Lexus GS Launches After Full Model Change | LEXUS

LEXUS GS

All-New Lexus GS Launched

Lexus, Toyota Motor Corporation's luxury brand. Akio Toyoda's recent declaration at the Tokyo Motor Show, "Lexus is changing, and it starts with the GS," is still fresh in our minds. True to his word, the GS series, positioned as Lexus's grand touring sedan and fully redesigned, is ready for sale. This includes the "Lexus GS450h," "GS350," and the newly established "GS250."

Text by SUZUKI Fumihiko (OPENERS)

A New Chapter for the Lexus Brand

Lexus expresses its ambition for this full model change, stating, "We will carve out a new stage for Lexus as a truly global premium brand originating from Japan." The "Lexus GS," which had its world premiere at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, adopts the "spindle grille" as Lexus's new symbol, inheriting the design from the concept model "LF-Gh." This immediately establishes a distinct identity in terms of styling.

Furthermore, technology cultivated from the Lexus brand's supercar, the "Lexus LFA," has been incorporated. The fundamental performance, honed through over a million kilometers of rigorous testing worldwide, including at the Nürburgring, is impressive. Other highlights include the 12.3-inch wide display, analog clock, and the bamboo steering wheel used in the "version L" and "I package" variants, crafted from bamboo sourced from Kochi Prefecture.

The top model, the GS450h, is scheduled for release in March and features a hybrid system. It combines a 3.5-liter V6 engine with a maximum output of 217 kW (295 ps) at 6,000 rpm and a maximum torque of 356 Nm (36.3 kgm) at 4,500 rpm, with a motor delivering a maximum output of 147 kW (200 ps) and a maximum torque of 275 Nm. The combined maximum output is an impressive 256 kW (348 ps). Pricing starts at ¥7,000,000 for the standard equipment, ¥7,400,000 for the I package, ¥7,900,000 for the version L, and ¥8,000,000 for the F SPORT. Fuel efficiency has been improved by 40 percent compared to the previous model.

The GS350 is equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine (2GR-FSE) producing a maximum output of 234 kW (318 ps) at 6,400 rpm and a maximum torque of 38.7 kgm at 4,800 rpm. The FR model is priced at ¥5,800,000, and the AWD model, which appropriately controls the power distribution between the front and rear wheels, is ¥6,200,000. The I package is ¥6,200,000 and ¥6,600,000 respectively, the version L is ¥6,700,000 and ¥7,100,000 respectively, and the F SPORT is ¥6,800,000 and ¥7,000,000.

The GS250 is powered by a 2.5-liter V6 engine (4GR-FSE) with a maximum output of 158 kW (215 ps) at 6,400 rpm and a maximum torque of 26.5 kgm at 3,800 rpm. It is available only as an FR model, with the standard specification priced at ¥5,100,000, the I package at ¥5,500,000, the version L at ¥6,000,000, and the F SPORT at ¥5,900,000.

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