is it anything like tip tronic. l would like to know exactly what it does and how it works

You got it. it is the same thing as the tiptronic, just Lexus has a different name for it. Basically all it does is allow the driver to control the shifts once you put it in mode and allows you to shift up or down without needing a clutch.

Here is a whole read about it if you are interested:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiptronic

Yea. Its lexus/toyotas version of tiptronic. Basically, instead of moving the shift knob up and down like regular tipronic, you have the groovy little buttons on the steering wheel that say UP and Down. you just put the car in M and then you can shift away!

Tiptronic® is a registered trademark, & it is owned by German sports car maker Porsche, who licenses it for use by others such as Volkswagen, Audi & Skoda.

Other manufacturers use Tiptronic-like systems under different names:

* Acura: Sequential SportShift
* Alfa Romeo: Sportronic, Q-Tronic
* Aston Martin: Touchtronic
* Audi: Tiptronic, Multitronic (CVT)
* BMW: Steptronic
* Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep: AutoStick
* Citroën: Sensodrive
* Ford (Australia): Sequential Sports Shift
* Honda: iShift, S-matic, MultiMatic
* Hyundai: Shiftronic, HIVEC H-Matic
* Infiniti: Manual Shift Mode
* Jaguar: Bosch® Mechatronic
* Lancia: Comfortronic
* Land Rover: CommandShift
* Lexus: E-Shift
* Mazda: Sport AT
* Mercedes-Benz: TouchShift
* MG-Rover: Steptronic
* Mitsubishi: INVECS, INVECS II, Sportronic, Tiptronic
* Nissan: Tiptronic
* Opel/Vauxhall: Easytronic
* Peugeot: 2Tronic
* Pontiac: TAPshift
* Saab : Sentronic
* Skoda Auto : Tiptronic
* Subaru: Sportshift (system developed & name used under license from Prodrive Ltd.)
* Smart : Softip
* Volkswagen : Tiptronic
* Volvo: Geartronic


You do not need to buy an overpriced Toyota to experience that. My Fiance VW Bug has a Triptronic also & is fun to drive.