The first Lexus came to the UK in 1990, and most people thought it would be a short-lived thing – that they would disappear from showrooms within a few years and never be heard of ever again, but over 22 years later they are still here, and they’re getting stronger and stronger.
We drove the all-new GS Saloon in Portugal both on the open roads and around the famous Estoril Circuit, which has seen many F1 races over the years, but sadly no more, as other tracks with more money on offer are now being used around the world.
The new GS comes to the UK in June and will be offered as the GS 250 and the GS 450h. The 450h is a Hybrid and the 250 is a standard petrol engine. We drove both cars on the track and as expected the 450h was by far the most powerful and the most fun to drive. The 250 is aimed at some traditional Lexus owners who want all the luxury but not the technology; they want simple, reliable engines but still want to be cosseted in luxurious surroundings.
One criticism of the current GS is the size of the boot, as it has a capacity of only 300 litres due to the battery taking up too much space. A 61% increase in boot space has been achieved in the new GS by re-locating the battery, so the car now has a luggage capacity of 482 litres.
The 450h produces a total of 343ps from its petrol engine and electric motors, yet despite all this power, it emits a CO2 figure of around 140g/km, which is very impressive. On the track we really put this car to the test in terms of ride and handling, all at fairly high speeds but in safe conditions. The 450h had more than enough power; it handling all the corners with ease and felt as solid as a rock at any speed.
You can solely utilise the Lexus GS’ electric motors for a short distance but after a while the petrol engine will cut in. The battery is then charged via the petrol engine or when the car is going downhill. However, its engine and performance isn’t necessarily the reason why customers buy the GS; it’s generally because they want the luxury that comes with a Lexus. The quality in the new GS is much improved over the already excellent current car, with the fit and finish being simply superb. It’s a shame that Lexus don’t commit more marketing to their prestige interiors; they seem to focus more on technology.
Standard on the high-spec car, and available as an option on low and mid-spec trims, is a 12.3” screen and Mark Levinson sound system that has been specially designed for Lexus and offers the best possible audio capabilities available. Now I’m not really into audio systems; one system sounds very similar to the next to my ears and if I can get Radio 2 and hear it clearly then I’m happy, but I have to say that the Levinson system is very noticeable in its clarity and its high performance speakers are impressive.
Air conditioning with ‘Nanoe Technology’ is available as an option, which removes any bad odours in the car. As a test, Lexus put some cigarette smoke on some seat material and left the air conditioning on for around one minute. It completely deodorised the interior and after just a short time the piece of cloth was as fresh as a rose. Quite amazing!
The all-new Lexus GS offers luxury, comfort, high performance, safety and fuel efficiency with its Hybrid engine. It has a well designed exterior, with brilliant lines that are crisp and attractive. The front grille, accompanied by its Lexus spindle, really sets the car off, and the LED running lights are very premium in appearance.
Prices, full specification and trim nomenclature have not been announced yet.
