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.

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    Leftlane’s bottom line
    We expected to be able to easily write off the GS 460 given its age and Lexus’ general aversion to enthusiastic driving. But a week behind the wheel of the smooth and capable GS revealed a surpris ...

    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 ...

    Safety
    Side-impact airbags for the front seats, side curtain-type airbags for the first and second rows, Active TRAC traction control and antilock brakes are included. Lexus' Vehicle Stability Control el ...