2004 Lexus GS 430

An overachieving powertrain like this can put substantial demands on a vehicle’s chassis; luckily no corners were cut in developing the GS 430’s running gear. The GS 430 rides on front and rear double-wishbones fitted with gas-pressurized shocks. Fore and aft anti-roll bars help keep the body flat and stable in the turns. This hardware is affixed to the GS 430’s exceptionally robust unibody via subframes that feature fluid-filled mounts to help isolate the passenger compartment from noise and vibration.

A vehicle-speed-sensitive power rack-and-pinion steering system provides directional control while powerful 4-wheel disc brakes with 4-channel/4-sensor ABS and Brake Assist ensure superb stopping capabilities. The final touch is an integrated Vehicle Skid Control (VSC) system. The standard VSC is switchable on the GS 430 and is calibrated to permit a surprisingly high level of aggressive motoring. More important are its safety advantages since VSC helps the driver maintain control during difficult driving situations like icy roads.