Lexus engineers might forgive you for thinking the current generation GS is bland. In fact, at the media launch for the next-gen touring sedan, Yoshihiko Kanamori, Chief Engineer for the 2013 Lexus GS, said the current car is "not fun to drive." We're not sure if that was an apology, but it was an honest realization which begat an important study culled from the Japanese phrase "Genchi Butsu," which, when translated, means "Go and see."
And so five years ago, Kanamori-san and his team did just that. They drove the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, the BMW 5 Series, and the Audi A6. From this experience, Kanamori-san determined that the next GS needed to possess an emotionally-intriguing driving experience, a new design direction, both inside and outside, an advanced hybrid technology in lieu of V-8 power, and the smartest packaging in the segment. The result is a completely redesigned grand touring sedan with what Kanamori-san says has "no compromises."
We'll reserve judgment on that when we score more wheel time, but with such lofty sales expectations -- 20,000 units first year goal; Lexus sold 206 GS' in November, and just 3552 so far this year -- we're primarily interested in seeing how it fares against the class-leading Germans. It turns out, surprisingly well.
For 2013, there are two engine options, but Lexus refers to the lineup as having four models: GS 350, GS 350 Luxury, GS 350 F-Sport, and GS 450h. The base model GS 350 arrives with a reworked 3.5-liter V-6 and either rear- or all-wheel drive. With 306 horsepower and a six-speed automatic transmission, Lexus projects 19 mpg city/28 mpg highway rating in Eco mode, 2 mpg better than the current model, thanks to an advanced injection system and other tweaks. For a more premium ride and better mileage, the GS 450 Hybrid returns with 338 horsepower and a 29 mpg city/34 mpg highway rating, a 35-percent mileage increase compared to the 2011 model.
At the moment, there is no high-powered performance model to compete with the BMW M5, Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG, or Audi S6, but the GS 350 F-Sport, with its four-wheel steer system, S+ transmission and engine mode, and aggressive suspension and wheel package, figures to be an attractive sporty option, nonetheless. More importantly, the platform is lightweight and flexible should Lexus introduce a high-performance GS-F, as it did with the IS-F.
GS 350/ 350 AWD: 19 mpg city/28 mpg highway
GS 350 Luxury/ 350 Luxury AWD: 19 mpg city/28 mpg highway
GS 450h/ 450h AWD: 29 mpg city/ 34 mpg highway
Walkaround
The biggest exterior change to the new GS is a distinctive new nose, arguably a handsome and substantial improvement. In fact, the "spindle" grille will be, from this point forward, Lexus' signature look. It isn't as iconic as BMW's twin-kidney grille, but it is perhaps a more striking proclamation, the kind of visual cue that announces its presence from down the street. Elsewhere, though, the redesigned GS looks like every other Lexus sedan, but with less chrome. But isn't being less identifiably Lexus what the company was aiming for? And will consumers see nothing, if not "nose job?"
Sitting Down
If the exterior is little more than a nose job, it's because Lexus focused a great deal more attention on what lies underneath. The front seats are, according to Lexus, "whiplash lessening." That sounds cool, maybe a little complex, but the soft perforated leather is supportive on a spirited drive, doesn't require an endless number of positional tweaks, and provides commanding access to the steering wheel. And that's important, too, since seating position was designed with less obstructive pillars in mind, which enable better front and rear visibility than the previous GS, which was apparent on the race track and on the freeway getting there.
Better outward visibility is commendable, but there's more to see inside, too. Although the GS dimensions are largely unchanged, the interior feels and sounds cavernous, thanks to the optional 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio package we sampled, which may be the most-impressive sounding OEM audio setup ever. As impressive as the audio was, it takes second seat to the game-changing horizontal instrument panel. Featuring the Lexus' revamped "Remote Touch" mouse and a laptop-like 12.3-inch infotainment display, it includes the latest in iPod and Bluetooth connectivity, satellite radio and SMS text-to-speech. It also has the latest version of Enform, with Bing search ability, and Yelp, Pandora, and movietickets.com access. The display only comes with the optional Luxury Package on the base model, in addition to the optional navigation system, but we think it's worth it.
We spent less time in the back seat, where Lexus claims to have improved entry and exit. Of course, you might still bump your head as I did, but once there we enjoyed playing with the flashy rear climate controls. There's also room for four golf bags in the trunk, an amount of space that could easily support a trip to Costco.