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:

    Overhead console
    Overhead console The overhead console is useful for temporarily storing sunglasses and similar small items. CAUTION: Items that should not be left in the overhead console Do not leave glasses ...

    Safety/Security Features
    The Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS), standard on the Lexus GS 460 and optional for the GS 350, helps illuminate a curve as the driver steers into it. A Tire Pressure Monitoring system can det ...

    Do-it-yourself service precautions
    If you perform maintenance yourself, be sure to follow the correct procedure given in these sections. CAUTION: The engine compartment contains many mechanisms and fluids that may move sudde ...