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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    Power windows
    The power windows can be opened and closed using the switches. Operating the switch moves the windows as follows: 1. Closing. 2. One-touch closing*. 3. Opening. 4. One-touch opening*. *:Pushin ...

    Seat position memory (front passenger’s seat)
    Your preferred front passenger seat position can be memorized and recalled with the touch of a button. Two different seat positions can be entered into memory.   Entering a position to memory ...

    Engine immobilizer system
    The vehicle's keys have built-in transponder chips that prevent the engine from starting if the key has not been previously registered in the vehicle's on-board computer. Never leave the keys insid ...