i've got a 56 plate is250 and just searched autotrader for info on my plate and came up as a is250 se-l which is correct. Have done the same for a 57 plate just seen randomly on the road which was registered on 18th jan this year. It came up as a is250 (is3). Anyone know what a is3 is? Did a search on another 57 plate and it just said is250 this was registered on oct 07..any ideas?

Dunno what an (IS3) is unless it's like a model number or version number, mine says IS250 SE-L AUTO which is correct.

Bit strange...although there is the second generation IS300 Lexus market in China.

Make LEXUS
Model IS (IS3)250 SE
Engine Size 2499
Colour NOT AVAILABLE
Fuel PETROL
BodyStyle 4-DOOR SALOON
Transmission AUTOMATIC
Gears 6 SPEED
Previous Keepers NOT AVAILABLE
Date of registration 18.01.2008
Last keeper change NOT AVAILABLE


thats what it shows...

Have you tried the RAC or DVLA sites to see what they show?

hpicheck and rac give:
Vehicle Details 1 for registration number KA57***
MakeLEXUSYear of manufacture ModelIS (IS3)Engine size(CC)..

(they mention is3 too..)

dvla says:
The vehicle details for KA57 ***are:

Date of Liability 01 01 2009
Date of First Registration 18 01 2008
Year of Manufacture 2008
Cylinder Capacity (cc) 2499CC
CO2 Emissions 214g/Km
Fuel Type Petrol
Export Marker Not Applicable
Vehicle Status Licence Not Due
Vehicle Colour BLUE
Vehicle Type Approval M1
The information contained on this page is correct at the time of enquiry.
Vehicle Excise Duty Rate for vehicle
6 Months Rate £112.75
12 Months Rate £205.00 .
...

Weird, is your car really blue? May be worth asking your friendly Lexus dealer what IS3 means.

Perhaps there has been a model update and the newer ones have a different code?

Seems bizarre though, if they are referring to it as a third gen IS or something........

nah mine is not blue...the one i was doing a search on the ka57 (is3) reg is blue....will ask my dealer and see what they say