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OP Title: "Is the GS based of any other Toyota product"?
Here's a proper 2.0" stretched wheelbase Toyota Avalon against the same platform and engine Lexus ES.
Generally speaking, the Lexus variants are lower in height, more compact inside, with sportier suspension tune.
Toyota variants from Corolla all the way up to Highlander normally use touch screen, as opposed to Lexus's use of the 5-way joystick.
The ES is more upmarket than the Avalon, however the Crown may be more luxuriously appointed than the GS with dedicated 4 seat option with reclining rear seat leg rests.
It is normal for specifications to vary from country to country, eg Russian Camry's have rear seat remote control for ventilation and audio in the rear center folding armrest.
Best to avoid using the term "based", because it kind of connotes that the second is copying and therefore inferior to the original; use the word "shared" instead, because they share the same platform and engines etc.
Toyota Crown vs Lexus GS:
Here is a Crown Royal [base model] 4 seater interior option.
Here's a proper 2.0" stretched wheelbase Toyota Avalon against the same platform and engine Lexus ES.
Generally speaking, the Lexus variants are lower in height, more compact inside, with sportier suspension tune.
Toyota variants from Corolla all the way up to Highlander normally use touch screen, as opposed to Lexus's use of the 5-way joystick.
The ES is more upmarket than the Avalon, however the Crown may be more luxuriously appointed than the GS with dedicated 4 seat option with reclining rear seat leg rests.
It is normal for specifications to vary from country to country, eg Russian Camry's have rear seat remote control for ventilation and audio in the rear center folding armrest.
Best to avoid using the term "based", because it kind of connotes that the second is copying and therefore inferior to the original; use the word "shared" instead, because they share the same platform and engines etc.
Toyota Crown vs Lexus GS:
Here is a Crown Royal [base model] 4 seater interior option.
I compared the highest medel Camry to the ES not the Avalon. The V6 camry and ES share same motor. The Pictures you just posted look more like the Ls vs the Gs. Also the Ls rear seats recline much like what your describing vs the Gs seats lacking those features. You should really consider the Ls in compariaon to the cars you are bringing up
That Crown Royal looks much nicer than the kind we get here in the States.
The Toyota Avalon & Lexus ES are two Toyota products that are available in the US, but not necessarily freely avalable around the world.
Eg I don't think Avalon is available in Europe?
While the previous 5th generation ES was not available in Europe if I'm not wrong?
Anyhow, the relationship between Toyota Avalon & Lexus ES is roughly similar to the relationship between the Toyota Crown & Lexus GS.
The Crown is available in three slightly different exterior trims:
1) Royal base model,
2) Majesta for luxury, and
3) Athlete for sports.
The headlights, radiator grill, tail lights and wheels are often differently styled.
Think of this as being similar to Camries in US, vs Asia-Pacific Camry, vs Russian Camries - which also have minor cosmetic & suspension tuning differences.
The exterior above is that of a Crown Athlete, because that's the sports model that bears most resemblance to Lexus 4GS especially the 19" wheels.
However I couldn't find any interior pics of Crown Athlete.
Thus I posted interior pics of the base model Toyota Crown Royal, those pics being their 4 seater option with reclining rear seat leg rests.
This thread began more than 2 years ago, and nowadays it seems that posters in the 4GS Forum are very familiar with the concept that the Toyota Crown Series [which has never been officially marketed in the US] and the Lexus GS Series - share both platforms and drivelines.
If we allow internet bullies to dictate threads like this, then we won't learn much.
Keeping in mind the entry levelof the market: GA-B has replaced old B Platform used in subcompact FWD Yaris etc. GA-C has replaced the old MC & New MC Platforms used by compact FWD Prius, Corolla, RAV4, CT & NX etc. GA-K has replaced old K Platform used by midsize FWD Camry, Avalon, Highlander, ES & RX etc.
To answer the OP, from 1989 onwards, the Toyota N Platform was shared by:
1) 1998-05 Toyota Altezza/Lexus 1IS Series
2005-13 Lexus 2IS Series
2) 1991-04Toyota Mark II Series JDM [Japanese Domestic Market]
The Toyota Mark II Series began life a an enlarged Corona, before it became an individual model on its own, to fulfil the needs of a passenger sized sedan below the 4.7 meter long by 1.7 meter wide tax threshold.
The Toyota Mark II Series is a special intermediate size that is larger than the C Class/3 Series/IS, but smaller than the E Class/5 Series/GS.
The Toyota Mark II Series is a Japanese Domestic Market JDM only product.
The Toyota Mark II Series is exported under the Toyota Cressida badge.
The Mark II Series was superseded by the Mark X Series below.
3) 2004-19Toyota Mark X Series [pronounced Mark Ten] JDM
The Toyota Mark X Series is a special intermediate size that is larger than the C Class/3 Series/IS, but smaller than the E Class/5 Series/GS.
The Toyota Mark X Series is also a JDM only product.
4) 1991-2018 Toyota CrownSeries JDM
The Toyota Crown is similar in size, with the same platform and engines as the Lexus GS, however the Crown is more luxurious, while the GS more sporty.
The Crown is more Japanese JDM tastes, while the GS is more European export tastes.
The Toyota Crown Series is RHD for the JDM, but it is also available in LHD for the Chinese market.
5) 1991-2012 Toyota Aristo/Lexus 1/2/3GS Series
6) 1989-2017 Toyota Celsior/Lexus 1/2/3/4LS Series The 1989 Lexus 1LS was the very first vehicle to use the Toyota N Platform.
7) Lexus SC Coupe.
Meanwhile, the Toyota New N Platform is used by the:
1) 2013-onwards Lexus 3IS Series.
2) 2012-onwards Lexus 4GS Series.
3) 2013-onwards Lexus RC Series Coupes.
Toyota's New N Platform may just be a minor stopgap update of the original old Toyota N Platform.
Of course, after Toyota's old N & New N Platforms comes the new TNGA GA-Las used in the latest LC coupe, 5LS and 2018-24 Toyota Crowns sedans.
Photos below are the 1992-onwards Toyota Mark II & X Series which shares the old Toyota N Platform. Keeping in mind that the very first vehicle to use the old Toyota N Platform was the original 1989-95 Toyota Celsior/Lexus LS400!
Keeping in mind that the Mark Series is a special intermediate size between the compact C Class/3 Series/IS and midsize E Class/5 Series/GS originally designed to fit under the Japanese Passenger Car Tax threshold of 4.7 m long by 1.7 m wide, but this tax limit was abolished in 1989 to allow Japanese cars to be more globally competitive.
Note that the Nissan Skyline/Infiniti Q50 is Nissan's direct competitor to the Toyota Mark Series, and that's why the Q50's specs fall half way between Lexus IS & GS.
Skyline/Q50 is bigger than IS, but smaller than GS.
1992-96 Toyota Mark II
1996-00 Mark II
2000-04 Mark II
2004-09 Mark X
2009-19 Toyota Mark X
The Mark X will be discontinued after December 2019.
It will be the end of the roughly 4.7 m long x 1.7 m wide intermediate size between the rear drive compacts like IS and the rear drive midsize like GS...
They have to share components. I would find it hard to believe that the GS only uses GS designed parts..
Toyota and Lexus parts come in red & white boxes or packaging materials with both logos clearly marked. Toyota sources parts from multiple authorized manufacturers all over the world, using stringent standards approved by Toyota.
The GS and the Crown went down the same assembly line in Japan when they were made. There's a video on Youtube of it unfortunately, there's not many factory vids. of the GS.
4GS = 14th Gen S210 crown...mechanically. Interior and body differs. I have friends with S210(2gr), S200(2gr) and S180(4gr and 2gr) Crown. All of them are JDM units. Very common in my country.
07-25-17, 08:16 PM
