Mention the word Lexus and I'll bet most people's minds will almost immediately conjure up images of middle-aged men, lambswool pullovers (maroon) and opulent sedans endowed with about as much excitement as a no-fat, no-fun latte.

Indeed, coming across as the sort of automotive equivalent of Queenspark, Toyota's luxury division may make supremely comfortable and well built cars, but their complete lack of balls has seen them inhabit that mushy safe zone that true petrolheads will forever smirk at. Until now, that is.

You see, obviously tired of the sensible family man image that has plagued it for millennia, Lexus has taken a pair of scissors to its traditional identity and astounded critics by reforming its machine to one that wears the clothes of a proper, spit-in-your-face street fighter. The IS-F.

Yes, it may be based on the regular IS250 saloon that kept-wives so enjoy stealing from hubby for their book-club nights, but that's about where the similarity ends. Up front, for example, this monster of a machine scores two head-sized brake cooling ducts, a power-domed bonnet and a pair of swollen front wheel arches that come complete with heat-sucking gills that actually work.

Complementing all this visual muscle is a unique set of BBS alloy wheels that come shod with specially engineered Bridgestone Potenza rubber and a rear wing that's said to help adhere the Lexus to the asphalt at higher speeds. The effect of all this go-faster tinsel works a treat as - and for probably the first time in history - looking at something with a chrome "L" badge stuck on its grille actually does something to influence your heart rate.

What a pity, then, that the designers felt the need to sink those four faux outlet pipes into the rear bumper. I wouldn't have minded if they actually formed part of the exhaust system, but being purely cosmetic, well, they're just "zeff".

Whatever. In spite of this little bit of Boksburg, the badass IS-F packs the sort of visual cojones it needs to take on its enemies from BMW and Merc.

Jean-tightening to look at, this lunatic Lexus also impresses with the way it carries itself along the black stuff. To be honest, I was expecting it to be all soft and wallowy like a slice of gooey apple pie. And it is until you click the VDIM into sport mode, kill the traction control and allow that Yamaha-tweaked V8 engine to clear its throat and make those rear wheels squeal in protest. Then, spurred on by the infectious growl caused by a second air-intake opening at 3600rpm, this car comes into its own and makes you feel as if you're actually strapped to the fins of a wayward heat-seeking missile.

Benefiting from more power and torque than an M3, the IS-F is properly quick right through the rev range and, whether accelerating from a standstill or at speed, it has more than enough grunt to keep up with most of the hot metal rolling across our roads.

Granted, it might not come mated to one of those advanced dual-clutch gearboxes that many of its rivals lay claim to, but that sport direct-shift automatic transmission still does a great job of transferring every last kilowatt down to the ground.

However, having said this, I still think fitting it with eight forward ratios was a tad unnecessary. Because, not only does it cause a fair amount of "hunting" in full automatic mode, it can also make driving in full manual mode a confusing affair. Especially when it comes to rapid bouts of downshifting.

A horizon muncher of note, the IS-F knows how to handle itself when you get off the straights and twirl that steering wheel in anger. Granted, it's not quite as sharp as an M3, particularly when you show it a race track, but for a first-time effort, it manages to come impressively close.

The non-adjustable suspension system, though compliant over most bumps, keeps body-roll in check and encourages you to attack corners with as much gusto as you can muster.

Best of all, it's deliciously controlled and no matter how wide you get that tail to arc out, getting it back requires little effort.

All in all, being forgiving and predictable, this uber-Lexus is very much the driver's car that will never fail to get you whooping when unleashing your inner Stig.

And that, it must be said, is the reason why the IS-F is a serious contender in the performance saloon category. It's perhaps not the most advanced machine in its class, but the way it goes, turns and sounds proves that you don't need a PhD in German engineering to dish out some serious driving entertainment.

Factor in all the standard equipment it comes loaded with - a cache of goodies demanding a R100k premium in certain competitors - plus brilliant levels of after-sales service, and the IS-F becomes an even more attractive buying proposition.

I never thought I'd say this, but there might just be space in your fantasy garage for a Lexus, after all.

The Specs:

• Engine: 4969cc, V-8 petrol
• Power: 311kW at 6600rpm
• Torque: 505Nm at 5200rpm
• 0-100km/h: 4.8 seconds (claimed)
• Top speed: 270km/h (limited)
• Fuel consumption: 11.4l/100km (claimed)
• Price: From R776 900

Ratings:

Practicality: 7/10

Good. Not many cars can carry four people and a boot full of luggage at 270km/h. However, depending on your stature, the rear can be a little cramped.

Petrolhead kudos: 9/10

Armed with bark and bite in equal amounts, the IS-F demands serious respect. A performance juggernaut that can hold its own with the more established Germans.

Carbon footprint: 5/10

At 270g/km the IS-F huffs less carbon than the M3 or C63. Still, considering we could only achieve 17.46l/100km during test, it's hardly frugal.

Value for money: 6/10

R776 900 isn't cheap, but all those standard luxury features actually make the IS-F surprisingly good value, especially when compared to its rivals.

Pump damage:

Optimistically, if you travel an average of 1200km a month, you'll have to fork out about R1155.