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:
Hybrid transmission
Select a shift position appropriate for the driving conditions.
Shifting the shift lever
While the “POWER” switch is in ON
mode, depress the brake
pedal and move the shift lever.
When shifting ...
Moon roof
Use the overhead switches to open, close, and tilt the moon roof up and
down.
Opening and closing
Standard type
1. Open.
The moon roof stops slightly
before the fully opened position.
Push th ...
Handling, Braking & Ride Quality
If the CT stumbles in acceleration, it shines in handling. The steering wheel
turns with a light touch at low speeds in Eco and Normal mode, but it wanders
too much on the highway. Sport mode dial ...