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:
Features
While the RX 450h is reasonably priced to start at $42,110, adding options
quickly ratchets up the sticker price. Items you might find standard on other
cars in this class, like those heated and c ...
Fog light switch
The fog lights improve visibility in difficult driving conditions, such as
in rain
and fog.
- U.S.A.
1. Turns the front fog
lights off.
2. Turns the front fog
lights on.
- Canada
1. Turn ...
Review: 2009 Lexus ES 350
In the early days of Toyota’s luxury brand, Lexus – think back about 20 years
– the automaker was criticized for essentially imitating established German and
American brands. Fast forward to today ...