Lexus Switches Direction, Heading Towards Performance - What ELSE Will It Take To Convince You?

Since the launch of the IS-F, Lexus has pretty much made a paradigm shift in the way its automobiles were perceived. In addition, it's clear that there is a marked difference from where the brand was a couple of years ago to where it is going.

The best way to tell is by looking at the all-new 2013 Lexus GS.

Although we've come to know the brand as a reliable, go-to car when you want something luxurious, the standard GS doesn't seem like that car at all. From the promotional videos that emphasize a driver's car to that raw engine noise as the soundtrack, Lexus' writing is on the wall. It didn't take much to see this coming as the LFA was the car that made sure everyone turned around and took notice. And Lexus has embraced the love and hate.

If you want an even more intriguing picture, I'll leave you with this parting note: The 2013 GS is set to weigh in just over 3,700 pounds. Meanwhile, the Germans, which are the known performance benchmarks, are over that 4,000 pound mark. 300 pounds is a big difference, especially when it comes to driving dynamics. Think of it this way, the all-new GS is even lighter than the six-cylinder Panamera. Yeah.

Considering the last generation GS was sterile, this is a major shift.

But what ELSE will the brand have to do to convince you that it's taking driving serious?

• It has proven it can build a capable supercar that laps the 'Ring in a quick time
• It has built a motorsports-focused brand, F
• It claims its new models are driver-oriented