4GS mega thread (UPDATED; preview drives, specs, more interior pics)
Lead Lap
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,428
Likes: 10
From: NC
PowerTrains
I ponder if they are doing what they did w/ the 3rd generation: debut w/ some carryover but quickly introduce new items. Like how the 2006 brought the GS300 but then 2007 had the GS350 ...
Last edited by GS69; Jul 22, 2011 at 07:36 AM.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,471
Likes: 0
From: SF
nothing wrong with V6 3.5L tho. I had it on my IS350 and it's a brilliant brilliant motor. I prefer it much better to the BMW's current twin scroll turbo charged 3L set up they use in 535i. If I were to get a GS, I'd either get a hybrid version or wait at least a few years to see what they have. The next generation IS might come with all new power trains.
For what it's worth...
303hp/6200RPM x ?hp/6500RPM, and ?hp = 318.
That's a comparison of the current engine with the redline extended 300RPM, which might not mean much, but many of us have said for a while that we expect to see 320-330hp in the new engine, and this is just another educated guess. I am thinking that they should add valvematic as well, so who knows.
Best part is that weight should remain relatively similar. Too bad that they aren't using the 8AT, as I think it's lighter and uses fewer parts than the 6AT.
303hp/6200RPM x ?hp/6500RPM, and ?hp = 318.
That's a comparison of the current engine with the redline extended 300RPM, which might not mean much, but many of us have said for a while that we expect to see 320-330hp in the new engine, and this is just another educated guess. I am thinking that they should add valvematic as well, so who knows.
Best part is that weight should remain relatively similar
. Too bad that they aren't using the 8AT, as I think it's lighter and uses fewer parts than the 6AT.
The 3.5 V6 might be smooth, but it not on par with all of them. It trounces the Bimmer and Mercedes, but Audi absolutely embarrasses the 3.5 V6 (and everyone else) with its 3.0T.
AUDI:
0-60 - 5.2
1/4 mile: 13.6 @ 102 mph
Slalom: 67.2 mpg
Braking 60-0: 111 ft
Skid Pad: .90g
Lexus estimates:
PERFORMANCE (C/D EST):
Zero to 60 mph: 5.7 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 14.2 sec
Top speed: 145 mph
AUDI:
0-60 - 5.2
1/4 mile: 13.6 @ 102 mph
Slalom: 67.2 mpg
Braking 60-0: 111 ft
Skid Pad: .90g
Lexus estimates:
PERFORMANCE (C/D EST):
Zero to 60 mph: 5.7 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 14.2 sec
Top speed: 145 mph
0-60: 5.3s
1/4 mile: 13.8@101.8 mph
Lexus has been notoriously conservative with the 0-60 times for both the IS350 and the GS350, as it's pretty common knowledge that the IS will do it in 4.9-5.1 seconds, and yet Lexus claims 5.6. I wouldn't really trust C/D's test estimates of a prototype car, either.
My point is this: let's wait and see what the final engine specs look like next month, but even if they don't change a thing, the engine is still very competitive and is hardly "embarassed" by Audi's 3.0T. I'd even bet that a 2007-2011 RWD GS 350 could probably take an A6 3.0T 0-60.
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not surprised there's no v8 - predicted that ages ago. so now what all those who say lexus 'must' have a v8 in this category? 
with the taller, wider car and wider track, and i'm guessin li-ion battery for hybrid, i predict little lost trunk space, which will make the hybrid much more appealing.
the 6spd auto is a mistake in this category. imo.
the handling and tuning and interior are GIANT LEAPS forward - way to go lexus!!!!
with the taller, wider car and wider track, and i'm guessin li-ion battery for hybrid, i predict little lost trunk space, which will make the hybrid much more appealing.
the 6spd auto is a mistake in this category. imo.
the handling and tuning and interior are GIANT LEAPS forward - way to go lexus!!!!
Lexus Champion
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,370
Likes: 0
From: NY
One more thing... Instead of the torque vectoring diff they used "rear wheel steering" ? .. WTF is up with that?
Glad to hear it seemingly drives well though, and that it maintains it's curbweight instead of bloating is great news too.
No problem with the 3.5 at all. It is an excellent engine. Was just hoping that it'd have a bump to perhaps 325-330hp.
It really is a pity on the lack of the 8 speed.
Glad to hear it seemingly drives well though, and that it maintains it's curbweight instead of bloating is great news too.
I am thinking the same thing as well. May be they will have GS400 with 8 speed trans one year after the GS350.
nothing wrong with V6 3.5L tho. I had it on my IS350 and it's a brilliant brilliant motor. I prefer it much better to the BMW's current twin scroll turbo charged 3L set up they use in 535i. If I were to get a GS, I'd either get a hybrid version or wait at least a few years to see what they have. The next generation IS might come with all new power trains.
nothing wrong with V6 3.5L tho. I had it on my IS350 and it's a brilliant brilliant motor. I prefer it much better to the BMW's current twin scroll turbo charged 3L set up they use in 535i. If I were to get a GS, I'd either get a hybrid version or wait at least a few years to see what they have. The next generation IS might come with all new power trains.
It really is a pity on the lack of the 8 speed.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: AR
New pics!!! Are you liking it?
Some parts look great, and appear to be a huge improvement. But, what about those seats and the gauge clusters?
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...ive/index.html
I like the look and feel of the current heavily sculpted seats, and the machined aluminum look of the current gauges. The new seats are bland looking (and could they have used bigger headrests? The things are huge!) and the gauges are just plain boring.
What are your impressions?
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...ive/index.html
I like the look and feel of the current heavily sculpted seats, and the machined aluminum look of the current gauges. The new seats are bland looking (and could they have used bigger headrests? The things are huge!) and the gauges are just plain boring.
What are your impressions?
Lead Lap
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,428
Likes: 10
From: NC
AutoWeek
What Is It? No, it is not the all-landau-bodied GS. That is camouflage to keep prying eyes away from discovering the truth about Lexus' attempt to get some sales out of its flagging GS line. A total of 7,000-something sales a year is not acceptable to the luxury division, and Lexus hopes changes to the GS will address those figures.
Lexus called this prototype a new platform, but it has the exact same 112.2-inch wheelbase as the current car. The new GS is lighter by 157 pounds, at 3,638, and it gets more spot and laser welds to stiffen it up. There are changes to the suspension geometry, as well as to electronic systems like Adaptive Variable Suspension and Lexus Dynamic Handling. And 1 model has 4-wheel-steer. The goal is to make it competitive with sports sedans like the BMW 5, Audi A6, Infiniti M37 and the like. We were offered no specifics about horsepower but Lexus says the new car's 3.5-liter V6 will have more of it, while getting better gas mileage. The current GS 350 makes 303 hp and 274 lb ft of torque while returning 22 mpg combined, so the new car will have at least 304 hp, 275 lb ft and 23 mpg, we estimate.
How Does It Drive? Lexus put together a very tidy driving experience for us, combining city streets, an autocross course and a respectably twisty mountain road. In the city the GS 350 showed it still had all the quiet and comfort for which Lexus is renowned. There is more headroom front and rear and a lower hip point for the driver.
On the autocross course we put the Drive Mode Select into Sport S+ and tried like crazy to get the rear end to come out, this being rear-wheel drive and us thinking we were do-rifto kings. But all we could do was make it understeer, even though the current and (we assume) prototype car's 52/48 front/rear weight balance. Despite Lexus' claims that the electronic controls allow more slip in this new version, we were danged if we could get it very much out of line. That's probably good for Lexus buyers, who value predictability and stability above all else. Similar hamstrings kept the IS from being as fun as it could have been when it debuted.
Finally, we discovered that the off switch for all that electronic stability stuff was covered under black camo tape on the dash. We peeled it back, held the switch down for 3 to 5 seconds and then…a little oversteer. That was because we were in the upscale model of the 2 GS 350 prototypes we drove and that model had 4-wheel steer. The 4WS does, indeed, keep this car in line very well and increases cornering grip by a huge factor. So we got into the prototype without the 4WS, peeled back the tape, held down the switch and--woo hoo--watch out Rhys Millen and Tanner Foust. With all that stuff shut off the car was really fun, hanging the tail out as long as we wanted to hang it out. Though it still took a concerted effort to do so, once we got the rear out it was easy to keep it there, counter-steering into the turn like Drift King Tsuchiya himself.
Then we headed up to the mountain road. Again, the 4ws car proved to be much faster through corners, as you would expect. That stability and speed meant less braking entering the corners. On the straights between turns the 3.5-liter V6 (if that is indeed what's under the hood) responded with alacrity. The new car has the same 5.7-second 0-60 time as the current model. The controls on the 6-speed automatic could be cranked up for quicker upshifts and for nicely matched throttle blips on downshifts.
It was good on the mountains, but not great, as if Lexus tried again to make a decent car great through tuning and tweaking of the electronic systems instead of starting out with, say, a 5-Series chassis. As such, it still might fall short of performance sedans in the segment, at least as far as performance goes. Those looking for Lexus attributes like quiet and comfort won't be disappointed and might be surprised and delighted to find how responsive the new GS is.
Do I Want It? If quiet and comfort is a priority--but you might want to occasionally have some fun--you might like this attempt by Lexus to make the GS more sporty. But if you're a 5-Series/A6/M37 buyer, it might not be sporty enough. You decide, you're the buyer.
Look for a teaser photo to be released to the media August 4, the gasoline version to be revealed at Pebble Beach, the hybrid at Frankfurt and an F-Sport at SEMA. Somewhere around there we'll get more specs, pricing and drive a production version without all the vinyl camo cladding, though we kind of liked the camo cladding.
