2008 Lexus IS-F

"The bellow from the IS F's exhaust under full load is absolutely addictive, and the V-8's grunt is as burly as ever," notes associate Web editor Rory Jurnecka.

"I'm not in love with the way the IS F rides in daily driving conditions; there's no doubt it's a bit harsher than most people would find comfortable -- even for a sport sedan. But get the IS F in its element, on a smooth, twisting piece of tarmac and wow. Hunker down on its meaty Vredesteins, turn into a series of S-bends, and the IS F rotates about its center like a GT car, feeling utterly solid and balanced. Due to its somewhat unforgiving suspension, mid-corner bumps and dips can have the IS F feeling a little unglued, unfortunately. But when the road is smooth...what a capable car."