Lexus IS 300: New kid on the block.

When Lexus claimed its IS 300 would be competition for BMW's 3 Series, the temptation was too much for us. Could Lexus put forth a worthy adversary for the mighty 3? We decided the best way to find out would be to order up an IS 300.

Don't get us wrong, the Lexus lives up to the hoopla that surrounded its introduction. We look forward to stretching its legs once we get past the 1000-mile break-in period. And with its 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder, which kicks out 215 hp and 218 lb-ft, we expect to have plenty of room in which to stretch.

Our IS 300's base price of $30,500 includes a plethora of standard equipment such as ABS, traction control,

six-disc in-dash CD changer, cruise control and a five-speed automatic transmission. To that we added leather-trim interior, Home- link system, eight-way power adjustable driver and passenger seats ($1,705); power moonroof ($1,000); limited-slip differential ($390); heat- ed front seats ($440); wheel locks ($39); and a trunk mat ($66). Throw in $495 in destination charges, and our total came to $34,635.

With power delivered through the rear tires and power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering guiding the fronts, we expect the Lexus to gobble up the twisties. Adding to the car's handling characteristics is four-wheel independent double wishbones at all four corners. The suspension, steering and rear-drive combination is the real deal, making the IS 300 a true performance-oriented Lexus.

The IS 300 is a handsome beast. When it arrived many staffers commented on its sleek, muscle-bound exterior, and argued over first dibs at driving it. It manages to look slick and sporty, yet maintain its business-like Lexus stature. ...