Lexus hasn't relied only on the IS 350's performance appeal to lure in would-be buyers, but rather delivers all that luxury the brand

Chrome and titanium-coloured brushed metal surfaces are nicely finished, while the woodwork covering the centre console is exquisitely detailed. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

is known for. Chrome and titanium-coloured brushed metal surfaces are nicely finished, while the woodwork covering the centre console is exquisitely detailed and leather wrapped over seats and door panels soft and supple, infusing the IS with a rich Jaguar-like ambience - an ideal mixture of sumptuous indulgence and high-tech wizardry.

The most magical element about the IS, mind you, are the paddle shifters hidden behind the leather-wrapped steering wheel rim. These are as close to perfect as any I've tried, and I've tested most of them, from Ferrari's F1, Maserati's Cambiocorsa, BMW's SMG and Audi's class-leading DSG sequential manual paddle-shifters, to Bentley's Continental

This is an automatic transmission that really deserves praise, as it does everything I could want and more than I would have thought to hope for. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

GT, Pontiac's Grand Prix GTP, Volkswagen's Jetta and Passat, Acura's RL and CSX, and Mercedes-Benz's paddle-like buttons, plus many others. The IS paddle-shifters mirror Audi's DSG the most, my favourite design and the quickest shifting of any rival, and despite being mated to a conventional automatic rather than a state-of-the-art sequential manual, changes gears almost as quickly.

This is an automatic transmission that really deserves praise, as it does everything I could want and more than I would have thought to hope for, with a level of smoothness achieved by Audi's six-speed Tiptronic, BMW six-speed Steptronic and Mercedes' seven-speed Touch Shift automatic and rapidity that only top-tier sequential manual's can match.