Lexus GS 2008 News

Overshadowed by the volume-selling IS sedan and larger, lavishly equipped LS sibling, Lexus is now focusing on the GS.A revised GS range has just been unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show and arrives here in time for the Melbourne Motor Show.The big changes are under the skin, though the car does get a mild cosmetic makeover.The big news is the flagship GS gets the same 4.6-litre V8 as the range-topping LS sedan. The GS460 develops 255kW at 6400 revs and 460Nm at 4100 revs. That's 47kW and 43Nm more than the 4.3-litre GS430, which it replaces.The GS300 and GS450h carry over.Lexus Australia chief executive John Roca says the power gains bring the range-topper in line with the performance of the GS450h.However, compared with the LS460, power and torque are down in the GS460 because it misses out on the LS's direct-injection system.The V8 does share its eight-speed automatic transmission with the LS, which is lighter and more compact in the GS than the six-speed automatic it replaces.Despite the reduced power, the 4.6-litre in the GS is no slouch, hitting 100km/h in 5.8 seconds and reaching a top speed of 240km/h.Roca says apart from improved engines, the sedan gets some small visual tweaks.On the outside there is a chrome grille surround, new integrated indicators in the door mirrors and new alloys.Both bumpers have been restyled.The GS 450h gains several styling cues from other Lexus hybrids, relating to badging and hybrid blue highlights.Inside, audio and telephone controls on the steering wheel have been revised and the boot and fuel filler releases have been moved outside the drop-down switch module.All models now have an input jack for portable music players.For added security, the doors have an automatic locking function triggered when the vehicle is on the move.Roca says GS sales stalled last year, in part because the car was in run out mode.“We will refocus on improving the GS's share this year,” he says.GS sales were down 21 per cent last year, compared with 2006, while overall Lexus sales were up 14.5 per cent.The IS250 remains the best seller in the range, accounting for about half of sales.GS pricing is expected to be decided next month.Roca hopes to hold prices at current levels. That means the entry GS300 Sports should stay close to $95,000 and the new 4.6-litre V8 GS460 about $138,000. 

Picture this. You're driving along the motorway. The Lexus you are travelling in purrs, whisper quiet. It looks good, too, good enough to draw admiring glances. Up ahead the storm clouds gather and it is not long before the first drops of rain spot the windscreen. The wipers come on automatically. The kilometres rush by and as darkness begins to fall, the car's xenon lights flick on automatically, dipping briefly before coming to rest. There's still a long way to go, but not wanting to get a speeding ticket, you wisely decide to engage cruise control. A digital readout tells you the car's speed is locked to 110km/h and that's where it will stay, unless you are forced to brake for a slow moving vehicle. You have programmed your destination into the car's on-board satellite navigation system, so there's no need to worry about when to turn off or, for that matter, finding the street the 'satnav' will tell you. Ahead a car decides it has had enough of life in the slow lane and suddenly moves out into the lane ahead. Before you have time to react the car does it for you, slowing to match the speed of the vehicle ahead. A couple of minutes later the vehicle returns to the left hand lane and your car's speed climbs automatically back to 110km/h. It's called active cruise control and it is made possible by the in-built radar that scans the road ahead and reacts if any objects move into its path. To while away the hours you turn on the 5.1 Mark Levinson sound system. It's got 14" speakers and sounds better than the hi-fi set up in the lounge room at home. Although the “rels” live almost 800km away, you will probably make it on one tank of fuel. That's because this car is an energy-efficient hybrid and runs on a combination of petrol and electricity, storing the energy normally lost during braking. But it's not like any hybrid that you have driven before, because this car really gets up and goes, with a combined output of 254kW. The drive train consists of a 3.5-litre V6 and a 650-volt electric motor. The latter produces 147kW alone. Power is delivered to the rear wheels through a state-of-the-art continuously variable automatic transmission that doubles as a six-speed manual. The dash from 0-100km/h takes 5.9 seconds and it uses just 7.9 litres/100km. If your route takes you over dirt roads, you can switch from sport to comfort setting using the electronically modulated suspension system. In the unlikely event of an accident, the car is fitted with pre-collision lock down system along with 10 airbags. Parking is a snack too, with front and rear distance sensors and a rear view camera. It doesn't get much better than the Lexus GS450h. It's a wonder the car isn't able to park itself. But then Lexus's flagship LS 600hL can lay claim to that feat. The GS450h is priced from $124,900 and Lexus has just released an updated model.

The Lexus range in Australia could be expanded with a range of go-faster F products similar to the ones used to create the IS-F V8, which will hit showrooms in the back end of 2008.Lexus of America has moved deeply into dress-up and go-faster parts for the IS and GS sedans, including special alloy wheels, upgraded and ceramic brakes, sports exhausts, suspension parts, clutch and shift upgrades.The parts have been designed and developed by TRD in the US and are on the wish list for Australia.“We're definitely looking at the F-Sport range,” Lexus Australia boss John Roca says. “I think it will go well to boost the image of the IS in Australia. It's something we will probably source from the US.”The F-Sport parts are similar to AMG and M sport pieces produced by BMW and Mercedes-Benz, and come in signature blue, similar to the colour used on the original IS-F show car in Detroit last year (shown above) and also for the badges on the production model of the IS-F.