those cars that can appeal to either gender. It isn't too masculine like other executive models and is sought after by many male and female business users. What attracts so many Lexus buyers is the lack of stigma that is attached to the marque. Someone has always got something to say about BMW and Audi drivers but Lexus drivers are lucky enough to remain stereotype-free.

Lexus have opted for a refreshing style direction and the new IS no longer looks like the clone of one of its European rivals. It encompasses a fine chiselled outline with a clean and modern exterior that will really help Lexus break the lucrative compact executive market. One complaint levelled at the old IS was the rather tight rear quarters and the addition of another 60mm to the latest car's wheelbase has done much to solve this problem. Consult the specification sheet and it becomes apparent that in one fell swoop, the IS has gone from being one of the meanest in terms of rear knee room to the top of the class. One area that was rarely questioned was equipment provision and the latest car nails home its advantage yet further. You could be listening to CDs on four speakers in your BMW, or six if you're feeling a little flush when it comes to ticking the options boxes. The IS that I have been driving around features 13 speakers as standard and a six CD autochanger that will handle MP3 and WMA files.

Everything about this car urges you to drive it. I thought that the three-spoke sports steering wheel felt great to hold and in the Sport version I tried (which also has a limited slip differential and a special short-throw gear lever), there are drilled metal pedals a la Lamborghini Diablo to make you feel as if you're at the wheel of a supercar. The gruff engine note won't disappoint in this respect either - though it may come as something of a shock to larger Lexus owners used to the cathedral hush of a GS430 or LS430. Two engines are offered, Lexus learning their lesson from the original IS launch. The petrol engine is a beefy 2.5-litre V6 which combines a direct injection system with dual VVT-i valve timing. This means that torque and power are spread widely across the rev range. You'll get 202bhp out of this engine and a torque figure of 184lb/ft at 3,800rpm. Mated to either a six-speed manual box or a six-speed auto that features paddle shift control, this engine is more powerful than direct equivalents from any of its rivals. Even more impressive is the 2.2-litre common rail diesel engine. Some carped that the IS needed a six cylinder diesel but with 175bhp on tap, the dissenters should pipe down. No less than 295lb/ft of torque is served up from as little as 2,000rpm, making this engine more muscular than the V8 unit which powers a Ferrari 360 Modena. It also features the only catalyst in the world that simultaneously reduces nitrous oxide and particulate matter simultaneously, making this one of the cleanest diesels ever produced.

Once, when debating over a 3-series or an IS model, most buyers would without a second thought have raised the extra cash and plumped for the BMW. With the second generation IS model, they will have a tougher time deciding. If you like your cars without the stigma attached to the marque, then the Lexus IS offers the perfect solution.