Motor

http://youtu.be/qgVyPTyTa9U

Haven't seen this posted yet.

GS69

Lexus GS 450h

A spot of localised interrogation reveals the words most associated with Lexus are: ‘soft', ‘comfortable', ‘old-mannish', ‘reliable', ‘tape deck' and ‘dentist'. Which makes the brand sound like an old people's home. Ever considered a Lexus? Probably. Then you bought a BMW or Audi.

Lexus wants us to rethink the prejudice. And this new GS is the spear-tip of a shiny new direction. This particular car is the GS450h F-Sport, packed full of clever tech and sporting one of the most aggressive bumpers ever seen on a production car. The rest of the launch range - a non-F-Sport 450h and a 205bhp 2.5-litre GS250 petrol V6 - are a little less visually intimidating, but they all get a serious refresh. So that means a new platform, all-new interiors and exteriors and revised drivetrains.

The 450h gets a new version of the Lexus Hybrid Drive, a 3.5-litre Atkinson cycle V6 petrol in tandem with an electric motor to give 338bhp or, depending on demand, either running solo. Nickel-Metal Hydride batteries take care of the energy storage, and a 6-speed sequential shift E-CVT manages the transfer to the rear wheels. It adds up to a respectably fast saloon, and an especially fast hybrid: 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds and limited to 155mph. So far, so good.

It stays positive. The GS450h was always pretty rapid. But you got the feeling that when you pushed it hard, it got clear of its comfort zone. Now it's more distinctly vigorous. All cars get adaptive variable suspension, but the F-Sport goes one better with Lexus Dynamic Handling, featuring dynamic rear steering, a variable-ratio steering rack and electric power steering. Translation? The rear wheels steer in the opposite direction to the fronts under 50mph for that nimble feeling, in the same direction at higher speed for stability, and the electric steering changes ratio and weight depending on demand. It's good. More distinct than before, easily more dynamic. But complex and not - understandably - with all that much natural fluency.

The inside has also undergone a serious revamp. The battery pack is now stacked rather than laid flat in the rear, meaning a much bigger boot and improved knee room throughout. The interior is more European - think thoughtful and sober - with the slick dash dominated by a huge 12.3in screen, good-quality materials thoughout, and all the comfort-orientated buttons you could wish for in a generous standard spec.

It makes the GS450h F-Sport a lovely sports cruiser, capable of driving around in quiet munificence. Quick and quiet on the day-to-day, slightly anonymous (F-Sport excepted), rapid rather than devastating, relatively efficient and pleasing company. But the 450h is way too pricey. Lexus needs to be pitching similar performance and price, and offering an option to the default choices. At £74k, most'll still be in a BMW.

Tom Ford

The numbers
3456cc, V6, RWD, 338bhp, 255lb ft, 47.8mpg, 137g/km CO2, 0-62 in 5.9secs, 155mph, 1820kg

The verdict
Better than the old GS, surprisingly nimble, nice interior and a properly interesting choice. But for well over £70k? You'd have to be barking...

MPLexus301

iTrader: (3)

Wow, that red F-Sport is freakin' amazing. I'm guessing that's the new Riviera Red?

venom21

74,000 pounds? Jesus... Lexus UK must be on crack if they think they can sell them at that price. I know its got the F-sport package, but the current 2012 GS tops out at 53K in the UK.

Just get the GS 250.

Joe Z

iTrader: (10)

You realize £74K is for the GS450 h with F-Sport Package.. (offered in UK Market.)


Joe Z

gyung

iTrader: (1)

I haven't been able to find anything about the GS450h F-Sport in the US, do you know if it will be offered here?

Brian@Vossen

Sadly the GS 450h here won't be available with the F-sport. Maybe they will add it at a later date if there is substantial demand. I figure though it would be a 60-65k car then.

venom21

I know, that's what I was talking about. Its a new model yes, but does adding an f-sport package really make the car 20K more expensive than the outgoing model?

MPLexus301

iTrader: (3)

Maybe I'm the only one who doesn't think $60-65K for a 450h F-Sport isn't really that bad? 535i, A6 and E350 easily go to $70+k. Performance of the 450h is between those 6 cylinders and the V8s like E550 and 550i, which can get up to $85+k.

~$65k seems pretty reasonable to me for 450h F-Sport.

Tulsa1

Excuse me if Im missing the obvious but where are the fog lights on the F Sport version?

energie8

NA don't come with fogs, it's only for overseas.

spwolf

nah, i think that pricing is wrong... unless 4GS got 50% price increase in the UK :-).

spwolf

ok, so as usual, idiots writing for UK newspapers were wrong... F-Sport is 51k, not 75k.
Lexus GS model line-up:
GS 250 SE - £32,995
GS 250 Luxury - £35,995
GS 250 F Sport - £39,995
GS 450h Luxury - £44,995
GS 450h F Sport - £50,995
GS 450h Premier - £50,995
http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsAr...llCars/261338/

It is about the same pricing as before for GS450h.

venom21

Makes much more sense.

ADI$A69

i'm sorry, but that front end is horrid. nothing classy about it at all. looks like an out of control ricer.