It’s new, it’s got hotter dynamics but is the design a bit… dull?
As a petrosexual, there's a strong possibility your automotive fizz is untroubled by the new Lexus GS. And that's probably because they're not really renowned for the sort of driving dynamics appreciated by those that like, umm, driving. But there's good news! We've been assured that the new 'un - which was unveiled yesterday at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in California - will be superb to drive.As well as a new, slippery husk, super-stiff chassis, quick-shifting gearbox and a fruitier exhaust note, the shell's been braced to stop the G's quintessential wobblyness. The shell's been tautened with extra spot welds, the front track's broadened by 40mm and it's got lightweight aluminium control arms. A new subframe astern has a very snazzy multi-link setup, which increases the rear tyreprint by 50mm. Which is all very well, but is the styling not a bit... vanilla? Especially when you compare it with the crotch-forward LF-Gh concept. But there's hope for a meatier look by way of the F-Sport variant, which is due to appear shortly. Engine-wise, we don't know a great deal. There'll be a full hybrid GS450h for the UK, along with a purely petrol GS250, while Americans get a GS350 (pictured). Inside, it's business class as usual, though a new mouse-like controller's paired down the button carnival you expect from a Lexus. That's not to say they've scrimped on tech - there's an eight-inch central display screen as standard (you can spec a 12.3-incher), snazzy S-Flow climate control system (it detects whether you're carrying rear passengers so it can work out where to send air flow) and many LEDs. There's some nice stuff on the options list, too - radar cruise control with an auto-brake, night vision camera, head-up display, blind spot monitor, a lane departure warning system and 835-watt Mark Levinson audio system with 17 speakers and 7.1 Surround Sound. But are improved driving dynamics and a exhaustive spec sheet enough to make up for the styling?
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