The IS 250 may lack the IS 350’s power, but it definitely has a trump card if you need traction, namely All-Wheel Drive:
The IS series is a confusing one, the IS 250 has the option of a manual transmission and AWD, while the IS 350 gets the bigger engine (with an extra 100hp) but is only available in automatic. It’s a rather strange way of doing things, as the IS 350 sales would no doubt benefit from these IS 250-only options. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for 2008.