The Lexus GS: GS 300, GS 460, GS 450h, GS F, and GS Specs
Brand Development, Growth & Expansion
The Lexus GS, also called the Toyota Aristo, was designed to fill the gap between the Lexus ES and Lexus LS, and to provide the company a sports sedan. The Lexus GS is considered a mid-size luxury sports sedan or executive car. There are currently three generations of the GS, which has been manufactured since 1993. The GS models, with 4-doors and a 5-person seating capacity, are built on the Toyota Crown platform and were the first Lexus’ to feature the unique L-finesse body styling.
Design & Technology
The Lexus GS sports a front-wheel drive V6, V8, I6, or hybrid engine, which has progressed through the years from a 3.0L to the current 4.6L. The transmissions are 4, 5, 6, or 8-speed automatic depending on the model.
First generation GS 300 – manufactured from 1991-1997
Second generation GS 300, GS 400, and GS 430 – manufactured from 1997-2005
Third generation GS 300, 430, 350 and 460 – manufactured from 2005-Present
Fourth generation GS – slated to debut in 2012
GS 450h – first mass-produced, rear-wheel drive luxury hybrid, began production in 2007
Motorsport
the Lexus IS F in 2012, potentially sporting a V10 engine that produces over
500 HP. The Lexus GS 400 achieved victory at Road Atlanta in 1999, the company’s
inaugural season in the event. And the Team Lexus GS 400 ranked third overall
in the Manufacturers’ Championship in 2000.
Pop Culture
The
Lexus GS has received many awards and accolades including Best Midsize Luxury
Car in initial quality by J.D. Power
& Associates 2002-2005, Best to Hold Value Award 1998-2001 by Kelley Blue Book, Import Car of the Year
in 1998 by Motor Trend, on Car and Driver‘s Ten Best List 1998-2000,
the best car in its class for 2005 by AAA, and Auto Bild chose the GS 450h for its Auto 1 award for best sedan in
2007.
Several
Lexus GS models make appearances on TV shows like Las Vegas, Curb Your
Enthusiasm, CSI: Miami, Absolutely Fabulous, Nip/Tuck, 24, and Weeds. It has been driven on the big screen as well
in The Fast and the Furious, Burn After Reading and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. Sienna
Miller is also known to drive a Lexus GS.
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| Model Line Overview | |
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| Model lineup: | Lexus GS 350 ($44,850); GS 350 AWD ($46,800); GS 460 ($53,320); GS 450h ($56,400) |
| Engines: | 303-hp V6; 342-hp V8; 340-hp hybrid V6 |
| Transmissions: | 6-speed automatic (V6); 8-speed automatic (V8); CVT (hybrid) |
| Safety equipment (standard): | driver and front-passenger front airbags; front and rear side-curtain airbag; seat-mounted side-impact airbag for front and rear seats; driver and front passenger knee airbags; force-limiting seat belts with pre-tensioners for driver, front passenger and outboard rear seats; 3-point belts for all seating positions, including rear center position; height-adjustable front shoulder belt anchors; automatic locking retractor (ALR)/emergency locking retractor (ELR) seat belt function on all seating positions except driver (ELR only); traction control; Vehicle Stability Control system (VSC); four-channel, four-sensor anti-lock brakes (ABS) integrated with Brake Assist and Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD); electronic stability control; tire pressure warning system |
| Safety equipment (optional): | Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) integrates and manages ECB, ABS, BA, EBD, VSC and Electronic Power Steering (EPS) for total-vehicle dynamics control; Electronic Controlled Brake system (ECB); Pre-Collision System (PCS); front and rear park assist; rearview camera |
| Basic warranty: | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| Assembled in: | Tahara, Japan |
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| Specifications As Tested | |
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| Model tested (MSRP): | Lexus GS 460 ($53,320) |
| Standard equipment: | leather upholstery; heated and ventilated front seats; dual-zone automatic climate control; interior air filter; power tilt/telescoping wood and leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls; cruise control; heated and ventilated 10-way power-adjustable front seats; memory for the driver’s seat; mirrors and steering wheel; trunk pass-through; heated auto-dimming power exterior mirrors with tilt-down back-up aid; power windows; power locks; SmartAccess keyless access and starting; sunroof; remote engine starting; 10-speaker AM/FM/cassette stereo with six-disc CD changer; auxiliary audio input jack; vehicle information system with a seven-inch touch screen; Bluetooth wireless cell phone link; auto-dimming rearview mirror; universal garage door opener; power trunk closer; automatic xenon adaptive headlights; theft-deterrent system; fog lights; adaptive variable suspension with sport and normal modes; P245/50ZR18 tires on alloy wheels |
| Options as tested (MSRP): | all-season run-flat tires ($320), rain-sensing wipers with headlight cleaners ($100), rear sunshade ($210), Mark Levinson 330-watt audio/navigation system with surround sound and rearview camera ($3,630), rear spoiler ($200), Lexus Link ($900), intuitive front and rear park assist ($500) |
| Destination charge: | ($825) |
| Gas guzzler tax: | N/A |
| Price as tested (MSRP): | $60,005 |
| Layout: | rear-wheel drive |
| Engine: | 4.6-liter dohc 32-valve V8 |
| Horsepower (hp @ rpm): | 342 @ 6200 |
| Torque (lb.-ft. @ rpm): | 339 @ 3600 |
| Transmission: | 8-speed automatic with manual shiftgate |
| EPA fuel economy, city/hwy: | 17/24 mpg |
| Wheelbase: | 112.2 in. |
| Length/width/height: | 190.0/71.7/56.1 in. |
| Track, f/r: | 60.4/60.6 in. |
| Turning circle: | 36.7 ft. |
| Seating capacity: | 5 |
| Head/hip/leg room, f: | 37.8/54.4/43.5 in. |
| Head/hip/leg room, m: | N/A |
| Head/hip/leg room, r: | 37.0/51.4/36.4 in. |
| Cargo volume: | 12.7 cu. ft. |
| Payload: | N/A |
| Towing capacity: | N/A |
| Suspension, f: | independent, double wishbones, coil springs, stabilizer bar, Adaptive Variable Suspension with driver selectable shock absorber damping |
| Suspension, r: | independent, multi-link, coil springs, stabilizer bar, Adaptive Variable Suspension with driver selectable shock absorber damping |
| Ground clearance: | 5.1 in. |
| Curb weight: | 3945 lbs. |
| Tires: | P245/40ZR18 all-season |
| Brakes, f/r: | vented disc/vented disc with ABS, EBD, Brake Assist; ECB brake-by-wire; VDIM electronic stability control |
| Fuel capacity: | 18.8 gal |
