Lexus Malaysia, the luxury division of UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd, expects the new model it is launching today – Lexus IS250 – to boost its sales of 300 units of Lexus vehicles next year. UMW Toyota managing director Datuk David Chen said the model, the fourth and smallest of the Lexus range, would potentially account for 30%, or 100 of the 300 units it hoped to sell in 2008.The car would compete in the compact sedan segment of the luxury car market, against top marques like BMW 325i and Mercedes C-class, Chen said, adding that the segment typically represented one third of the total luxury market.The local luxury market now sells 7,000 cars annually. “I think the market is ready to share with another new brand,” he said after a sneak preview of the car on Monday. The newly introduced Lexus IS250 compact sedan With Lexus IS250 representing it in the compact sedan fray, Lexus Malaysia now boasts a complete range – Lexus LS460L representing the limousine segment, Lexus GS300 the mid-sized sedan and Lexus RX300 the sports utility vehicle.Lexus IS250 is powered by a 2.5-litre V6 engine that gives a maximum of 205bhp. According to Chen, Lexus Malaysia has set a conservative sales target for the new model next year, knowing that its operations were limited to its only outlet – the Lexus Centre – a RM35mil 3S centre opened in Mutiara Damansara in January.  Nevertheless, sales for the first nine months exceeded 150 units and Chen said the company was on track to achieve the 200-unit target this year.“The Lexus GS300 and the Lexus LS460L (the two top-selling models) sold in almost equal quantity. I'm pleasantly surprised at the strength of both models,” he added.