2012 Lexus GS350 Reviews

We turn the spotlight on the car world's newest and brightest stars as we ask the questions to which you want the answers. But there's only one question that really needs answering -- would you buy one?What is it?This is the all singing, all dancing new generation medium large Lexus sedan that ushers in a raft of new technology as well as the new Lexus family look. We drove the GS350 F-Sport - about three from the top but unequivocally the best in the range.How much?Pricey at $99,400 but better value than before when comparing standard equipment levels and everything else.What are competitors?Numerous; BMW 5-Series, E-Class Benz, Audi A6, Jag XF, Infiniti M, HSV, FPV.What's under the bonnet?This one gets a naturally aspirated 3.5-litre petrol V6 with variable valve timing good for 233kW/378Nm output. It drives the rear wheels through a six-speed sports automatic transmission.How does it go?Really well, performance is not an issue at all because there's heaps of kick across a wide operating range. Puts away a 0-100kmh sprint in 6.0 flat. Excellent paddle shift, flat torque curve gives instant response.Is it economical?Not really at 9.7-litres/100km - premium preferred.Is it green?OK on the carbon dioxide, clever air-conditioning system. Should crack around three green stars.Is it safe?Full five star car with 10 air bags, dynamic safety systems and even driver assessment systems to make sure you are on the job and not goofing off.Is it comfortable?Super comfy even with the sporty flavour and adaptive suspension. Full array of goodies inside like premium audio, heated and cooled seats, premium satnav. But not as quiet and smooth as we can remember earlier mid-size Lexus models.What's it like to drive?Really liked driving this car for a whole range of reasons, not the least being the rear wheel steering system that transforms it into a super responsive sports sedan with possibly the smallest turning circle in the class.F-Sport not only brings the look, it also brings the feel which is filtered through to the driver through the steering, (bigger) brakes, ride quality, transmission function.Is it value for money?One hundred grand - ouch. Good if it's a company car or in a "package"...as they all are.Would we buy one?See above. It is different, handsome, well equipped, crammed with goodies and technology, wonderful interior, super big touch/info screen. Sumptuous interior. Hmmmmm.Lexus GS350 F-SportPrice: from $99,400Warranty: 4 years roadside assist, 100,00kmWeight: 1740kgEngine: 3.5-litre 6-cyl, 233kW/378NmTransmission: 6-speed sports auto, RWDThirst: 9.7L/100Km, CO2 225g/km

Sports and hybrid are words not usually seen together. And while the F Sport version of the second-generation Lexus GS 450h is not exactly stimulating and involving to drive in a sporty sense, it does live up to its claim of performance without penalty.VALUEAt $111,900, the F Sport is $10,000 less than the Luxury Sport version, which comes with features such as a heads-up display, a tyre pressure monitor and eight parking sensors, even polyurethane-coated paint that repairs scratches when exposed to sunlight. The F Sport adds all-wheel-steer hybrid, sports suspension settings, bigger brakes, automatic high-beam, 19-inch wheels, an 18-setting driver's seat, pre-collision and cruise control systems.DESIGNYou expect Lexus quality inside and you get it. The materials, the finish, the layout and even the stitching are flawless. Not so attractive is the angular and aggressive lower lip spoiler included in the sports body kit.TECHNOLOGYPowered by a 254kW hybrid drivetrain, it accelerates from 0-100km/h in 5.9 seconds yet has a combined fuel use of 6.3l/100km, a 20 per cent improvement over its predecessor at 7.9l/100km. Emissions of CO2 have fallen to a class-leading 147g/km.And the benefits continue. A more compact hybrid battery helps expand boot space by 45 per cent to 465 litres and the redesigned chassis provides more interior space. The chassis is also stiffer and with the battery mounted lower the weight distribution is close to an ideal 50:50, which improves handling. The 3.5-litre V6 engine is now an Atkinson cycle, which has improved efficiency by 20 per cent while retaining the previous engine's 254kW output and lifting torque from 317Nm to 352Nm. An Atkinson Cycle engine has a higher compression ratio than a conventional Otto Cycle.DRIVINGMost of the time it feels as if you are guiding the F Sport rather than driving it. The first thing you notice is the lack of starter-motor noise. Push the start-stop button and the dash lights up and signals “Ready''. Flick the gear selector into drive, press the accelerator and off you go, the petrol engine kicking in only when needed and shutting itself down when coasting or stationary. There is no noise on idle and just a slight shudder when the petrol engine kicks in. A low whine when slowing indicates regenerative braking. Driven sedately it potters around without fuss, switching at will between electric and petrol. Bury the right foot and it launches itself with enough thrust to chirp the wheels on a damp surface and delivers enough seamless punch to keep you pinned back in the seat. Power application is silky smooth and linear. Acceleration is strong, even on light throttle, such is the electric motor's high torque at low revs. But the driving experience is all a bit remote; the engine note is so well muted it's barely audible, the steering feels lifeless on the straight and then there is the quirky nature of the switching between petrol and electric. Despite myriad micro-second decisions going on internally, there is no need for the driver to intervene. All the swapping and sharing is done automatically.VERDICTIt’s a large car with flat, agile cornering and a comfortable, well-controlled ride.Lexus GS 450H F SportPrice: $111,900Warranty: 4 years/100,000kmResale: 57 per centService interval: 10,000km/6 monthsSafety rating: 5 starSpare: space-saverEngine: 3.5-litre V6 petrol 215kW/352Nm; 147kW/275Nm electric motorTransmission: CVT auto; RWDBody: 4.9m (L); 1.8m (w); 1.5m (h)Weight: 1910kgThirst: 6.3 1/100km; 91 RON; 147g/km Co2

Having driven the Lexus LFA supercar at Sandown Raceway last year we were well aware of the stunning capabilities of this aristocratic Japanese automobile manufacturer.Noted initially for superbly built but somewhat bland vehicles, Lexus has shown its LFA to be the harbinger of a whole range of raw-edged premium product. Now comes the subject the car that’s the next step in the Lexus line-up, the GS 350.VALUEOur car was an F Sport, which, at $107,497, falls in the middle of the new GS 350 range and it let us relive the sheer delight of our LFA track time. Information - there is a stack of this - is presented to the driver on an 8-inch LCD colour screen on the central dashboard. A cursor can be navigated around the screen by means of a joystick on the centre console to seek out the info required.A high resolution image is also projected from the rear-view camera to which reversing guidance is added, while driving information such as speed, gearshift position, tachometer, navigation instructions and pre-collision warning can be shown by a new vertically adjustable head-up display projected onto the lower windscreen directly in the driver’s line of sight.All passengers can ‘plug in’ to entertainment from a Pioneer 12-speaker, 299-Watt Lexus premium audio system, while all the latest connectivity kit - USB and AUX inputs for iPods or USB flash drives to play MP3/WMA files - are at their disposal.TECHNOLOGYThe 3.5-litre engine of the GS 350 produces 27 per cent more power (233 kW) and 22 per cent more torque (378 Nm) than the previous Lexus GS 300, plus improved fuel economy and lower carbon dioxide emissions.Mated with a six-speed sequential automatic transmission with steering wheel-mounted paddle shift the GS 350 is capable of reaching 100 km/h from rest in 6.0 seconds on the way to a top speed of 235 km/h. Expect F Sport fuel consumption to drop under 8 litres per 100 km cruising on the open road. But in built-up areas the V6 can take care of close to double that volume of fuel.DESIGNIt’s easy to spot the Lexus LFA supercar DNA in the GS 350 F Sport jigsaw - large mesh side grilles, with central upper and lower grille helping to gulp cooling air into the engine compartment. That, and the daytime running lights, present an aggressive face to oncoming traffic.Airflow is put to work in other ways with ‘aerodynamic damping’ in which air is brought closer to the body to help control vehicle stability and enhance handling. A clever design of rear spoiler, narrow panel gaps and minimal protrusions add to aerodynamic efficiency.As well as the exclusive front grille and bumper, and F Sport badging, the GS 350 F Sport models feature a grey metallic paint finish to the rear diffuser, providing a backdrop to large dual exhaust outlets. The sporty look is finished off by dark coloured 10-spoke, 19-inch alloy wheels incorporating black Lexus ‘L’ logo centres.The Lexus F Sport is a four-door, five-seat sedan/coupe, whose interior includes matching door and seat upholstery that can be optioned in Garnet (red), along with textured aluminium highlights. While occupants settle into 20-way electrically adjustable front bucket seats, the driver can take advantage of an LFA-inspired dimpled steering wheel and gear knob, and aluminium pedals and dashboard trim. Exclusive F Sport decor is completed by black logo scuff plates and steering wheel badging.SAFETYAll Lexus GS models have 10 airbags and take advantage of the active safety features of ABS anti-skid brakes, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, Brake Assist, Traction Control and Vehicle Stability Control all controlled by the advanced Lexus Vehicle Dynamic Integrated Management system.Other safety aids include a blind spot monitor and radar warning of other vehicles in the vicinity, plus auto high-beam headlights which automatically dip when detecting an oncoming vehicle or rounding a bend. A further system keeps an eye out for driver fatigue.DRIVINGLexus’ advanced ride and handling were augmented on the test vehicle by a couple of high-tech systems which contribute greatly to safety, driving satisfaction and convenience. Drive Mode Select allows the driver to choose between ‘Eco’, ‘Normal’, ‘Sport’ and ‘Sport+’ putting emphasis on the car's environmental efficiency or dynamic abilities.In ‘Eco’ even the climate control temperature, airflow volume and seat heater activation are regulated, further reducing fuel consumption; in ‘Sport’ the powertrain is geared towards more responsive driving inputs, including throttle response and engine characteristics; ‘Sport+’ works on steering and chassis control for an even more sporty drive.The Eco mode, as expected, was as economical with driving excitement as it was with fuel use, Sport and Sport+ being the mode of choice for more direct contact with the GS 350’s driving style. After all, this was the F Sport.The new F Sport also has rear-wheel steering for the first time on a Lexus in Australia. The Lexus-devised Dynamic Rear Steering turns the rear wheels the opposite way to the front wheels at speeds up to approximately 80 km/h, for tighter turns and increased cornering performance. The turning circle is cut by almost half a metre at parking speeds.Above approximately 80 km/h, the front and rear wheels turn in the same direction for increased high-speed stability and a more natural-feeling vehicle posture in high-speed corners. The tendency to oversteer is also avoided.In Sport and Sport+ this steering function really came into its own with sharp turn-in and reduced body roll on fast bends, while the GS 350 - at nearly five metres long and two metres wide – backed up the confidence to tuck in to some tight parking spots.Paddle shifting, using the Sports Program Direct Shift from the Lexus IS F, produced a particularly pleasing fast shift pattern with throttle blipping on the downshift. The paddles work in both manual and automatic modes.VERDICTSuch is the all-new Lexus GS 350 F Sport’s comprehensive set-up it allowed driver (and passengers) to experience many facets of travel – from that of stately luxury sedan to out-and-out raw-edged sportscar rush.Lexus GS 350 F SportPrice: from $107,497Warranty: four years/100,000 kmEngine: 3.5-litre 6-cylinder, 233 kW/ 378 NmTransmission: six-speed sequential automatic transmissionThirst: 9.7 L/100km, CO2 emissions 225 g/km0-100 km/h: 6.0 seconds

If you thought the Lexus GS came only in vanilla, think again. The latest model has been through the tutti frutti blender and has emerged with power, pace, refinement and handling that makes it the flavour of the times. And at surprisingly competitive prices. To prove the transition, the fourth-generation GS was let loose in the Australian Alps, home to some of the nation's most demanding roads, where it proved it had some seriously high octane juice running through its veins. The new, more aerodynamic breed has wider front and rear track and comes in two engine sizes and three spec levels, Luxury, F Sport and Sport Luxury, starting from $77,900. The starting price is about $20,000 cheaper than the superseded Lexus GS300 and the new GS250 is also 20per cent better value in terms of what you get for your buck. The GS250 Luxury is $77,900, F Sport $85,900 and Sport Luxury $99,900.GS350 is $89,900 for the Luxury, $99,900 for F Sport and $109,900 for Sport Luxury. There are also option packs for Luxury and F Sport models.The car has had a style revamp, dominated by a scary-looking grille, but we're not sure we like it. It's hour-glass look is based on a spindle  but we're told it works well on freeways. During tests on the Euro autobahns, slower traffic quickly made way for the spindle-mouthed Lexus approaching at 200-plus km/h. The now slightly larger interior can be tailored to just about anything a buyer could want.The seats in the F Sport are 20-way adjustable, and include buttons that make them curl to your shape, like a customised Recaro. Most other models get 12-way adjustments. Standard on all are blind spot and tyre monitor systems, 10 airbags, parking and clearance sonar, reversing camera, bi-xenon headlights, 17-inch alloy wheels, multi-adjustable electric front seats, digital radio, a big screen with satellite navigation and Drive Mode Select, which lets the driver switch between Eco, Normal, Sport and Sport+. Bluetooth and all associated guff is a given.The GS250 has a 154kW/253Nm output from its 2.5-litre V6, and the 350's 3.5-litre whacks out 233kW and 378Nm. Drive to the rear wheels is via a six-speed sequential electronic controlled gearbox with paddle shift. The 250 gets to 100km/h in 8.6seconds, the 350 in 6.0 seconds flat.The steering is an electric rack and pinion set-up and the F Sport 350 comes with dynamic rear steering and variable ratio steering. The laser-welded body shell is 14 per cent stiffer than before, 30kg lighter and the new suspension's dampers are outside the coil spring. There's a new double-wishbone set-up in front with a multi-link system at the back.F Sport and Sport Luxury models get electronic variable damper control. The paint is worth a mention: some colours get glass-infused sparkle, and all get `self-healing' finish. A small scratch disappears after a few hours in the sun.The new GS certainly lives up to its grand tourer status, showing excellent steering and grip through the snaking alpine terrain. The ride is supple enough for passenger comfort, firm enough to keep an enthusiast driver more than happy. Also, a shift to Sport, or more so Sport +, alters the throttle and transmission response and the stability control's intervention point. We rate Sport as best for all seasons. An added benefit is vocal back-up from the exhausts. Drive the car like a GT and the zoompipes join the chorus to put goosebumps on your skin and make your scalp tingle.We tried Eco mode for a bit, but the car is so efficient that it wasn't worth crippling its performance. A brisk 150km trip in a 350, including the twisty bits and some long, flat stretches, gave us a very acceptable average of 10.6litres/100km. Official average figures are 9.3litres/100km for the 250 and 9.7 for the 350. The GS has come of age. We'd have one in a blink. 

Until now the Lexus GS has been a smaller edition of its big brother, Lexus LS. With a big emphasis on quietness, smoothness and refinement, the just superseded GS, but no real sporting ambitions, it was steadily losing sales to the German luxury marques.All that has changed and we have just stepped out of a pair of the all-new, fourth-generation GS sedans with big smiles on our faces. In the manner of the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes E-Class and Audi A6, the upmarket Japanese sedan provides plenty of driving pleasure.Cleverly, the Japanese engineers have managed to give the GS 250 and GS 350 twin desirable attributes –it’s smooth and quiet in the Lexus manner when cruising gently but becomes a true sports sedan when you push it along hard. The engine has great induction and exhaust note and the transmission sharpens its actions to get the best torque on tap moment by moment.This truly is an excellent grand tourer, or GT, in the true sense of that often misused acronym. You could travel at high speeds in the Australian bush all day and come back feeling relaxed and refreshed.The styling has taken a new direction at the front and back, though the profile still carries cues of the just superseded GS. At the front the designers have come up with what they call the ‘spindle-grille’. This sees a tightening of the sides of the area to create a most distinctive shape that makes the mid-sized Lexus stand out from crowd.Our only criticism is that the lower areas of the bumper/spoiler look as though they will be vulnerable in carparks and over poorly designed gutter ramps. Lexus is not alone in this – but that won’t reduce the size of the bill from your favourite panel repairer.We love the interior styling of the all-new Lexus for its elegant simplicity. It could be mistaken for an Italian machine in the way the primary instruments are large, clear and easy to read at the fastest glance.The stitching of the leather on the dashboard adds to the Italian theme, as does the centrally mounted analog clock, a feature Maserati has used with great effect for generations.The integration of the centre information and entertainment screen into the central region of the dashboard is brilliant. Too many other marques have satellite navigation screens that look like an afterthought, the Lexus’s is just right. As well as being aesthetically pleasing, the central screen is well shielded from light.We don’t like drivers taking their attention off the road, but in many cases they will do so even when it creates danger, so Lexus has done the right thing in helping people minimise distraction.Lexus GS 250 is powered by a 2.5-litre V6 petrol engine that’s a heavily revised unit installed in the now superseded model. It produces more power and torque (the peaks are 154 kW / 253 Nm) than previously, but the official fuel consumption has been significantly reduced.It’s a similar story with the 3.5-litre powerplant in the GS 350, with 233 kW and 378 Nm it gives the keen driver plenty of sporting flair, yet using less fuel and producing fewer emissions than in the superseded unit.We tested both engines on demanding roads in and out of Albury and up into the Snowy Mountains and found the 2.5 is probably best described as adequate in its performance. Compensating for that is the fact that it’s well mated to its six-speed automatic transmission. The auto is quick to sense the need for more grunt and change down gears at a moment’s notice.As revheads we would go for the 3.5-litre V6 any day, but saner drivers will be more than happy with the 2.5-litre.Up to four modes are offered on the auto and on the sporting models with adjustable suspension and steering the sportier the mode, the more the driver feels in control of the GS. Four-wheel steering on topline models adds further to the sporty feeling of this bid sedan.A hybrid version of the new Lexus GS, tagged the 450h, will be introduced on May 15th. As before, the number 450 doesn’t indicate engine capacity, but the fact that Lexus considers it provides the sort of driving feel that would normally demand a 4.5-litre engine.With a staggering array of passive safety features to help you stay out of trouble, as 10 airbags should things still go badly wrong, the Lexus must be one of the safest cars on our roads.Lexus is currently importing the GS to Australia in no fewer that six grades. Rather than filling in about 10 pages with all the details, may we suggest making an appointment with your local Lexus dealer and you can work together to tailor the best car for your needs.What we will say is that there numerous body and interior colour choices; driver’s seats with as many as 20 electrically adjustable settings; Mark Levinson topline audio systems with 17 speakers; air conditioning that moistens your skin - and much, much more...Lexus’s stunning change of direction with its GS series is a bold move. But we feel it will be immediately successful. 

If any single model has embodied the disparity between executive sedans from Europe and those from Japan, it’s been the GS.Even in the most sedate versions, the mid-size wares of BMW, Mercedes-Benz and even Audi have at least a hint of sport saloon about them. By polar contrast, the well-intentioned Lexus GS has been as croquet is to base jumping.The fourth generation, however, comes with the suggestion of no one less than our own Paul Gover - who tossed one about in preproduction form last year - of being something more than a floaty, flatulent, rear-wheel-drive Toyota.As ever, Lexus takes a katana to the Germans, deftly undercutting them on substantial, if not perceived, value. For in prestige cars, perception is - if not all - then at least the half the market,  and for this lot the L badge can't equate to those from Europe.If you are one such, then you're reading the wrong auto publication. And  if you want to pay two grand for metallic paint - as per the Euro norm - you need more help than I can give you.The GS 250, which we hadn't got into by publication time, starts from $77,900 topping out at $99,900. The 1-litre bigger engined 350 starts with the Luxury ($89,900). In several respects the $10k dearer F-Sport is the one we'd have, with its tail taming rear wheel steer on top of an adjustable chassis.Luxury Sport looks and feels every bit of its $109,900, banks of soft leather rising over the top of the dashboard, a multi media screen bigger than some hotel windows and still priced against the competition in such a way as to be a bargain.Interior fittings, most of them standard  from the entry level or included in $3k enhancement packs,  read like a luxury lifestyle catalogue. A mouse controlled  system in place of the more usual touchscreen, linked to a split-view 12.3inch widescreen dashboard display. Other stuff runs to  surround sound, front 20-way power seats; pre-collision system, heads-up display, blind spot monitor, lane keep assist, and Driver Monitoring System.An entirely new body and platform house a typically Lexus-esque array of tech, it's just that you get them for about $20k under anything speaking with a Stuttgart accent. Each GS them get three driving modes, Eco, normal and sport, each distinct and worthwhile in their own right.To this F-Sport adds Sport plus, which to some slight extent reduces the interventionist tendencies of Lexus's formidable battery of electronic safety measures.The dynamic highlight of a model lineup that had been the luxury car equivalent of a milky cup of tea followed by a nice lie down, is the F-Sport's rear steer. Rather more sophisticated than the four-wheel-steering systems of yore, the system turns the rear wheels opposite to the direction of the front at an angle of up to two degrees at speeds of up 80km/h.Shoved fast through a slalom course demonstration, it provides a kick in the rear completely at odds with the comfy cruising image previously synonymous with the bigger Lexus models.But the naturally aspirated 3.5-litre V6 – though enduringly effective in most circumstances – feels like last week's newspapers next to the hugely effective turbo fours being slung by the Germans, let alone the boosted sixes of the 535i and Audi's supercharged S4.The real engine story, you feel, comes in six weeks with the arrival of the GS Hybrid. So I guess we'll be doing this all over again then.This is a tale of two ends, each having the appearance of being designed by separate studios, which if not exactly beyond speaking terms, are somewhat further apart than 4.8m ought to be.The front end - especially the mildly blinged F-Sport - might have been drawn by boys racers, all jutting bits and rear vision mirror filling intimidation. Then there's a butt drawn by someone whose idea of daring is a tie with spots. As though to rekindle the cliche that Japanese designers can't disregard anyone's ideas, it looks variously like a 5 Series or an A6, depending on how you squint.Nothing equivocal about the interior, which is simply first rate, a tactile enveloping pleasure in which to sit at any spec level. Driver's will love the cossetting cockpit feel and impossibility of not finding the perfect position. And even the tallest of us present at this week's introductory drive were able to sit comfortably behind our own set driver's seat.I'd sit happily in these all day, pews that manage to be comfortable when tootling and torso hugging through bends. In fact, let's not equivocate, the GS has the best cabin in the game - a harmonious meeting of comfort, function and a dash of  funk with that cool analogue clock in the dash.You'll need to try awfully hard to kill yourself in a GS, what with 10 airbags and what until recently would have seemed a sci-f  array of active and passive measures. Excellent - and standard - fixtures that should, surely come with every car at the price are the heads up speedometer and emergency brake lights.Like all really sorted cars, the GS seldom feels as fast as its travelling. Though still (literally) weighted toward grand tourer than sports sedan, it's difficult to imagine how the former could have been more adeptly seasoned with flavours of the latter.It's a sedate and even deathly quiet cruiser, that - at least with dynamic options added - is an almost equally capable and smile inducing  corner carver. Evenly balanced, sitting almost billiard table flat, the front wheels left free to steer, you'd want to spend your life on test tracks to harp on any perceived BMW superiority.Especially not when optioning up the latter to Lexus standard spec can blow the buy out by 50 grand. You'll be struck by the sheer effortlessness of the Lexus - both in its "natural" habitat of boulevard/freeway running and almost staying with the best of them when previously it wouldn't have kept them in sight.Pity then, that the atmo V6 so lacks the low down torque that happens to be a standard feature the Germans can boast. Again, this where the Hybrid could be a real gameFar better than we had any precedent to expect, the best is likely still to come. See you in six weeks then.

You wouldn't think Lexus was into its fourth generation of the GS model, mostly because it's been the sleeper in the local line-up. Those days could be over with the arrival soon of a bolder new model developed in the US but benchmarked against medium large European prestige sports sedans.Design cues from the new GS including its "spindle" grille will flow through to other models in the Lexus range as they are updated or replaced. It's a new "design language" for the premium Japanese brand.VALUELexus offers GS350 petrol V6 and GS450 Hybrid each available with the F-Sport package that includes four wheel steering among a raft of enhancements. Prices are tipped to start at $79,990 for the GS350 rising to the early $100K mark for the 450h with F-Sport.TECHNOLOGYDrive Mode Select is a control system with four modes Eco, Normal, Sport and Sport+ selectable by dial on the centre console. Eco prioritises fuel efficiency while Sport+ optimises performance of both chassis and power train. Four wheel steering is active via an actuator on the rear axle that moves the rear wheels by two degrees of steering to enhance cornering, drive feel and stability. The new 3.5-litre direct injection engine features Atkinson cycle technology that delays combustion for better fuel economy on the GS450h. The new six-speed automatic on 350 offers paddle shift and throttle blip on down change in manual mode. Hybrid's battery pack now vertically stacked to provide more boot space.DYNAMICSThe new, rigid platform offers solid base for all chassis functions steering, brakes, suspension ride and handling and even noise and vibration suppression. The power steering is electric, the brakes have electronic control and wheel sizes are 18-19-inch. The sporty GS350 with F-Sport package is unequivocal leader in the ride and handling department offering drive feel on par or better than anything from Europe. The four wheel steering system transform the car's feel into a sharp handling sports sedan.SAFETYGS is designed to meet five star safety standards with a pre-collision system, 10 air bags, stability control, anti whiplash head restraints, increased use of high strength steel in the body/chassis and driver alert monitor among a suite of primary and secondary safety features.TECHNOLOGYBoth models use a 3.5-litre direct injection petrol V6 with Atkinson cycle on the hybrid. The petrol 350 is good for 233kW/378Nm while the 450h is good for 252kW and an estimated 400Nm combined from the petrol and electric engines.The hybrid runs a nickel-metal hybrid battery pack mounted behind the rear seats. Transmissions are a six speed auto on the petrol and a six speed CVT on the hybrid which is capable of an incredible 6.2-litres/100km. The petrol does 9.7.LUXURYAs expected, the GS is well endowed in the luxury department with a feature rich interior and soft leather upholstery in a wide colour range. Buyers can also chose from a range of fascia materials. And there's an optional 850 watt Mark Levinson audio system though the one fitted standard is excellent. The car gets Bluetooth phone and audio, ample rear seat legroom, smart key button start, multi wheel controls and numerous electric adjustments to the driving position and steering wheel. The F-Sport package brings bigger wheels, different bumpers and grille, rear boot spoiler as well as the four wheel steering and other performance and handling enhancements.DRIVINGWe must admit that this is the most performance oriented hybrid we've ever driven it really honks if you chose to drive it hard. But the 350 with F-Sport package is the one we prefer because it fulfils the role of sports sedan extremely well offering strong engine performance, rapid acceleration and excellent handling (particularly steering) in a good size package.The brakes are strong and you can wick the GS350 right up and revel in its sporty prowess. Rear wheel drive is a big plus because of the drive feel. An engine sound generator under the bonnet enhances the whole driving experience (not on the hybrid).VERDICTGets a big tick from us, certainly a move in the right direction on a whole lot of fronts particularly styling and performance.NEED TO KNOWA GS250 is under consideration.Slightly bigger than outgoing model.Has a skin rehydration system built into the aircon.Chassis laser welded.Low aerodynamic drag at 0.26Cd.

A near-death experience has finally breathed some heart and soul into the Lexus GS. The GS came very close to extermination after three unsuccessful attempts with cars that looked best at a retirement home, but now the mid-sized Lexus is genuinely worth considering against a BMW 5 Series or an E-Class Benz.It has a more macho look, a cabin that's not just a cushy lounge room, and the sort of driving enjoyment that's likely to make the F Sport models a real hit. Lexus still has to overcome buyer resistance when the new GS lands in Australia in April, but provided it can undercut the Germans on price - which means a basic bottom line just below $80,000, well under the $95,000 of the current car. The lineup is based on the GS350 with V6 engine that produces 28 per cent more power in a mid-sized five-passenger cabin, and the GS450h hybrid that also uses a 3.5-litre V6 but with a continuously-variable transmission and Prius-style powertrain.No-one at Lexus is talking about prices yet, partly because the car is still more than four months from Australian roads and partly because the company does not want to alert its German rivals to its plans. But it's fair to expect a pricing spread from just below $70,000 - for the GS250 that's still to be confirmed for Australia - with $79,990 for the cooking-model GS350 and something around $115,000 for the GS450h.The bottom line means good value, as a $80,000 sticker will really stick it to BMW and Benz, and there is a lot to like in a list of standard equipment that includes great leather and aircon, brilliant Mark Levinson sound, the usual alloys, and a giant colour display screen in the dash. It's just a pity that the need to please Americans with the world's biggest display has cost the rest of the world an eight-speed automatic gearbox...The price picture is still pretty muddled, as there is a lot of extra equipment on cars at the world press preview - including night vision, a drive-drowsiness alert, and the optional sports package with rear- wheel steering - but Lexus promises a big effort with the new GS. "We currently sell about seven GSs a month. We're aiming for 50," says Peter Evans, marketing boss at Lexus Australia. And there is room to move. "The two big guys do about 150 a month," Evans says reluctantly.Work on the GS has produced a long list of innovations, including what Lexus claims as four world firsts. They are a variable driving mode system, a 3.5-litre V6 engine that uses an Atkinson combustion cycle in the hybrid, a 'stacked' battery pack in the hybrid, and a dynamic rear steering on the hybrid.The air conditioning even uses 'nanoe' technology to clean, filter and add ions to the air. In Lexus style, the technology changes go on and on, covering everything from powertrain to safety and comfort. There is a lot to like, although it's not always easy to understand. DESIGN: All the noise about the GS is centred on the grille, which takes a new Lexus direction. It's a lot like Darth Vader's helmet and it gives the car a strong presence in traffic which is, sadly, not matched by a tail end that looks more like a Kia.The cabin, though, is great. The look is upmarket but still a bit youthful, it's good to see an old-school analogue clock in the dash - always a favourite with one-time Ford boss Jac Nasser - and the colour display works a treat. Lexus has also upgraded the materials in the car and that's lifted it away from the so-what look and feel of the previous GS models.The four-generation GS is certain to be a five-star ANCAP car and also has the usual suite of safety stuff you expect on an $80,000 car. There are no fewer than 10 airbags, including knee protection, as well as everything up to a blind-spot monitor, tyre pressure monitor, the drowsiness warning and pre-collision safety protection. It will be interesting to see how much of the safety stuff makes it too Australia, and how much is on the starter car, but the GS package includes a lot of Lexus firsts.So, it's Strike Two for the Lexus GS. The difference this time - and it's a big one - is that I can see the car. The first time I flew to the USA for some early kilometres in the new Lexus luxurymobile it was like driving with a blindfold. The car was real and almost totally complete, but wrapped in a giant leather sausage to hide it from the world.This time, I can see the bodywork and the clock in the centre of the dash is revealed. The clock looks pretty nice and the styling is pretty good, for a Lexus. The GS350 is a tidy drive that lifts the mid-sizer away from its tedious roots and up much closer to an E-Class Benz or a 5-Series from BMW. It's not as tasty as the Audi A6 I left behind in Australia, and it's not as tight as the Five, but it's pretty nice. Sliding across to the 450h, the car has plenty of punch and the right sort of green strengths for California. Sadly, although it goes like a V8 it sounds like a golf cart thanks to a CVT transmission that's tuned for efficiency and not much driving enjoyment.But there is real enjoyment in the F Sport cars, with active rear steering. Lexus has done extra tweaking since my first drive and the result is a car that is surprisingly swift, yet very fluid and easy to drive. The end result, including some drifting fun at a deserted airfield, is one of the most surprising drives of 2011.The new GS is way, way better than the previous models and a real tribute to the development team that broke it out of death row. It's one of the most impressive cars to wear a Lexus badge and is going to make BMW and Benz buyers think twice in 2012.Still a Lexus, but can be a surprisingly good drive and is loaded with goodies to make life enjoyable.