It was 1990 when Toyota decided it was time for a luxury division and it decided to pattern its upscale Lexus unit after Mercedes, offering German levels of quality and quietness at Japanese import prices.
Now Toyota is looking to reinvent Lexus again. While it has a sterling reputation for quality, it has been less than exciting in the styling and performance departments. With the 2013 Lexus GS 350, the division hopes to remake its image not so much along the lines of Mercedes, but rather, this time around, Audi, which has staked its reputation on design, performance and technology.
Lexus LF-Gh Concept
This new tack is most evident in the nose of the new GS—while the concept shown at the New York Auto Show had a gaping maw, the production version is toned down considerably, but still, the look is more Ingolstadt than Stuttgart. Think Audi’s single-frame grille opening with a pinched waist. Then there is the requisite use of LED running lights and a fairly fast greenhouse for a 4-door sedan.
These styling cues, we are promised, will be adapted to other models in the Lexus lineup. While Toyota’s luxury make seeks to redefine its look, close inspection of the new GS shows that it has lost none of its penchant for attention to detail. Exceptional build quality is a Lexus hallmark, one that the make will not surrender. Along with it, renewed attention on interior design and materials is also evident. And from a dimensional standpoint, the new GS delivers greater front and rear headroom, more trunk space and a 2-in.-wider track. The latter not only helps interior accommodation, but also signals significant upgrades to the vehicle’s dynamics. A recalibrated suspension gives the car a more nimble feel, as we learned earlier in autocrossing some camouflaged prototypes. (more)
Keep Reading: 2013 Lexus GS 350 – First Look >>
First Photos: 2013 Lexus GS 350 >>
First Drive Review: 2012 Lexus GS Prototype >>
Related posts:
- Lexus to Unveil New GS 350 Sedan at Pebble Beach
- Lexus GS-F: A Hot Future Sedan to Take On the BMW M5
- First Drive: 2012 Lexus GS Prototype
No comments:
Post a Comment