What is it?

Now nearing the end of its third generation, the GS slots in above the sporty IS and below the luxury-laden LS. It’s sized about like the tremendously popular ES 350, but the GS offers rear-wheel-drive and a much higher price tag – not to mention the optional V8 seen in our tester.

Its basic style is derivative of the original Giugiaro-penned 1991 GS300 (a rebadged Toyota Aristo), but the latest car was introduced for 2006. Smoother and suaver than the second-generation GS – notable for its Shakespearean “Something wicked this way comes” ad campaign – the S190-platform car retains the two-engine configuration of its predecessor.

As enthusiasts, we jumped at the range-topping GS 460 with its 342-horsepower 4.6-liter V8. A hybrid – dubbed GS 450h – was briefly on offer before sluggish sales forced its removal from the North American market.

    See also:

    Chassis/Body/Suspension/Tires/Brakes
    The Lexus ES 350 owes its smooth, quiet ride in large part to a rigid unibody structure that allows the four-wheel independent suspension to be tuned to provide responsive handling agility and ult ...

    Making a phone call
    Making a phone call Dialing by inputting a number “Dial by number”. Dialing by inputting a name “Dial by name”. Speed dialing. Dialing a number stored in the outgoing history memory “Redial”. ...

    Side doors
    The vehicle can be locked and unlocked using the entry function, wireless remote control or door lock switches. Door lock switches 1. Locks all the doors. 2. Unlocks all the doors. Inside lock ...