Lexus has given its second generation 'GS' a makeover. The 2005 car now delivers a better, more luxurious driving experience.
My GS test car is the hybrid '450h' that is powered by a very smooth 3.5 litre V6 petrol engine plus an additional electric motor. Both combine to give outstanding performance and reduced CO2. Of course, it is a big car, and still pollutes far more than a family hatch, but the 345bhp '450h' represents a genuine effort to be efficient. Lexus has never said its mission was to save the planet and is happy to market its hybrids as performance machines, and they certainly deliver on this.
The GS silhouette remains the same but there are subtle, classy changes to the exterior with new front lights, door handles, grille trim and revised bumpers. The side mirrors now house indicator repeaters and there are new alloy wheel options available. Beneath the car the under-floor has been redesigned to aid high speed stability.
Inside the makeover continues with new 'as standard' bits and pieces like an iPod connector, heated front seats etc but the other changes are quite subtle. The only real surprise is the fact that the Toyota-owned firm persists with a manual pedal operated park/hand brake. These days it is far more convenient to have an automatic handbrake (ie one that applies itself when the vehicle is stationary for a couple of seconds and disengages automatically when the accelerator is depressed). When you're stuck in stop- start traffic it simply makes more sense. You don't have to worry about lifting your left leg up every time you're stopped to apply the park brake. More importantly, you're less likely to dazzle drivers behind you.
On the road the GS is an effortless car to drive. It is however less involving than a BMW 5 series to hustle along in, so enthusiastic drivers won't find it as thrilling when pressing on but the new suspension setup means the GS can also shift quite securely when provoked. The 450h does the sprint to 100km/h in 5.9 seconds and because the additional electric motor delivers all its power instantly, the car takes off like a scared cat! The rear wheel drive setup and overall driving experience has been reworked and the result is impressive as the GS delivers a more complex, satisfying drive.
The new GS comes in GS300, GS450h and GS460 guises. The old 430 V8 is replaced by the 460 that has an eight-speed gearbox and 23% more power. In Europe the 450h represents 40% of GS sales, while in Ireland the hybrid accounts for 25% of the 709 plus sales since 2005 to date. The VRT tax break should see the orders for the hybrid GS go through the roof before the start of July 2008 when the 50% VRT rebate worth at the moment around €12,000 reduces to just €2,500 - ouch!
In everyday driving the GS continues to be a beautifully indulgent car. If you can afford a 450h buy it now and if you can't afford it, buy it anyway!
Michael Sheridan
