Lexus GS unveiled in USA
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Lexus
19th August, 2011
• GS to feature world-first and Australian-first technology
• New, more powerful V6 engine
• Debuts all-new design direction for Lexus
• Delivers outstanding driving dynamics
• Greater interior space with open layout
Lexus has unveiled the all-new 2012 GS model at the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in
California, USA.
The new model combines dynamic styling, precise handling, innovative technology and a spacious,
luxurious interior.
In addition to the GS 350, Lexus will release other GS models around the world, including a 250, 450h
and F Sport variant. Australian models and specifications will be announced in due course, with a local
release anticipated in the first half of 2012.
"Drivers in this segment demand a stylish and luxurious vehicle without compromise, featuring the
latest in technology and smart thinking," said Lexus Australia chief executive, Tony Cramb.
"GS represents the beginning of an all-new era in Lexus vehicle design and driving dynamics and we
are certain that it will resonate with potential buyers."
Along with a new Lexus signature spindle grille, the GS has been engineered to deliver driving
confidence.
It features a redesigned chassis and wide, strong stance that inspires and rewards drivers with
crisp and precise handling.
A key development goal was to deliver a more spacious interior while leaving exterior dimensions
virtually unchanged.
Lexus engineers achieved this goal by increasing boot space (which can easily swallow four sets of
golf clubs), while the cabin can accommodate all occupants in comfort - with increased head and leg
room along with greater personal space.
The driver and front passenger will also enjoy the world's largest high-resolution multi information
display, with a 12.3-inch high-resolution central control display available.
A new personality and an invitation to drive
Drawing inspiration from project LFA, Lexus engineers ensured new GS provided a more engaging
driving experience via advanced aerodynamics, a completely new platform with a wider stance and stiffer
structure, a transmission with quicker shifts, distinctive engine sound and exhaust notes, and better
seat support.
The all-new GS platform is more rigid compared with the current model.
Engineers conducted extensive platform testing, ultimately increasing the number of spot welds and
adding laser welds in very specific locations, yielding an increase in torsional rigidity of 14 per
cent.
The track, wider by almost 50 mm rear and 40 mm front, works in combination with a new suspension
design to assure a solid stance and superior cornering performance.
Up front, upper and lower control arms are made from aluminium and employ larger bushings.
The rear sub-frame has been completely redesigned to accommodate an all-new multi-link rear
suspension, using improved suspension geometry that maximises tyre cornering force and enhances rear
control.
With the stiffer platform and lighter components, the shock absorbers use lighter-viscosity oil, so
they move easily and respond to small inputs more quickly.
The use of front and rear aluminium control arms helps reduce unsprung weight and results in
significant improvements in agility, roll damping, ride comfort, body control and steering
precision.
Overall, the suspension is lighter and stronger, allowing it to react to driver input quickly while
aiding ride quality.
Ventilated disc brakes featuring four-piston aluminium front callipers are available, endowed with
the latest electronic enhancements to help provide braking balance and control.
A personal driving experience
The new Lexus GS is powered by an advanced 3.5 litre all-alloy quad-cam, multi-valve V6, featuring
dual Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i), which replaces the previous generation's 183 kW
3.0-litre V6.
With 233 kW, the GS can sprint from 0-100 km/h in 5.7 seconds and is one of the most powerful
engines in its class - in fact, new Lexus GS instils confidence with in-gear acceleration of 50 to 80
km/h taking just 3.0 seconds.
The new powerplant features improved engine sound characteristics which complement the bolder, more
energetic personality of the new GS.
The six-speed sequential shift automatic transmission has paddle shifters and sport driving
functions as standard.
The transmission incorporates many features adopted from the Lexus IS F high-performance sedan -
including faster shifts, earlier torque converter lockup and downshift throttle blips - to support up
to four driving modes that can be operated by toggling the new Lexus Drive Mode selector.
In addition to the Normal mode, the following settings let the driver customise the driving
experience:
• ECO mode revises throttle mapping, seat heating and climate control systems for better fuel
economy. In ECO mode, meter lighting changes to blue.
• SPORT S mode revises throttle mapping and transmission shifting priorities to fully exploit the
capabilities of the powertrain. In SPORT S mode, meter lighting changes to red.
• SPORT S+ mode (available on some models) engages handling enhancements via a sport setting of the
adaptive variable suspension, variable gear ratio steering system, and vehicle stability control (VSC)
together with the powertrain enhancements of SPORT S mode.
A new direction for "L finesse" design
New Lexus GS expresses the next generation of Lexus' design philosophy, with its precisely sculpted
exterior signalling the design direction for future vehicles.
When designers shaped the GS they visualised the flow of air around it and, like the LFA super car,
maximised aerodynamic efficiency for top class coefficient of drag.
Fins incorporated into the side of the tail lamps and the design of the boot area all help direct air
over and past the car.
The rear bumper underbody area was designed for reduced wind resistance to help keep the car firmly
planted on the ground, while air inlets located on the outer edges of the lower grille serve as cooling
ducts.
The signature spindle grille with its trapezoidal contours evolved from current Lexus styling and
fully integrates into the aggressive front bumper, allowing for efficient airflow.
This distinctive Lexus design feature combined with the deep-set, high-tech headlamps and L-shaped
LED daytime running lamps further expresses the vehicle's confident and dynamic presence.
Headlamps use a projector beam design, adding a strong, chiselled appearance and excellent
illumination.
In profile, the Lexus GS projects the image of a spacious sport sedan with a road-hugging wider
stance.
The tapered lower rocker panel and the short front overhang give the vehicle a sense of motion.
Width-enhancing front and rear wheel arches add an athletic stance and enhance the vehicle's dynamic
presence.
The rear bumper features a distinctive exhaust diffuser and centred aero fins to help control
underbody airflow.
Combined with the L-shaped LED tail lamps, a Lexus design cue, these rear bumper features lend a
high-performance appearance.
Overall, the new GS sheet metal represents a significant extension of the Lexus L finesse philosophy
that is the core of all Lexus product design.
Spacious interior with premium upgrades
All-new GS provides more overall space for all occupants.
The entire cabin was designed around the driver and the driving experience.
A horizontal-themed instrument panel emphasises the spaciousness through its wide layout. A
redesigned seat frame and changes to the steering column architecture enable an improved driver seating
position for increased comfort, better forward visibility and overall command of the road.
Equal attention has been paid to maximising space for rear passengers, adding headroom, legroom,
knee room and improved foot space compared with the current generation Lexus GS.
Door openings have also been revised for easier ingress and egress. Boot space has been increased by
almost 25 per cent, and access is improved with a wider, deeper opening.
Painstaking attention to detail was also applied to the GS cabin, providing a balance of luxurious
and technological amenities and emotional design.
The new layout of the long, sculpted dash gives the driver and front passenger a sense of roominess
through its clean centre stack and new, large high-resolution centre control display placed deep near
the front windshield.
Most of the controls, such as audio and climate, have been relocated to provide a cleaner and more
sophisticated dash layout.
The interior includes a number of embedded premium upgrades as standard equipment.
A new energy-saving auto climate control system called S-Flow uses the occupant-detection system to
focus airflow only to the front area where passengers are actually seated, a class-leading
technology.
A next-generation Remote Touch with one-push confirmation is standard on all models and enables
smooth, intuitive operations control.
The Remote Touch allows the user to operate the climate, audio, phone controls, navigation system
and more. The screen menus are selected with the controller, eliminating the need to reach out.
Remote Touch also reduces eye movement and helps users operate functions with reduced effort and
distraction.
A standard reverse camera helps add security and convenience.
The finely crafted cabin detail is complemented further by ambient lighting that unobtrusively
welcomes and guides the user into the vehicle, providing a carefully designed experience.
New white LED lights are sequentially lit to illuminate the areas around the doors, centre console
and foot wells.
A new analogue clock with LED indicators, carved from an ingot, adds a unique touch, at once being
both modern and traditional.
Seamless connectivity
Next-generation Lexus multimedia brings a host of standard entertainment and connectivity
enhancements.
First in a suite of new technology is an industry-first 12.3 inch, split-screen, high-resolution
multi-media display.
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The split-screen ultra-large display enhances visibility through the use of advanced,
high-definition graphics that are easy to read and use.
The 12.3-inch screen is large enough to support simultaneous, split-screen viewing of a large map
display, plus audio, climate or other vehicle information.
Lexus GS buyers will get DVD-capable audio and video compatibility, MP3 sound enhancement, 5.1
Surround Sound, along with enhanced Bluetooth®^ capability.
On selected models, a high-resolution eight-inch central control display located high up in the
instrument panel is provided in lieu of the 12.3-inch screen. For audiophiles, an 835-watt, 17-speaker
Mark Levinson audio system will be available. The system provides 7.1 Surround Sound through 10
channels using a new class D Digital amplifier and efficient luxury market first Green Edge™ speakers
that are lighter, more energy-efficient and have less distortion.
The new system produces almost three times as many watts per channel over the previous generation.
Integrated safety systems
In addition to enhanced braking systems and an impact-absorbing body structure, the new GS offers
significant advances in both passive and active safety systems as standard equipment.
There are a class-leading 10 airbags in the new GS, including a knee airbag for both front driver
and passenger. Rear seat occupants have seat-mounted side airbags, and all four outboard occupants are
equipped with side curtain airbags.
New Whiplash Injury Lessening (WIL) front seats increase the likelihood that occupants will be in
optimum position at the moment of impact, enhancing the protective effect of the seatbelt system.
The suite of safety features include a pre-collision system, which uses the dynamic radar cruise
control system to provide early warning of upcoming objects that might result in a collision.
The system also uses a first-in-class infrared camera to monitor the driver's eyes and check on
driver status.
In the event that the driver does not appear to be looking forward when a collision appears
imminent, the system will initiate the warning at an earlier threshold.
If the driver still does not respond and make the appropriate manoeuvre, the system will initiate
braking intervention up to two seconds prior to impact, helping to lessen the severity of the
collision.
Other available safety systems include a Heads Up Display (HUD) and a Blind Spot Monitor that helps
detect vehicles in rear/side blind spots.
NOTE: Details based on pre production vehicles, final specification and features may change
from those stated above.
^ The Bluetooth™ word mark is owned by The Bluetooth SIG, Inc. Not all devices will be compatible
and functionality will vary depending on the device.
PRELIMINARY SPECIFICATIONS FOR LEXUS GS 350
|
Power |
233 kW @ 6,400 rpm |
|
Torque |
376 Nm @ 4,800 rpm |
|
Transmission |
Six-speed sequential-shift
Electronic Controlled Automatic Transmission with intelligence (ECT-i) |
|
Seating capacity |
5 |
|
Overall length (mm) |
4,849 |
|
Width (mm) |
1,839 |
|
Height (mm) |
1,455 |
|
Wheelbase (mm) |
2,852 |
|
Driven wheels |
Rear |
|
Curb weight (kgs) |
1,688.6 |
|
Brake type |
Ventilated front and rear disc with Anti-skid Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake
force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA) and Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management system
(VDIM) |
|
Wheel size (mm) |
17 x 7.5
18 x 8
19 x 8 |
|
Tyre size (mm) |
225/50/17
235/45/18
235/40/19 |
|
0-100 km/h |
Estimated 5.7 seconds |
|
Top track Speed |
230 km/h (electronically limited) |
| 
