Lexus incorporated two runways and a taxiing area for its extremely long and varied autocross course, an ideal location for testing

Lexus incorporated two runways and a taxiing area for its extremely long and varied autocross course, an ideal location for testing out the IS.  (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

out the IS at, or at least near its limit. Straight-ways were limited in length so that high-speed runs were cut short, but the patchwork quilt of surface materials, mostly made up of varying consistency pavement with the odd cement slab thrown in for good measure, made for an even worse than real-world environment. Nevertheless, the IS 350's compliant fully independent suspension, double wishbones up front and a multi-link setup in the rear, aided by electronic driving aids such as electric power steering, TRAC (traction control), Lexus' VSC (Vehicle Skid Control) stability control and all-encompassing VDIM (Vehicle Integrated Dynamics Management), plus others, made easy work for the courses challenges.

Out of the pit area an immediate chicane to the right created a severe braking

The car's grip is stunning, yet despite the harsh pavement ride quality is surprisingly good.  (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

zone, easy work for the IS 350's Porsche 911-sized discs, followed by a short straight and sharp right that kept bending into an even sharper right corner. The car's grip is stunning, yet despite the harsh pavement ride quality is surprisingly good. This series of turns behind, another short straight combined with yet another right-side chicane, resulted in a long, sweeping left at full throttle, tires whirring as the VSC can be felt, unobtrusively grappling for grip. The high-speed section bent to the right before a 90-degree right, fabulous fun for those who like a little controlled oversteer mixed into the handling equation, at which point a tight high-speed slalom proved the IS's side-to-side transitional response is superb, the chassis keeping the car horizontal to the road surface so that all four tires could optimize their sizeable (225/45R17 front and 245/45R17 rear or optional 225/40R18 front and 255/40R18 rear) contract patches.