FIRST Drive: New Lexus GS450h, Worthy German Exec Rival?

Could have done a little better job integrating the smaller headlights on the grill, perhaps even using LEDs instead.

no changes to the dismal dynamics of this car.
so not a remote rival to the 5-series or even the E-class.
it will continue to sell in tiny quantities.

It is a Lexus, question answered

The next version of the GS will be a great car.

The German's better be ready.

i thought you were anti-lexus? Or were you sarcastic?

I think it's a worthy competitor, if you like the Lexus definition of luxury.

For starters, remove that stupid looking grill.

Such vitriolic, caustic comments against Lexus! Why?

Worthy German Exec Rival?
No

Worthy Korean Exec Rival?
Yes

I never could figure out what exactly the GS was focusing on. Its rivals have a clear focus. For example, we know the BMW 5er focuses on sport and handling. The E-Class combines luxury, comfort and sport in a very appealing package and the A6 is a blend of those two. The M from Infiniti rivals the 5-Series while offering more for less money.

The GS? I could never figure it out. It's not very sporty nor is it very comfortable. It's small and cramped on the inside and in hybrid form has virtually no trunk and an embarrassingly small payload capacity. Why should I buy a Lexus GS when I can have an E-Class or an A6 or M that tells me exactly what they can do? I guess what I am getting at is that the GS to me lacks that particular balance which its competitors clearly have. A reliable and fully-loaded car means nothing to me if it isn't spacious on the inside (or trunk), comfortable or can carry extra weight (payload capacity).

Call me crazy, but I find the Camryish Lexus ES far more appealing than the GS. At least its mission and capabilities are clear.

WTH is payload - and the Audi A6 they still offer FWD as standard. A GS 450h is as fast as that V10 A6 they had/have?

StickShiftCamry

"A GS 450h is as fast as that V10 A6"

Yeah, not even close, the Lexus 0-62 5.9 The Audi RS6 0-62 4.5 Sec (source Autocar)

Not even close.

Yea right, just google S6 V10 0-60 times and every
result = around 5.2 seconds. Same for the first gen
GS450h.

channel4 0-62 4.7 mph
http://www.channel4.com/4car/di/audi/a6+avant/846/1

Car Magazine 4.5sec 0-62mph
http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Drives/Search-Results/First-drives/Audi-RS6-saloon-2008-CAR-review/

Motor und Sport 4.7 0-62mph
http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/fahrberichte/audi-rs6-buergermeister-im-rennanzug-775855.html


What your source?

Not even close the RS6 Audi

I said V10 not RS6

RS6 is a V10

V10 S6 Still over half second faster, that not "is as fast as".

this discussion is irrelevent bordering on RIDICULOUS!

who expects the buyer of ANY hybrid to engage is stoplight drag races?

imo, ANY 0-60 time of <9 seconds is perfectly acceptable. after all, how many SECONDS does anyone spend accelerating? vs. the minutes to HOURS they spend cruising at set speeds?

only immature BOY racers make such a big deal over 0-60. i doubt many of those buy luxury sedans.

i myself often dawdle up to 60 in ~10 - 15 secs., but ONCE UP TO my cruise, i make cross-town trips in less time than 95% of surrounding traffic.

Well, don't knw why Toyota doesnt put more effort into the GS, i mean the GS 460 is my fav. 4 door Sedan below $60,000 but its not special as when the first GS 400 V8 came out over 10 Yrs ago and was the fastest 4 Door luxury sedan until the 400HP M5 & E55 AMG came out. This thing is nice cuz not too many have it and it has a wide body road presence. Everyone has an E and a 5, I don't like any of the AWD/FWD A6 (not comparable, i think they still have a FWD model, wow). The GS is a well balanced over all car, right amount of comfort, speed, size and sport. And that V8 burble - just waits for an aftermarket exhaust.

"the first GS 400 V8 came out over 10 Yrs ago and was the fastest 4 Door luxury sedan until the 400HP M5 & E55 AMG came out."

WRONG

There was a car called the 500E / E500 from Mercedes which was faster. Also, WHO CARES which car is faster? What does speed have to do with this? The GS400 might have been fast but what good is all that speed when it doesn't handle that well? It's fast in a straight line. That's it. A BMW 5 series with an inline-6 and an A/T was still more "involving" to drive.

That year E500/500E was not even close to the acceleration #s
of a 98 GS 400 - besides the design and look of a
white or that blue GS bak then…

And that year they were using ancient (97) E420/430?
Besides same body shape Toyota models overseas had
in-line 6 turbo - again most cars those years = no match

1998 Lexus GS 400 0-60 mph 5.7 Quarter mile 14.1

1998 BMW 540i Sport 0-60 mph 5.4 Quarter mile 14.0

1998 Mercedes-Benz E430 Sport 0-60 mph 6.1 Quarter mile 14.4
http://www.zeroto60times.com

The BMW wins

I was going by the MT: 1998 car of the year video
on YouTube.

YAWN!!

Sooo lacks emotion!!>..

aside from v8 performance with a v6-hybrid, what this GS offers EXCLUSIVELY in this class is Italianesque styling.

the original GS was penned by the famed Guigaro, and was intended to be a Jaguar. Lexus bought the design after jaguar declined the proposal.

it's since been tweaked with each reskin, but the basic ELEGANT elements endure.

oh yeah, and there is also LEXUS RELIABILITY, which NO ONE can match.

from the article itself which few read:

"What's it like?
Very smooth, fast and ultra refined, just like before. The GS450h is also beautifully presented throughout with a quality finish to die for.

As ever, Lexus claims V8 level performance from the V6 hybrid package and with 341bhp on tap (from the total system) that just about stacks up, although you're never going to get lusty V8 levels of noise.

This is a luxury car that glides off the line and then whacks in serious mid-range and top end thrust if you keep the right pedal down. The 3.5-litre V6, electric motor and CVT box are like silk and this is still one of the quietest, most cosseting cruisers around.

At low speeds, yes, you can run on electric motor alone and that's good for the planet.
...
Now in its fourth year, the Lexus's styling, presentation, comfort and speed have held up pretty well and the hushed hybrid V6 tech is as seamless as ever. On the emissions front, 186 g/km for C02 is still none too shabby, either."

and it's also rated at 37.2 mpg!!! even for Imperial gallons, that's impressive.