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:
Using the AUX adapter
This adapter can be used to connect a portable audio device and listen to
it
through the vehicle’s speakers.
Connect the portable audio
device.
Press .
Operating portable audio devices connec ...
How does it look?
Lexus says the ES 350 features extensive use of its “L-Finesse” design
language. That sounds like marketing jargon to us, but it seems to work. The ES
is a bit chunky from some angles, particularl ...
Rear window and outside rear view mirror defoggers
These features are used to defog the rear window, and to remove raindrops,
dew and frost from the outside rear view mirrors.
Without navigation system
ON/OFF
The defoggers will automatically
tu ...