|
Lexus GS 400 fights convention as a new luxury sports sedan
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
|
FONTANA, Calif. -- Blasting out of Turn Four, the banked track's high wall on the front straightaway suddenly flashes past about a foot off the sedan's right window, looking like a speeding stream of white concrete traveling at 145 mph.
Actually, that grandstand wall stood perfectly still, as does any concrete barrier. It was a stunning test car that zipped so fast down the home stretch of California Speedway in the outskirts of Los Angeles.
Sure-footed and rock-solid, this new sedan romped around the 2-mile oval at a dizzy clip, yet from a driver's perspective, facing black-on-white illuminated gauges in a compartment lavishly appointed with luxury features, noise from engine and track and wind was only barely detected.
Inside, this one seems as quiet as a swanky parlor, yet far more comfortable -- and so fast.
A tester had come to California to experience the speediness and quiet manners of GS 400, latest sports sedan from Lexus, that upscale offshoot from Toyota of Japan. To understand its riotous potential for speed, however, only a race track would due because with this power monster you can quickly venture beyond nuisances of street legalities by simply standing on the accelerator.
Earlier, a more reasonable drive through rugged back roads of the Anzo-Borrego desert down on California's border with Mexico demonstrated the wily nature and lively athletic ability of the newest Lexus, but with all of those mountain curves you could not fully appreciate the latent promise lurking behind the throttle.
Thus, the sedan's tracking a flat-out sprint on the newest high-speed oval in racing.
What a wild ride.
And what unexpected muscle from Lexus, known heretofore for plush luxury rides, not hair-raising speed thrills.
This new iteration of the GS series scores as a dramatic improvement over the original issue, which debuted in 1993 as a luxury sedan promising sport-edged excitement. With too much on-board weight and suspension elements too soft for stable performance when cornering, that first generation of GS never captured the kind of consumer enthusiasm that other Lexus labels -- like flagship LS 400 or mid-size ES 300 sedans -- have experienced.
The new design promises more, as well as the unusual: It combines world-class sporty sedan performance wrapped in the lap of Lexus luxury and dressed in a daringly unconventional shape revealing a striking exterior package.
Blending radical curves with a blunt nose and stubby tail, articulated oval headlamp clusters and a classy front grille borrowed from LS 400, the two new sedans in the revised GS series make a strong statement which suggests power, performance and action.
Beneath these smooth forms, new powertrains for the pair of GS models allow them to behave like sporty racers.
Ultimate GS 400 carries the new 4-cam 4.0-liter Lexus V8, which also shows up in LS 400 and a slinky SC 400 coupe. Output climbs to 300 hp.
The GS 300 has the 3.0-liter in-line-6 engine borrowed from SC 300 coupe. In this application it produces 225 hp, which feels entirely satisfying.
Both models stock a new Lexus electronically-controlled 5-speed automatic transmission -- one of the smoothest in the world.
For GS 400, toggles on steering wheel let an active driver shift up and down sans clutch with only a flick of thumb or forefinger and without removing hands from wheel.
Dual front and side airbags plus a new Lexus skid control system boost safety factors for these new cars, while on the inside, plush luxury appointments dress an expansive cabin which seats up to five adults.
Although the overall length for the GS structure was pared by six inches to create a more maneuverable package, interior space for riders actually increases by five cubic feet over the previous model.
Also, the wheelbase was expanded by almost an inch and this additional room was applied to front seat leg space for increased comfort.
The lively GS suspension system uses an independent double wishbone setup with gas-filled shocks and stabilizer bar. Steering, with precise rack and pinion assembly, draws on power assistance that varies with vehicle speed, and for brakes a big disc at every wheel ties to integrated 4-channel anti-lock and traction controls.
Such improvements elevate the GS sedans to a rare class in terms of active driving, performance, safety and comfort.
On twisted mountain roads as well as a skid pad spread across a flat asphalt expanse at California Speedway, one driver experimented with the new Lexus stability control system, called VSC, for vehicle skid control. This notable safety device integrates anti-lock brakes and traction control to correct oversteer or understeer when cornering and can actually pull the vehicle back into a proper path automatically without intervention from the driver.
Turn off these controls with a console toggle and the GS behaves like any other car when faced with quick-cut turns at speed such as emergency swerves to avoid a road hazard: It spins out of control, which may mean disaster.
Turn on the controls and make the same emergency swerve at the same speed and something magical happens: The GS begins to dance on pavement. It remains stable, with all tires rooted to road, so you may steer around a problem and possibly avoid disaster.
This remarkable anti-skid control system scores as standard feature for both GS editions.
Both also provide lavish interiors with lots of glossy walnut wood trimmings, although the GS 400 goes further by making leather upholstery the standard, along with memory functions on driver's seat power controls.
Anyone accustomed to the Lexus touches of luxury and refinement will feel at home in the comfortable cabin, which provides a one-touch power down control button for every window and eye-popping novelties like the electro-luminescent analog instruments which seem to float in front of the driver in magical 3-dimensional glow.
These new GS sedans emphasize the wow factor in all aspects, including price points, as Lexus has increased size and features and performance factors, yet lowered prices by as much as 19 percent over prior models. Bottom line for GS 300 begins at $37,295, with GS 400 now pitched at $45,295.
1998 LEXUS GS SERIES SEDANS
|
| Vehicle Specifications: |
| 1998 LEXUS GS SERIES Specs |
| Description: |
Mid-size luxury sedan |
| Model Options: |
Mid-size luxury sedan |
| Wheelbase: |
110.2 inches |
| Overall Length: |
189.0 inches
|
| Engine Size: |
DOHC 3.0-L I6
QOHC 4.0-L V8
|
| Transmission: |
Auto/5 |
| Drive: |
Rear |
| Braking: |
Power 4-disc/ABS/VSC |
| Airbags: |
4 |
| Gas Mileage: |
3.0: 22/28 mpg
4.0: 19/26 mpg |
| Price: |
$ 37,295 to $ 49,000 |
|
|
