The new Lexus IS 250/350 is the brand's second attempt to launch a credible response to the segment-leading BMW 3 Series. As a competitor to one of the industry's longstanding icons, it has some serious work cut out for itself, but the IS acquits itself well. It is certainly a stronger attempt than its predecessor, the IS 300, a car that created fanaticism among a relatively small group of buyers but didn't connect with the mainstream. The longer, wider and roomier new IS sedan immediately feels like a more substantial vehicle and, sporting a new family of high-output V6 engines, manual and automatic six-speed transmissions and rear-wheel drive or available all-wheel drive, it promises to make much more serious inroads than did its namesake. The sport-oriented Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) system, a hidden hand that aids handling on the IS 350, kicks the model up yet another notch in this increasingly competitive segment filled with a number of great cars.