LEXUS now has two entry-level luxury cars in its lineup: the front-wheel-drive ES300 sedan and the new rear-wieel-drive 1S300 sedan. Why Lexus needs another entry-level model can probably be “summed up in three letters: B-M-W. The 1S300 is aimed squarely at the popular BMW 3-Series sedan, currently the best-selling small import faxury car. Like the “RMVY 320i, the new IS300 has . rear-wheel-drive, a'3.0-iitre, inline six-cylinder engine mounted longitudinally (the ES300 has a transversely- mounted V6 engine), a five- speed automatic transmission, - and a fully independent sus- pension. And like the BMW, the 18300 is designed to be a well-equipped luxury sedan that is alse fun to drive. Bur while the BMW 3-Series is : available with three bodystyles coupe and convertible), three different engine choices (ean vandard five-speed eee transmission, the 18300 comes only as a four-door sedan with a 3.0-litre engine and five-speed automatic with E-Shift (push-button manual shift mode). I’ sus- pect that Lexus will add coupe and convertible bodystyles at a later date, assuming the sedan is successful. ac 1S300°s \vedge-shaped profile, long, hood, short rear deck, and short fron. and rear overhangs provide siniler propor- tions to a BMW 3-Series sedan — however, the 15300 has sharp- er, more aggressive body lines which give it a more angular Jook. * Particularly distinctive are the [5300's headlights and tail- een, pos . : photo Lexus THE §[$300’s interior design is a mixture of high-tech and traditionai styling elements with a unique instru- ment cluster that has chronograph-sty!e causes that resembles a iavge Rolex watch. lights. The High Intensity Discharge (HID} headlamps and red taillights are covered under clear composite (plastic) covers, and at the rear, the 15300’s round taillights are surrounded by bright chromed trim — 2 very eye-catching design. Two additional round taillights are built into the trunklid. : Though the 1S300’s sty'ing is not as rounded as a BMW 3- Series sedan, the 18300 nevertheless has a very low coefiicient of drag of 0.29. Engine borrowed from GS300 The IS300’s engine was borrowed from the mid-size Lexus GS360. With 215 horsepower at 5,800 r.p.ra. and 218 ft.-lb. of ‘torque at 3,800 rp.m., the IS300’s 3.0-litre, inline DOHC, 24- photo Lexus INTRODUCED in July as a 2001 model, the S300 is Lexus’ answer to the popular BIW 3-Series. The new rear-v/heel-drive {S300 features a longitudinally-mounted inline 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine, standard five-speed automatic transmission with E-Shift manual mode, fo in-dash CD player. Prices range fron: $40,830 to $47,025. ; ur wheel independent suspension, and standard six-disc, ’s 3-Series six-cylinder engine is comparable to BMW's new 3.0-litre, inline six-cylinder engine which has 225 horsepower and 214 ft.- Ib. of torque ar 3,500 rp.m. The 15300°s powerplant employs Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i) whieh provides both improved low-end torque and high r.p.m. horsepower. ‘This system is comparable to BMW's double VANOS system. -The 3.0-fitre engine is mated to a standard electronically-con- trolled five-speed automatic transmission with “E-Shift” steering- wheel gear-selection controls. BMW doesn’t offer their “Geartronic” electronic shift mode in the 3-Series, probably because they have the option of a manual transmission. Balanced platform In addition to a front engine/‘rear-wheel-