Lexus GS is an executive and mid-size four-door luxury car sold by Lexus. The Toyota Aristo, introduced in Japan in 1991, was an identical automobile. In February 1993, it was renamed the Lexus GS for non-Japanese markets. It kept the Toyota Aristo nameplate for the Japanese market until January 2005.
History of Lexus GS
This compact executive car competes in the luxury mid-size segment with the large/flagship LS and, until 2011, maintained its chassis with Toyota's long-running Crown premium sedan moniker. Since 1993, the GS has offered six-cylinder motors and rear-wheel drive in four different generations. All-wheel drive and hybrid models debuted in 2005, as did V8 engines in all three generations. The Japanese-market S140 series Aristo already had an all-wheel-drive option.
Lexus GS First Generation S140 (1991 - 1996)
GS models debuted in 1993, just as Lexus was about to take over the American market, developed on the 1991 Toyota Aristo. Aristo was put on the domestic market by Toyota to test for design or technical flaws since it didn't want to take any bets. After two years, the automobile was re-badged as the Lexus GS and brought to the North American market. It was an immediate success. The GS 300's pricing had climbed to $46,000 by 1997. That price is $81,314 for the 2022 exchange rate. The first generation of GS sedans went out of production in July 1997.
Lexus GS Second Generation S160 (1997 - 2004)
After the sales of the first generation, the S140 series began in 1993, work on the replacement, called S160 privately, began in 1994. The second-generation Aristo was released in Japan in August 1997. It carried over the aero-ellipse design idea from its predecessor, such as the fundamental long nose, and short boot dimensions. The redesigned Lexus SC draws influence from the first-generation Lexus SC, notably in its distinctive four-light front-end appearance, which was designed in-house from the start and constructed at the Tahara Plant yet again. The GS's second generation was aimed squarely against the BMW 5-Series, and it had its advantages and disadvantages. The GS luxury sedan was designed with a definite goal in mind: Mercedes-Benz and BMW vehicles. While the Germans provided a more extensive range of engines, especially performance models, Lexus focused on creating a beautiful, silent interior. The 2nd generation GS sedan was a far larger success than its predecessor, with purchases hitting 30,622 in its first year, growing in the second, and settling at 28,079 by 2000.
Lexus GS Third Generation S190 (2005 - 2010)
The 3rd generation of Lexus's mid-size sedan GS debuted in 2005. Still, unlike its previous generations, Lexus sold this model with a hybrid drivetrain, making it more environmentally friendly than before. Most manufacturers were uninterested in hybrid powertrains in 2005, but Toyota and its luxury brand Lexus pushed further in that direction. The design team may not have been the most creative, but it did come up with a novel form for the luxury Japanese sedan.
The 2005 model, like its previous model, featured the same platform as the Toyota Crown and was the first to use Toyota's L-finesse design concept.
Lexus GS Fourth Generation L10 (2011 - 2020)
Yoshihiko Kanamori started work on the L10 series GS in early 2007, and Lexus completed the design process in 2009 under the guidance of the new president and CEO, Akio Toyoda. The LF-Gh concept car was unveiled at the New York Auto Show in April 2011. There were four generations of its middle-class saloon GS. During the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in California in August 2011, the company presented the series version for the first time. The front bumper features many lines and edges, giving it a complex appearance. It appears to have been 3D-printed rather than molded. Lexus had already proven itself a high-quality brand in the United States by the fourth generation with its new and sophisticated design. As of 2018, Lexus has discontinued the GS in Europe and replaced it with the ES, already available in North America and certain Asian nations. Lexus has published a statement announcing the end of GS manufacture in August 2020.
Price
As the successor to the LS 400 flagship, the GS was positioned to take its place at the higher end of the market. As of the GS 300's introduction, the base price of the LS had reached $47,000 ($97,904 for the 2022 USD exchange rate) in the United States, while the GS 300 (GS first-generation) had a starting price of $38,000 ($79,157 for 2022 USD). As with the 2020 model year, Lexus will no longer offer the GS300 and GS300 F Sport in rear-wheel-drive variants.
To give you an outlined prices, here's a list of its different trim levels:
- GS350 AWD - $52,090
- GS350 - $52,090
- GS350 RWD - $52,420
- GS350 F Sport RWD - $53,785
- GS350 F SPORT - $53,785
- GS350 F SPORT Black Line - $54,435
- GS350 F Sport AWD - $55,530
Features
Lexus GS (Exterior)
Even though the fourth-generation GS has been there in some version or another for over a decade—it still looks razor-sharp. Still, it is more conservative regarding appearance and something GS drivers have learned to appreciate. The best part is that the 2020 GS comes with many standard exterior features, particularly on the F Sport model. Daytime running lights, LED headlights, a rear sunshade, and a power moonroof are standard on the base model.
More features include:
- Power-folding & auto-dimming outside mirrors
- Rain-sensing intermittent windshield wipers
- Keyless entry
F Sport variant features are as follows:
- 19-inch split-five-spoke alloy wheels
- Variable suspension setup
- Four-piston caliper for the 14-inch two-piece front brake rotors
- Modern front bumper
- Rear spoiler
- Grille inserts
Lexus GS (Interior)
2020 Lexus GS standard features include a motorized tilt-and-telescopic steering column, push-button start, and heated and ventilated front seats (leather) with 10-way power adjustment. An automatic climate control system (dual-zone) keeps things cool, and there's also a rear camera and driver aid technologies like pedestrian recognition, lane departure warning, and lane-keep assist. Standard features on the base GS include a SiriusXM satellite radio and a 12-speaker sound system. All versions feature audio streaming & Bluetooth phone system and a voice-activated navigation system with a 12.3-inch touchscreen. F Sport variants feature sporty front seats, an LFA-inspired instrument panel, and a 16-way power-adjustable driver's seat.
Specs
All GS sedans are powered by a 3.5L V-6 engine that produces 311 hp (229 kW) and 280 lb-ft (380 Nm) torque. All-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive options are available for the 2020 Lexus GS. All-wheel-drive GS models feature a six-speed automatic transmission; rear-wheel-drive models have an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
Release Date
In 1993, Lexus began selling the first generation GS in the United States, Europe, and a few Asian regions, featuring an inline-6 engine and styling by Italdesign Giugiaro. Even though Lexus discontinued the GS sedan in 2020, someone bought a new GS in the United States at the beginning of 2021. It's impossible to tell if that was a V8-powered F-spec car or not, but it appears that the once-popular luxury sedan may have a replacement.