LEXUS

THE SCIENCE OF SILENCE The Lexus brand has been built on understated elegance and refinement but the GS300 LE limited edition model is more of an attention seeker than we’ve been used to from the Japanese marque. Steve Walker takes a look…

Lexus aren’t known for the vociferous promotion of their products. In the past, Toyota’s prestige wing has deemed it sufficient to manufacturer a vehicle reeking of quality and integrity, furnish it with advanced engineering and technological solutions then sit back and wait for the discerning customers to arrive. That’s why this GS300 Limited edition model came as a bit of a surprise. Not only is it a special edition, a marketing ploy more commonly associated with less regal brands, it’s a special edition with big alloy wheels, side skirts and a spoiler. Have Lexus gone all hot-hatchback on us?

The answer, of course, is a stern ‘certainly not’. The GS 300 LE was launched at the 2006 British International Motor Show and it worked a treat as a more visually-engaging GS model to help generate footfall on the marque’s stand. Now the LE is on general release and tasked with fulfilling additional roles, firstly of drawing attention to the considerable merits of the GS executive saloon and secondly of shifting it’s exclusive 250 units in double-quick time. The 18" five spoke alloys, the boot lip spoiler, the chin spoiler and the extended side skirts might not be typical Lexus but they look good and you can rest assured that the GS 300 LE is 100% Lexus underneath. Much of what we love about cars is defined by the noise they make - the otherworldly staccato rasp of a Porsche 911 at maximum attack, the piercing yowl of a Ferrari V8 or the eardrum annihilation of an F1 racer at close quarters. These are sounds that stir the blood and stoke the soul of people who care about cars but they’re the last thing you want invading your headspace after a particularly monstrous day at the office. That’s why Lexus went to such great lengths to make the cabin of their GS executive saloon a paragon of silence and tranquillity. Here’s a car that can’t generate the exhilaration associated with the world’s classic automotive din makers but is still defined by the way it infects its driver’s lugholes with the soothing sound of nothing very much at all.

"You’ll need to be quick and have disposable funds to the tune of £37,350 if you want to be one of the UK’s 250 Lexus GS 300 LE owners."

The interior of the GS 300 LE is a supremely relaxing place to be. The driver is cocooned in the LE’s soft grey perforated leather upholstery and dark wood trim with custom made floor mats, that are exclusive to this model, underfoot. There really is very little by way of aural stimulation, with the GS’s comprehensive soundproofing measures playing the role of overzealous librarian and telling the wind, the tyres and the 245bhp 3.0-litre petrol engine, in no uncertain terms, to sssssshh! Even when you give it the gas, only a distant roar from the V6 finds its way inside and at low speeds, the engine is virtually inaudible. That doesn’t mean that the GS 300 LE is a pussycat without the bite to back-up its performance car styling accoutrements. The smooth, free-revving engine will vault the 60mph barrier in 7.2 seconds and there’s a 148mph top speed to be explored should you take a wrong turning and end-up on the Rockingham Motor Speedway oval. Combined cycle fuel economy is a not unreasonable 28.8mpg and carbon dioxide emissions are measured at 232g/km. The transmission is controlled via a suitably silky six-speed automatic box. Despite the impressive straight-line performance and the aggressive looks of the GS300 LE limited edition model, the GS isn’t the engaging driver’s car that an equivalent BMW 5-Series or, to a lesser extent, Audi A6 is. It can be hustled along quite nicely but refinement and comfort are given absolute priority to the extent that you eventually wonder what the hurry actually is and ease back into laidback cruising mode. There are executive saloon customers who wouldn’t be without their sharp steering set-up and taught chassis under any circumstances but in the era of crippling congestion, draconian traffic calming measures and a speed camera behind every apparently innocuous piece of roadside furniture, maybe Lexus have got it just about right. All of the GS 300 LE’s extra features come in addition to the mainstream SE specification, so buyers will get to see precisely what the term ‘fully-loaded’ actually means. It’s a particular strength of Lexus that they include as standard features which rival manufacturers would position on the options list adjacent to a wallet-buckling price. So buyers of this car get touch screen DVD satellite navigation, keyless entry and start, Bluetooth connectivity, electric seats with memory functions, adaptive headlamps and a 10-speaker audio system with an in-dash autochanger all thrown in. There’s also climate control, cruise control, automatic wipers and numerous airbags including side bags for the rear occupants. Phew! You’ll need to be quick and have disposable funds to the tune of £37,350 if you want to be one of the UK’s 250 Lexus GS 300 LE owners. The promotional blurb accompanying the car’s launch crows that it’s set to become one of the ‘most exclusive Lexus models yet sold in the UK’. The car is offered solely in Aleutian Grey metallic paint and with its styling accessories added in to the bundle, it makes sound financial sense compared to the £36,348 mainstream SE derivative. If you value the exemplary refinement of a GS but want a little extra road presence and individuality, the LE version fits the bill.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Lexus GS300 LE PRICE: £37,350 - on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 15 CO2 EMISSIONS: 232g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 7.2s / Max Speed 148mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 19.6mpg / (extra urban) 39.2mpg / (combined) 28.8mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags, side-airbags, ABS, VSC WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE? (length/width/height) 4825/1820/1430mm

EXECUTIVE EXPRESS All Your Executive Colleagues Drive BMWs, Mercedes and Jaguars. You Want Something Different. Something Like A Lexus GS300 Perhaps? Jonathan Crouch Decides…

Every morning it's the same: you jump into your car, make a few lefts, make a few rights and muscle your way onto the roadway that separates everyone's home from everyone's office. In an ordinary car, this routine quickly becomes tiresome.

Fortunately, you don't have to be content with an ordinary car. A few well-judged business coups have elevated you into the bracket of true automotive luxury. Right now, you're probably selecting your next car from a trio of German marques with perhaps a Jaguar thrown in for good measure. The cars you’re likely to be choosing from are arguably some of the finest sedans in the world. Included in their ranks are the Mercedes E-Class, Audi’s A6, Jaguar’s S-Type and BMW’s 5-Series, all of which are easily good enough to keep the ordinary from slipping into the mundane. While other more mainstream manufacturers may try to persuade you that there are alternatives, to be frank, the names – and the cars, in most cases – simply don’t cut it. However, there is one new contender in this high-level game that has all the credentials to upset the Anglo-American apple cart – and it boasts a badge to match. Priced from £30,805, the latest Lexus GS300 is Japan's (or more accurately Toyota's) idea of what the successful Western executive would like to be driving. When it was first launched in 1993, it was based on a concept car originally designed for Jaguar by Italian stylists Giugiaro. The MK2 version launched in 1998, in contrast, appeared to have borrowed more heavily from Mercedes. This latest MK3 model is at last its own car – very much as its drivers will be their own people. There’s still a mix of German, Italian and Japanese influences in the latest styling however – and it works surprisingly well, giving the distinctive kind of on the road presence so often missing from pricey Oriental saloons. Most potential GS300 converts, however, will place luxury as a greater priority than speed. Either way, the car is gaining ground in a tough sector and is a useful stepping stone between the IS compact executive saloon and the luxury 4.3-litre V8 LS430.

"The GS300 is encouraging British business people to perceive the Lexus brand as smarter, sportier and more distinctive..."

Certainly the GS300 is as fast, as smooth, as refined and pretty nearly as good to drive as the best of its rivals. A glorious 242bhp 3.0-litre straight six-cylinder engine with variable valve timing gives near 150mph performance. If that’s not enough, Lexus also provide the option of a 4.3-litre V8 in the GS430 variant or the petrol/electric hybrid GS450h. The six-speed automatic gearbox used by Lexus in these models is one of the world's finest. Handling is predictable and aided in extremis by a new Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) system, which enhances performance, traction control and vehicle stability. A further contribution to safety is made by the radar-controlled Pre-Crash Safety system (PCS), which automatically ensures optimum emergency braking performance and pre-tensioning of the front seatbelts. Visually, the car looks larger than its executive rivals and this illusion continues when you climb inside, where the huge rear bench promises room for three of the largest corporate types. The boot's large too, with over 500 litres of space now on offer. Behind the wheel (which electrically rises up and down to aid entry and exit), there's plenty of high-tech wizardry; take the backlit Optitron instruments, which appear almost magically from three black holes in the dashboard. There's also the option of a superb satellite navigation system. With this in operation, you are politely but firmly ordered around your intended route by a very sexy-sounding English girl. It's tempting to go the wrong way just to listen to her... This apart, almost everything else is standard. As standard equipment, you now get a Mark Levinson premium audio system, featuring a custom-designed amplifier and eight specially designed speakers, including a centre dash-mounted speaker for more detailed surround sound. The GS300 specification includes Smart Key entry and push-button start-up system, a 10-speaker sound system with in-dash six-disc CD player, speed-sensitive electric power steering, cruise control, sequenced interior lighting with LED technology, a leather-trimmed multi-function steering wheel, advanced automatic dual-zone air conditioning, eight-way electrically adjustable front seats, tyre pressure warning system, Adaptive Front-lighting System, 17-inch alloy wheels, Bluetooth connectivity and an eight-inch touch-screen display. The SE version adds a DVD satnav system and leather, while the SE-L variant also includes a power sunroof, 18-inch wheels and a mega 14-speaker hi-fi. Whichever GS300 variant you choose, you need to compare it against its rivals in terms of specification and against the likes of Mercedes’ E-Class, BMW’s 5-Series and Audi’s A6, it shapes up very nicely.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Lexus GS300 series PRICES: £30,805-£38,405 - on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 15 CO2 EMISSIONS: 232g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 7.2s / Max Speed 148mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 19.6mpg / (extra urban) 39.2mpg / (combined) 28.8mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags, side-airbags, ABS, VSC WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE? (length/width/height) 4825/1820/1430mm

G’S ELECTRIC While Other Luxury Car Manufacturers Refine Their Diesel Models, Lexus Are Going Out On A Limb With Their Petrol Electric Hybrids. Andy Enright Takes A Look At The Technological Showcase That Is The GS450h…

It’s inevitably unsettling when a new technology renders many of the truths you based your judgements on virtually redundant. The British public is getting used to the fact that if you run a large car, one of the latest generation turbo diesel engines is the way to go. More cost-effective, lower in carbon dioxide emissions and offering some serious overtaking power, sales of big diesels are skyrocketing. Lexus, however, has a dissident point of view. Instead of putting big diesels into its luxury cars, it has chanced its arm on a radically different engineering solution. The GS450h model uses a petrol/electric hybrid engine so impressive you’ll question the future of diesels in upscale cars.

Let’s get a little of the history under our belts first. As you probably know, Lexus is the premium division of Toyota cars, a company who have put a lot of investment into hybrid technology. Their first hybrid car was the Prius, launched at the same time as its Honda rival, the Insight. These cars used an electric motor to augment or temporarily replace a conventional petrol engine but both cars were rather compromised; the Honda by its ‘squeezed from a toothpaste tube’ styling and impractical two-seater layout, the Toyota by its dull driving manners, cramped cabin and distinctly lacklustre lines. Toyota’s second generation Prius changed all that and gave the company leadership in this sector. It mirrors the first generation model’s technique of being able to run on its petrol engine and then switch to exclusively electric operation when conditions are favourable. Buoyed by the success of the Prius, Lexus used hybrid technology first in the RX400h 4x4, a model which offered searing performance but family saloon sized fuel bills. The penny was slowly dropping. The Japanese could be onto something here. Hybrid engines needn’t be reserved solely for budget city scoots.

"Luxury diesel cars could well go the way of the dodo if Lexus has its way"

The GS450h hammers that point home with some verve and when Lexus select their targets they aren’t aiming low either. They’re aiming at one of the best luxury cars currently made, Jaguar’s XJ 2.7 diesel and they have a bunch of convincing statistics that show why this technology is relevant and - crucially – affordable for typical prospective customers. With a power output in excess of 335bhp when the high output permanent magnet electric motor is assisting the 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine, the GS isn’t shy of power. In fact it’s seriously rapid. The sprint to 60mph gets demolished in just 5.9 seconds, making this Lexus saloon quicker off the mark than a Porsche Boxster. It’s a lot quicker than the Jaguar diesel too, a car that records a sprinting time of 7.8 seconds. It doesn’t stop there either. You might expect a Lexus packing well over 300bhp to be able to out-hustle a 207bhp Jaguar, but would you also expect it to be more economical? I didn’t, yet the GS450h posts a combined fuel figure of 35.8mpg compared to the Jaguar’s 35mpg. It’s cleaner too, with a carbon dioxide emissions figure of 186g/km as opposed to the XJ’s 214. Those sorts of figures are hard to come back from. This is complex technology and surely the Lexus must cost a good deal more than the British car. It seems not. Lexus are pitching the GS450h at a £38,000 price point, the XJ 2.7 diesel starting at £43,995. Now you understand why diesel may not be the fuel of the near future. The 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine under the bonnet isn’t anything technologically novel in itself, but Lexus has also engineered a high-torque electric motor that can assist the petrol engine during acceleration and replace it altogether on start up or at low to mid-Range speeds. Moreover, during deceleration and under braking, the engine switches off and the electric motor acts as a high-output generator. This regenerative braking system optimises energy management by recovering kinetic energy that would normally be lost as heat as electrical energy for storage in the high performance battery. The battery power level is constantly maintained by the engine-driven generator, which means there is no need for the system to be recharged from an external power source. The batteries themselves are zero maintenance items guaranteed for 100,000 miles and are a lot more compact than you’d imagine. This sort of drive system is similar to that pioneered in Toyota’s Prius but Lexus have finessed certain elements to suit the character of a luxury car. Electrical power enhancements to the Hybrid Synergy Drive include the use of a boost converter to increase generating capacity. At all speeds, the Hybrid Synergy Drive system monitors itself for optimum performance and fuel efficiency with minimum emissions. It adapts Accordingly to run the electric motor in isolation, the engine in isolation, or a combination of both. The driver can see which power sources are being used by means of a dashboard instrument readout. It’s easy to be cynical about a car like the GS450h, especially as it campaigns largely in Japanese and American markets with no big take up in diesel engines. That said, it looks as if it could be increasingly relevant even in markets where diesel luxury cars are firmly entrenched – markets such as the UK. The shape of things to come could look very much like a Lexus GS450h.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Lexus GS450h PRICES: £38,015-£46,765 - on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 18E [est] CO2 EMISSIONS: 186g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 5.9s / Max Speed 155mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 35.8mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags, side, curtain and knee airbags, ABS, EBD, VDIM, Pre Crash WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: (length/width/height) 4825/1820/1430mm

LEX IS MORE Does The Latest Lexus GS430 Further Refine The Corporate Philosophy Of The Unrelenting Quest For Perfection? Andy Enright Decides

Is this you? You’re sufficiently self confident not to have to worry about your car’s perceived badge equity. You’ve also grown out of the requirement for a car to be able to corner on its door handles. You’ve made a bob or two and are looking to reward yourself with something of exceptional quality. If that sounds like you, the Lexus GS430 could very well be the perfect fit.

Those of you who keep tabs on car news will know that this Lexus is a third generation take on the GS theme. Originally designed to go head on with the likes of the Mercedes E Class and the BMW 5 Series, the GS has metamorphosed into a vehicle that fills a distinct niche. It’s not hard to appreciate its peerless build quality and relaxed nature – if indeed a car that can call upon 279bhp can ever be called relaxed. With this latest model, the Japanese company have tightened up the driving experience a little, engineered in a whole series of additional safety features and even made the car look a whole lot sleeker. I must admit to never being a fan of the old GS. It depreciated rapidly and soon fell into the wrong sort of hands, often seen with huge twenty-inch alloys, blackened windows and booming stereos. Finished in this way, the cars looked pretty purposeful, but the majority of standard versions seemed a little fey when put up against their premium class rivals. The latest GS looks set to rectify this issue. Lexus dub their latest styling direction ‘L-finesse’ and it majors on shrink-wrapped bodywork and characteristically unapologetic Oriental detailing. Although the rear three-quarter view of the latest car is still somewhat bulbous, from other angles the car looks a stunner, the 18-inch alloy wheels filling the arches a lot better than the 17-inch rubber fitted to lowlier GS300 versions. The view from directly behind is probably its most flattering angle but the treatment to the headlamps and front spoiler are very neat indeed. The way the rear door glass arcs back is also a very stylish touch.

"You’ll search in vain for anything in the Executive class better bolted together than the GS430"

Jump inside and it’s easy to see where your £47,160 has gone. The fit and finish is utterly peerless, making many of its German rivals look, well, jerrybuilt. The instrument panel features Optitron dials that appear metallic by day but are softly backlit at night. The Mark Levinson designed stereo system boasts no fewer than fourteen speakers, comes with an in-dash CD autochanger and is quite astonishingly powerful. Similarly comprehensive is the touch screen operating system that marshals the DVD-based satellite navigation, the air conditioning and, where compatible, the Bluetooth control of your mobile phone. Voice recognition software is included, as is a colour reverse parking camera. It’s a technological tour de force. Other clever uses of technology include the Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) system. This centralises control of the anti lock brakes, brakeforce distribution, traction control, and vehicle stability control systems with the electric power steering, adaptive variable suspension and variable gear ratios to ensure that this vast array of control systems works in harmony. Press the ‘Sport’ button on the fascia and the damping firms up, the steering sharpens and the gearbox change patterns become more aggressive. VDIM also oversees a very interesting development whereby the electric steering system can work in concert with the stability control system to detect oversteer – that situation where the rear end of the car steps out of line and threatens a spin. Whereas rivals cars use the brakes and cut power to combat this problem, Lexus goes one step further. The car automatically countersteers into the impending skid for you, nipping an emergency situation in the bud. It’s so subtle that no steering input is visible from outside the car, but rapid and minute corrections are going on unbeknown to the driver. It’s very impressive when put through its paces. The GS430 also debuts a system whereby the car can come to a stop in a straight line even if one side of the car is running on a low friction surface such as snow or ice and the other on a high friction surface such as tarmac. Most cars would try to spin away from the slippery surface when the brakes are applied, but clever electronics in the GS430 keep things on the straight and narrow. Although a lot of these features are new, the same can’t really be said of the 4.3-litre V8 powerplant and it looks distinctly yestertech next to the flagship GS450h hybrid model. It sounds a little churlish to say that the engine is probably the GS430’s weakest link, but the introduction of an all-new six-cylinder unit that’s not only more fuel efficient but also more charismatic sounding and yielding a mere 34bhp to the big V8 brings into question the wisdom of plumping for the GS430 over the well-specified GS300 SE-L, but closer inspection of the specification sheets shows that VDIM isn’t available on the smaller engined car, nor is Lexus’ adaptive cruise control and pre-crash safety system. This could well be the deal breaker. The cruise control system is similar to that we’ve seen in Jaguars and Mercedes luxury models insofar as it monitors the distance to the car in front, aiming to keep a respectable distance. It can be bamboozled though. Swing from the outside to the middle lane behind a slower car and the system will emit a couple of beeps and then wave the white flag, requiring the driver to brake to avoid a rear end shunt. It also brakes at some rather odd moments on the open road. This is probably the only electronics system in the Lexus it’s possible to find fault with and given that it’s a safety system, some drivers will pass it up. Pre Crash works with the radar system and pretensions the seat belts when it thinks you’re about to hit something metallic. There’s a lot to like about the latest Lexus GS430. It’s a shame there’s no diesel alternative offered, but if you want the best quality product in the executive sector, you’re looking at it right here.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Lexus GS430 PRICES: £47,160 - on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 18E CO2 EMISSIONS: 269g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 5.9s / Max Speed 155mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 17.3mpg / (extra urban) 32.8mpg / (combined) 24.8mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags, side, curtain and knee airbags, ABS, EBD, VDIM, Pre Crash WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: (length/width/height) 4825/1820/1430mm