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:
Most recent Lexus GS 300
Last redesigned for 2006, the third-generation Lexus GS 300 lasted only one
year, as Lexus installed a powerful new 3.5-liter V6 in its rear-drive midsize
sedan the following year, prompting a nam ...
Safety/Security Features
A reinforced front- and rear-structure passenger compartment forms the
foundation for passive safety in the Lexus ES 350. In addition to advanced
dual-stage front airbags and front seat-mounted si ...
Power (ignition) switch
Performing the following operations when carrying the electronic key on
your person starts the hybrid system or changes “POWER” switch modes.
Starting the hybrid system
1. Check that the parking br ...