This year has been a little lackluster for Lexus in terms of beating our their competition, but the luxury end of Toyota is getting back on track for what it says will be a couple of exciting years. With all its latest innovations, Lexus is planning a few big things to battle it out against the likes of BMW and Mercedes. This includes a full refresh of its luxury sedans, as well as a kick-the-competition-in-the-ass LF-A Roadster.
The passenger-car lineup will be made over by the spring of 2013, as the GS, ES, IS, and LS sedans will all be either redesigned or re-engineered. However, the biggest gun in the arsenal will be the LF-A supercar. The 500 units for the current LF-A coupe will be finished by 2013, then a roadster version will be unveiled in 2014. This model was actually previewed by the LF-A Roadster concept unveiled in 2008, but the production version will feature the company’s latest design language. Lexus hasn’t said anything about the more powerful version of their LF-A supercar rumored a while ago, but we hope that will be their secret weapon somewhere down the line.
In addition to the sedan redo and the drop top LF-A, Lexus also has plans for the future GS-F performance edition and the LS. The company has said that the high-performance version will not feature a conventional V8 engine, but a hybrid drivetrain. The LS will also be redesigned in 2013 - it will get weight-saving technology using premium materials and a new, more economical engine.
Lexus will be unveiling the new generation GS sedan on August 18th, in conjunction with the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. That much we already know, but what many don’t know just yet is that the company is planning a coupe version of the model. The new GS Coupe will be a spiritual successor to the SC 430 and will target models like the Audi S5, BMW 650i, and Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe.
In an interview with Inside Line, Ben J. Mitchell, Lexus’ product planner manager said: "I’d like to do a coupe. We’re really trying to increase the emotional qualities of our brand. We want to emphasize exterior styling and dynamics."
The GS Coupe will be the company’s second two-door model with more than two seats (the IS hardtop convertible was the first). Under the hood, expect to find a 3.5-liter V6 engine that will deliver around 300 HP.
The Lexus GS Coupe will more than likely find its way onto the market at the end of 2013. Customers interested will have to pay around $50K.
The new generation Lexus GS is shedding some of that heavy camouflage it has been donning lately and finally taking shape. New spy shots taken at the Nurburgring race track in Germany clearly show the Lexus LF-Gh-inspired sedan sporting the split front grille, a new set of wheels, and new headlamps with LED technology.
It still may be too early to tell, but it’s been suggested that the new generation Lexus GS will be built on a brand new platform, making it sportier and more efficient than the previous model. From these spy shots, it does look like the wheelbase has grown a bit, but the jury’s still out on whether or not these rumors are true.
As for the engine lineup, the 2012 Lexus GS will keep its direct-injected 3.5-liter V6 engine on board. This engine produces 303 HP at 6,200 rpm and 274 lb.-ft. of peak torque at 3,600 rpm. The big news in the engine department comes with a new top GS model, the GS-F. This model will be powered by a 5.0-liter V8 engine with an output of about 450 HP. Being since this is Lexus and they are trying to grab hold of the greener market, a hybrid version has also been confirmed.
Expect to see the new generation Lexus GS launched sometime in 2012, but until then, check back with us for more details surrounding Lexus’ new and improved sedan.
With just a week before its official debut at the New York Auto Show, Lexus has unveiled the official details on the LF-Gh concept, a preview version of the next generation GS premium grand touring sedan. The concept will be at the Lexus display through May 1, 2011.
"For this concept, Lexus designers studied characteristics that are often considered contradictory and difficult to execute together," said Kengo Matsumoto, general manager, Lexus Design Division, Toyota Motor Corporation. "The captivating design of the LF-Gh concept examines the possibility of balancing what are normally opposing qualities, such as style and functionality."
The Lexus LF-Gh concept takes the company’s L-Finesse design philosophy one step forward and combines style, performance, efficiency, and environmental compatibility with advanced, new technologies. And, as with many other new concepts, the LF-Gh is also a hybrid vehicle.
UPDATE 04/12/2011: This review has been updated with the official details and images on the Lexus LF-Gh Concept. Hit the jump for the full details.
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Just when you thought Toyota had gotten over their 2010 recall catastrophe, their sister brand, Lexus, is starting the year of by catching the proverbial ‘bug’.
There really is no rest for the weary, is there?
The Japanese automaker is issuing a voluntary safety recall involving 245,000 vehicles of the GS and IS models over what appears to be a potential defect that could cause fuel leakage.
According to Lexus, the problem is caused by a problem with the connection between the vehicle’s fuel pressure sensor and a fuel line that could loosen over time. This, in turn, could lead to a possible fuel leak.
Affected Lexus models include 2006-2007MY GS300 and GS350 models, 2006-2009MY IS250s, and 2006-2008MY IS350s.
While no accidents have been reported yet, Lexus is doing its due diligence in ensuring that it doesn’t end up there. That’s why the company has already issued an order to its dealers to inspect all the affected models and take the necessary precautionary steps to fix the problem for any affected models. In the event a fuel leak is found, dealerships are prepared to replace the gasket found between the fuel sensor and the delivery at no cost to the car owner.
