Toyota City, Japan —Lexus is rolling out its new GS lineup by launching nationwide the newly developed GS 250 with a smart-sized powertrain and the completely redesigned GS 350, to be followed by the completely redesigned GS 450h on March 19. With a passionate desire to mark a new stage for Lexus as Japan’s first truly global premium brand, Lexus based creation of the new GS lineup on the three pillars of design, drivability and technology.
The GS features firmly grounded styling imbued with premonitions of driving, as well as the spindle grille*1 that represents the face of the next-generation of Lexus. The advanced and dignified interior was designed with discerning attention to material and detail and is equipped with features such as a high-resolution 12.3-inch wide display-the world’s largest*2 in a mass-production vehicle, a second-generation Remote Touch system and the first-ever analogue clock in a Lexus vehicle.
The dedicated Lexus platform was completely updated based on cutting-edge technologies accumulated through Lexus’ experience with the “LFA” supercar, with an aim to deliver the pleasure of being able to maneuver the vehicle at will. A highly evolved cruising style was refined through well over 1-million km of test-driving at the Nürburgring course in Germany and other roadways worldwide. A choice of four*3 driving modes are provided to suit different driving situations: Eco, Normal, Sport S, and Sport S+.
The “Lexus Hybrid Drive” has undergone further evolution based on a combination of front-engine, rear-wheel-drive hybrid technology with the newly developed 3.5-liter V6 2GR-FXE engine that uses the next-generation D-4S*5 system and the Atkinson cycle. The result is exhilarating acceleration equal to that of a V8 gasoline engine.
Fuel efficiency has been improved by approximately 40% compared to previous models with ratings of 18.2km/L*6 in the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s (MLIT’s) JC08 test cycle and 20.5km/L in the MLIT 10-15 test.
Source: http://www2.toyota.co.jp/en/news/feature/20120126.html