Lexus GS to go diesel

The new Lexus GS will feature the crucial four-cylinder diesel engine that this BMW 5-series rival needs to compete in the executive saloon arena.

Senior sources at Toyota’s premium brand say petrol-electric hybrids will remain central to Lexus’s range, but they also acknowledge the need to “broaden the appeal of the brand and make it more accessible — and we certainly haven’t given up on diesel”.

See a rendering of the new Lexus GS

The frugal diesel engine will be introduced to the new GS in 2013. Lexus claims this model will start a “new direction” for the firm. It will be targeted mainly at fleets and pitched against big sellers, including the 520d.


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LexSucks - 7/28/2011 2:14:14 PM

-5 Boost

Great move!! I'm sure that they will set the standard. Like they do with everything else. Go Lexus!!!!!

audi3800 - 7/28/2011 2:54:08 PM

-2 Boost

The only "standard" that they ever set was having hybrid technology on luxury cars, other than that it will probably just fade away within the competition like the last two generations of the gs.

_43LE - 7/28/2011 5:15:30 PM

+5 Boost

LOL! Hi my darling SportyTurbo, I see that we still have reason to laugh at you! My precious will forever be the comic relief here on autospies....XOXOXOXOXO

Willis - 7/28/2011 6:00:33 PM

-3 Boost

It annoys me when they call the Lexus GS a "BMW 5er rival" - it never even came close to matching the driving dynamics of the 5er. The only cars in this class that can be called a 5er rival is the Infiniti M.

Anthony - 7/28/2011 9:28:28 PM

+8 Boost

It annoys me when random people on a blog comment on the driving dynamics of a car that they haven't even driven themselves. Autoblog, Automobile Magazine, Top Gear and Autocar (actual automotive journalists who are paid to drive cars) all called it a 5er rival as well, noting the incredible improvement of the suspension in the prototype that Lexus let them testdrive. (All of them did.)

With that in mind, I'd say this car will be one to watch.