If you ever find yourself longing for a compact sports sedan, you’d immediately think of the Europeans with the German likes of the BMW M3 and Audi RS4 or the Italians with the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrafoglio. They have always dominated this segment, but the Japanese also have an ace up their sleeve.

Exterior and Interior
Stepping into the interior, it’s Lexus’ business as usual. You are greeted with some excellent black leather seats, heated and ventilated, of course. The center display controls the incredible Mark Levinson sound system with Apple CarPlay capabilities. Don’t feel intimidated by the high-powered powertrain, the IS is the perfect daily thanks to creature comforts like Blind Spot Monitoring, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and a sunroof. Unlike the conservative europeans, the Japs are a bit bold with their styling choices. Finished in a beautiful shade of silver, each line and curve works together, making this car a proper head turner. And just look at those exterior mirrors and the rear diffuser. Upgrades include aftermarket Vossen S17-04 wheels and RS-R Best-i coilovers, giving the car a proper stance. A real show stopper indeed.

Engine
While the Europeans make do with those puny straight 6s, the Japanese have decided to buck that trend and take the phrase “Go Big or Go Home” literally. Under the hood lies a glorious 5-liter V8. A symphony to the ears thanks to the Upgraded Novel Racing headers and exhaust system. Making around 470 hp, the IS can sprint to 60 in under 5 seconds. And putting all that power down to the rear wheels is a buttery-smooth 8-speed automatic transmission.