flipside909

Yeah I don't think going to 235/45/18 from 245/40/18 is going to make a huge difference in handling as the difference is not significant. (The newer stock wheel fitment is a tad taller) Its all about the proper rubber and how well the chassis and suspension can keep the tire contact patch to the ground.

3rd Gen GS is okay, but is boring in compariso to the new GS F Sport. As for the regular new GS...cannot say until Wednesday.

sprtent

iTrader: (1)

I had a chance to check out the new 450h at the San Francisco autoshow yesterday. Very disappointed to see on the little specifications sheet standard wheel and tire are 17x7.5 with 225/50R17. The 18's are optional

Also I thought mpg is supposed to be around 30% better, but it's only 27/33/29 (city/hw/comb). That's a only 23% better for city, but 32% better for hw.

flipside909

You'll find more info here in the coming days.

*Batman*

These stats are interesting. The BMW 535D does 38 mpg (US gallon) combined city/hw. That's a huge difference, and they have identical acceleration times.

I really wish Lexus made a Diesel Hybrid. A Lexus GS450Hd could win Car of the Year and make a massive dent in luxury car sales. Imagine 50mpg and 0-60 in 5 seconds.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

yeah i think everyone knows by now you have something to say on wed already.

no one say it's huge difference from 235 to 245, but then again it also happens for a reason. wants to go into why us spec f sport has no fogs? i am sure you know the answer, just that you probably can't / won't say

in some way (just saying) it's like the e60. people said all about how good the car handled for its generation, but then the look....

flipside909

I was given many different reasons behind where there are no fogs. The most popular reason I heard including Chief Engineer's reason most was...the M5 doesn't have it. I openly said...well this is not an M5 and there's no GS F yet. Also they said that the headlamp output from the stock HID's are so good nowadays that it negates the need for fogs. For arguments sake, the LFA doesn't have fogs. I prefer to have fogs because 1) it does get foggy here in CA and it does help to have them 2) you are more visible to oncoming traffic in inclement weather scenarios. I think at the end of the day, we all know what it comes down to, cost savings.

Yes I have seen pics on the CE's iPad over dinner the other week of a long lead they did for the Japanese press. Their F-Sport cars had fogs...and I was quick to point it out to Kanamori-san. Since these are pre-production cars...we'll have to wait and see if they make a change for the production cars here in the US. My fingers are crossed they have them.

MPLexus301

iTrader: (3)

^I hope they add them...they do make a nice statement on the front of the car.

The "well the M5 doesn't have them" thing is so crazy...if that's the logic, BMW has V8s and high performance models, so why doesn't Lexus?

rominl

iTrader: (4)

lmao, did you point out that m3 and m5 don't have fogs but those holes are actually for something else? i am sure chief engineer was joking. anyway, i am not going to get into another silly argument on missing fogs on the fsport. i think by now the answer is pretty clear, whether one accepts it or not is his/her business

i think since about 10 years ago, fogs are mostly for cosmetic purposes anyway

ydooby

That so-called "38mpg" is based on the highly inflated European test cycle. In EPA cycle the 335d gets only 27mpg combined, let alone the heavier 535d (which is not for sale and therefore not rated in the US).

BNR34

iTrader: (1)

Agreed, on my LS430 and SC430, the stock fogs make very little to almost no differences in forward illumination.

BNR34

iTrader: (1)

Fuel efficiency, they are doing everything they can to squeeze out every last drop of MPG.

BNR34

iTrader: (1)

That is already the case with the current F-Sport suspension on the 2IS and 3GS, they are way more nimble and agile then a stock IS-F.

The 4GS is just a carry over.

BNR34

iTrader: (1)

I am with you, on the same car with the same set up, wider rubber always = more grip.

Just look at the autocrosser, they run the widest tire allow, more is always more.

spwolf

2IS F-Sport handles better than IS-F? How does that work?

flipside909

EPA estimates are usually conservative in their ratings. For example my 09IS F gets an average of 24-25 mpg on mixed city driving and about 26-27 straight highway. Its only estimated at 16/23.

Fog lamps are not supposed to enhance the illumination of your car going forward, its a wide pattern where it counts most.


I'm a little lost. There's no F Sport package for the 3rd Gen GS. Are you talking about the F-Sport Accessory suspension packages for the 2nd Gen IS and 3rd Gen GS? I will agree a full F-Sport Accessory suspension IS350 F Sport will outhandle a stock IS F. Stock IS F's suspension is pretty harsh. I can make that claim because I do have an IS F and have driven several IS F Sport cars with full accessories in different trim 250 MT, 350AT, 350C.

4th Generation GS is NOT a carryover. I'll elaborate more later.


An auto crosser is not concerned about fuel economy and comfort. The mainstream GS owner is not concerned about getting the fastest times on a coned course. That theory is a bit off.