The good-things-come-in-small-packages adage holds absolutely true when we talk about Lexus.
Toyota’s luxury arm may live off the healthy sales generated from the mid-sized ES350 and the LX570 SUV, and has earned its well-deserved reputation for quality luxury saloons from the flagship LS model.
But the standout of the Lexus fleet, for me, has always been the baby IS range. The latest IS 350 F Sport only cements my long-held belief.
Why? Because it is the most driver-focused model and has always been that way since the first IS 200 that was developed to take on the then-mighty BMW 3 Series as the pinnacle of front-engined, rear-wheel-drive, compact luxury cars.
I would argue that is still the case with the F Sport, which hasn't lost its vision or place in the market. It still has a taut chassis you can throw around with joy, rear-wheel drive that frees up the front axle to just focus on steering – and therefore is lighter and more direct than its all-wheel drive counterparts.
It has also kept its front and rear overhangs to a minimum, maintaining its wheel-at-each-corner stance.
This 2021 model began life in 2014 and has welcomed a few makeovers inside and out along the way, so in some areas it is feeling its age compared to the latest C-Class Mercedes and Audi A4, particularly on the inside.
Lexus is working on a brand-new IS that will be hotter than this current model, but in the meantime it is staying relevant in the segment by bringing valuable updates for the second half of this year.
Competent performance
Powered by a 311bhp, 3.5-litre V6 that develops 380Nm of torque, the F Sport doesn't give you any more under the hood over the regular IS350, but it does tighten things up underneath, gives you a few more goodies inside and includes a rear spoiler and 19-inch forged alloy wheels.
It is backed by an eight-speed automatic transmission that drives through the rear wheels. Although some of its competitors boast more power, be reminded that it achieves this without turbos, supercharging or hybridisation, which is perhaps another indicator of its age in a class now dominated by turbo and/or hybrid options.
The F Sport gets from 0 to 100 kilometres an hour in a claimed 5.7 seconds, but this is a case where numbers don’t tell the full story because it is a more rewarding drive than most that run with the above-mentioned engine configurations.
Fun ride
Point me towards the hills and winding roads of Hatta or Al Ain, and this is where the Lexus's engineering comes to the fore. The IS has not lost its delightfully responsive chassis, letting you throw it into corners with confidence, keep the power planted without losing traction and not fight the dreaded all-wheel drive understeer that affects its competitors.
In its most dynamic Sport S+ mode, the IS350’s steering feel is superb, delivering a near-analogue, almost-perfect feedback of what is happening at the wheels through my fingers. It also holds the gears longer, keeping a sustained powerband through switchback corners and downshifts quickly when it senses inputs through the accelerator.
Its ECU brain very quickly adapts to my driving style as I transition from casual motorway cruising for maximum economy and comfort to an enthusiastic mountain blast.
The IS F Sport manages to blend this out-of-character sportiness with the comfort and luxury that is synonymous with the brand, which may surprise you if you approach the IS with preconceptions on how you believe a Lexus should perform.
Cabin comforts
Although I wasn't a fan of the colour choices on our test car, mixing a vibrant red leather interior with a metallic blue exterior, it didn't take away from the overall ride and comfort thanks to the eight-way power adjustable seats with vented cooling for these hot days. The centre console features a new trackpad and 10.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system.
The haptic trackpad is perhaps oversensitive and needs some self-training to hit the commands without taking your eyes off the road. I found I was constantly overshooting the function I was looking for, which distracted me from driving, so I tended to wait until I could pull over to change the music, find an address or alter the climate setting.
It's a gripe of all modern-day cars, where cheaper touchscreens have replaced hard-touch buttons you used to find intuitively without taking your eyes off the road, whereas navigating a multifunction screen is arguably a less-safe alternative.
There is wireless charging for phones that connect to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which are easy to use, showing the full screen instead of just favourites as on some cars, and it also has a new 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system.
The 2021 update to the IS 350 is welcome progress to what was already a delightful driver's car, especially this F Sport version. Although it may lack some of the cutting-edge features found in the newest generation of executive compact saloon, it delivers a premium driving experience.
The specs
Engine: 3.5 V6
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Power: 311bhp
Torque: 380Nm
Price: Dh245,000
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Essentials
The flights: You can fly from the UAE to Iceland with one stop in Europe with a variety of airlines. Return flights with Emirates from Dubai to Stockholm, then Icelandair to Reykjavik, cost from Dh4,153 return. The whole trip takes 11 hours. British Airways flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Reykjavik, via London, with return flights taking 12 hours and costing from Dh2,490 return, including taxes.
The activities: A half-day Silfra snorkelling trip costs 14,990 Icelandic kronur (Dh544) with Dive.is. Inside the Volcano also takes half a day and costs 42,000 kronur (Dh1,524). The Jokulsarlon small-boat cruise lasts about an hour and costs 9,800 kronur (Dh356). Into the Glacier costs 19,500 kronur (Dh708). It lasts three to four hours.
The tours: It’s often better to book a tailor-made trip through a specialist operator. UK-based Discover the World offers seven nights, self-driving, across the island from £892 (Dh4,505) per person. This includes three nights’ accommodation at Hotel Husafell near Into the Glacier, two nights at Hotel Ranga and two nights at the Icelandair Hotel Klaustur. It includes car rental, plus an iPad with itinerary and tourist information pre-loaded onto it, while activities can be booked as optional extras. More information inspiredbyiceland.com
The years Ramadan fell in May
FA Cup quarter-final draw
The matches will be played across the weekend of 21 and 22 March
Sheffield United v Arsenal
Newcastle v Manchester City
Norwich v Derby/Manchester United
Leicester City v Chelsea
EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
15 years, 181 days old
- Max Dowman (Arsenal)
15 years, 235 days old
- Jeremy Monga (Leicester)
15 years, 271 days old
- Harvey Elliott (Fulham)
16 years, 30 days old
- Matthew Briggs (Fulham)
16 years, 68 days old
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Bert van Marwijk factfile
Born: May 19 1952
Place of birth: Deventer, Netherlands
Playing position: Midfielder
Teams managed:
1998-2000 Fortuna Sittard
2000-2004 Feyenoord
2004-2006 Borussia Dortmund
2007-2008 Feyenoord
2008-2012 Netherlands
2013-2014 Hamburg
2015-2017 Saudi Arabia
2018 Australia
Major honours (manager):
2001/02 Uefa Cup, Feyenoord
2007/08 KNVB Cup, Feyenoord
World Cup runner-up, Netherlands
TCL INFO
Teams:
Punjabi Legends Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq
Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi
Maratha Arabians Owners: Sohail Khan, Ali Tumbi, Parvez Khan; Key player: Virender Sehwag
Bangla Tigers Owners: Shirajuddin Alam, Yasin Choudhary, Neelesh Bhatnager, Anis and Rizwan Sajan; Key player: TBC
Colombo Lions Owners: Sri Lanka Cricket; Key player: TBC
Kerala Kings Owners: Hussain Adam Ali and Shafi Ul Mulk; Key player: Eoin Morgan
Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
When December 14-17
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
Price, base: Dh1,731,672
Engine: 6.5-litre V12
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm
Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm
Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Read more about the coronavirus
Destroyer
Director: Karyn Kusama
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Toby Kebbell, Sebastian Stan
Rating: 3/5
UAE release: January 31
More on Quran memorisation:
The five pillars of Islam
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
More from Neighbourhood Watch
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RESULTS
6.30pm: Handicap (rated 100 ) US$175,000 1,200m
Winner: Baccarat, William Buick (jockey), Charlie Appleby (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap (78-94) $60,000 1,800m
Winner: Baroot, Christophe Soumillon, Mike de Kock
7.40pm: Firebreak Stakes Group 3 $200,000 1,600m
Winner: Heavy Metal, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer
8.15pm: Handicap (95-108) $125,000 1,200m
Winner: Yalta, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer
8.50pm: Balanchine Group 2 $200,000 1,800m
Winner: Promising Run, Pat Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor
9.25pm: Handicap (95-105) $125,000 1,800m
Winner: Blair House, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby
10pm: Handicap (95-105) $125,000 1,400m
Winner: Oh This Is Us, Tom Marquand, Richard Hannon
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
Votes
Total votes: 1.8 million
Ashraf Ghani: 923,592 votes
Abdullah Abdullah: 720,841 votes
Expo details
Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia
The world fair will run for six months from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.
It is expected to attract 25 million visits
Some 70 per cent visitors are projected to come from outside the UAE, the largest proportion of international visitors in the 167-year history of World Expos.
More than 30,000 volunteers are required for Expo 2020
The site covers a total of 4.38 sqkm, including a 2 sqkm gated area
It is located adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South
EXPATS
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ULTRA PROCESSED FOODS
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- Margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars
- Energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- Infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes
- Many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts
Race%20card
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