IAA 2011: New Lexus GS450h Full Hybrid Sedan

Having revealed the new gasoline-only GS 350 at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California, Lexus chose the 64th International Auto Show in Frankfurt for the unveiling of the hybrid variant that we will come to know as the GS 450h.

The full hybrid model is based on the fourth generation body style and it uses a 290-horsepower, 3.5l-itre V6 Atkinson cycle petrol engine, in conjunction with a two-motor hybrid system.

The total system output is 343-horses [DIN] at 6,000 rpm and 345Nm (255 lb-ft) of peak torque at 4,600 rpm. Power is channelled to the rear wheels through a six-speed sequential-shift E-CVT.

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Posted on 07.31 / 0 comments / Read More

IAA 2011: Lexus Takes the Wraps off the 2013 GS 450h

While Lexus has already shown us the gasoline-powered versions of its all-new GS luxury sedan up until today, the Japanese company had only provided teasers of the hybrid version. But now, less than 24-hours before the Frankfurt Motor Show opens its gates, Lexus officially revealed the 2013 GS 450h.

The GS 450h replaces the Japanese firm's hybrid luxury sedan by the same name that entered the market in 2007. Like its predecessor, the new model is based on the gasoline-powered GS 350, combining a 3.5-liter Atkinson-cycle gasoline engine with Lexus’ Hybrid Drive system that includes an electric motor.

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Posted on 11.14 / 0 comments / Read More

Lexus Promotes 2012 GS 350 as a Driver's Car in New Video

There are two main things Lexus would like to convince consumers in the premium segment about its new 2012 GS series: a. that it's stylish, and b. that it can handle and perform like a driver's car.

Over the next few months, we'll see Lexus trying to promote these qualities through its advertising channels. For now, we have a new promotional video that attempts to highlight the latest GS 350's driving dynamics.

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Posted on 08.42 / 0 comments / Read More

Lexus Teases the New GS F-Sport and GS 450h Hybrid

We only just got our first taste of the next generation of Lexus's executive sedan with the presentation of the 2013 GS 350 at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance show in Monterey last week, but the Japanese automaker has already moved along and is now getting ready for the world premieres of the GS F-Sport and GS 450h. Read more »

Posted on 16.50 / 0 comments / Read More

Video Presentations of the 2013 Lexus GS and Infiniti JX Showcar

Leaving aside the elegant Cadillac Ciel which is a pure design study (for now), the big production stars of this year's edition of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance festival in Monterey, California, are the 2013 Lexus GS 350 and the production-ready Infiniti JX showcar.

We have already presented both cars in detail but we now have video footage from the presentation events that took place on Thursday evening ahead of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, and which you can watch right after the break.

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Posted on 12.07 / 0 comments / Read More

2013 Lexus GS Officially Unveiled at the Pebble Beach Festival [47 Photos + Video]

Time is up for Lexus to pull the wraps off the third-generation GS luxury sedan that made its first outing today at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California.

Based on the LF-Gh concept we saw in New York, the new GS features much bolder lines that its predecessor. Key highlights include a prominent trapezoidal grille that the company says will be a trademark of all future models, deep-set headlamps with L-shaped LED daytime running lights and an aerodynamic body that brings to mind the smaller IS.

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Posted on 16.15 / 0 comments / Read More

2013 Lexus GS350 Scooped Virtually Undisguised in China

We are less than 48 hours away from Lexus' world premiere of the new generation of its premium mid-size sedan, the 2013 GS, but China's Autohome news site has nabbed the most revealing shots of the car to date.

Essentially, the only parts of the 2013 GS that are covered are the front and rear Lexus logos. The car pictured here sports the GS 350 AWD badge at the rear, which means it is equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 petrol engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission that transfers power to all four wheels.

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Posted on 11.05 / 0 comments / Read More

U Spy: 2013 Lexus GS Spotted Taking a Break in France

Eagle-eyed autoscardesign reader Florian M. sent us these pictures of a heavily disguised 2013 Lexus GS prototype that he spotted at a rest area on a highway in France.

Lexus has been thoroughly testing the next generation of its mid-size premium sedan on both sides of the Atlantic, and it has also introduced the car to select media outlets for a first drive.

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Posted on 08.14 / 0 comments / Read More

2013 Lexus GS: Teaser Shot Plus First Drive Videos from MT and R&T

Precisely two weeks remain for the official presentation of the all-new 2013 Lexus GS 350 on Thursday, August 18th at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, and the Japanese automaker decided it's time to enter the teaser photo game with the release of a single, partially blacked out image of the mid-size luxury sedan.

There's not much to say about the Lexus sedan from the photo other than that it looks a lot like the LF-Gh Hybrid concept we saw at this year's New York Auto Show.

For those of you that would like to see a bit more of the new GS than what Lexus has to offer, hit the break to watch the first test drive videos of the car by U.S. magazines Motor Trend and Road & Track.

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Posted on 08.50 / 0 comments / Read More

New Video and Photos of All-New 2013 Lexus GS from European Presentation

Being that Toyota wants Lexus to compete against its German rivals not only in North America, but all over the world, along with the U.S. test drive event of the 2013MY GS in California, the Japanese automaker also coordinated a similar happening for European media at a proving ground in Belgium.

The journalists were invited to drive heavily disguised versions of pre-production 2013 Lexus GS models while the company's Chief Engineer, Yoshihiko Kanamori, was in attendance from Japan to gather feedback from the participants.

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Posted on 10.32 / 0 comments / Read More

Lexus Invites Magazines to Drive 2013 GS, will be Offered Only with V6 Engines, gets Netbook-Sized Screen

Following the announcement on the time and place of the premiere of the all-new 2013 Lexus GS 350 –that would be the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on August 18th for those of you that didn’t read our previous story- the Japanese company lifted the embargo on the first test drive of the car in the States.

Invitees include names like Car&Driver, Autoweek and Motor Trend. Naturally, the exterior of the pre-production test cars were bagged in plastic, but their interiors were largely free of camouflage (see links below for photos) revealing an edgier LF-A-esque design with lots of stitched leather on the dashboard and a gigantic 12.3-inch information screen above the center console.

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Posted on 14.23 / 0 comments / Read More

Official: All-New 2013 Lexus GS 350 to Debut in August at Pebble Beach Concours

This year’s edition of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance that takes place in California on August 18 will see Lexus lifting the veil off the next generation of its GS premium sedan, which we recently showed you testing at the Nurburgring racetrack in Germany.

Lexus teased the new GS with the LF-Gh Hybrid concept study at the New York Auto Show in April.

"Our customers have been waiting for a new GS that's more intense in every way," commented Mark Templin, Lexus group vice president and general manager. "They'll soon discover this GS was well worth the wait."

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Posted on 11.11 / 0 comments / Read More

First Spy Shots of 2013 Lexus GS Sedan

Well now, that didn’t take long, did it? Less than three months after the presentation of the LF-Gh concept car at the 2011 New York International Auto Show and Lexus has already started testing the production model that will spawn a successor to today’s GS sedan at the Nürburgring circuit.

Naturally, the Lexus GS prototype is covered in plenty of camouflage but not to the point that it discloses its styling similarities to the LF-Gh study.

Aside from the body proportions, details like the protruding side sills, the high rising belt line, the “dotted” LEDs and large grille up front, and even the alloy wheel designs, appear remarkably faithful to the concept.

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Posted on 17.33 / 0 comments / Read More

A Detailed Video Look at Lexus’ New LF-Gh Hybrid Sport Saloon Concept

One of the star attractions of next week’s 2011 New York International Auto Show will be a new concept model from Lexus called the LF-Gh Hybrid. We’ve already brought you the first details and photos on the sedan study, but now we’ve got official footage of the LF-Gh. Those of you looking to catch a glimpse of the concept model on the move will have to skip through towards the end of the 7-minute long clip. Read more »

Posted on 18.19 / 0 comments / Read More

Lexus LF-Gh Concept Hybrid Sports Sedan Unwrapped: 50 High-Res Photos

Today’s the day for Lexus to formally lift the wraps off its new LF-Gh hybrid concept ahead of its global debut at the 2011 New York International Auto Show, which runs for the public from April 22 to May 1. The Japanese firm’s latest concept is for a premium grand tourer that previews a new design direction for the next generation of Lexus models.

Even though Toyota’s luxury division won’t say it, the LF-Gh’s also hints at a replacement for the GS given the proximity in size between the two models as the concept measures 192.5-in. long, 73.6-in. wide, 57.1-in. tall while riding on a 112.2-in long wheelbase. In comparison, the current GS is 190.7-in long, 71.7-in. wide, 56.1-in tall and rides on the same 112.2-in long wheelbase.

Lexus says that through this exercise, it redefines its L-Finesse design philosophy, which debuted in 2001, adding that it represents a bolder styling that “unites hard and soft; and energetic and soothing elements”. Needless to say, the LF-Gh has borrowed many styling elements from Lexus’ first supercar, the LF-A, including the body surfaces as well as the shape of the tail lamps, headlights and front grille.

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Posted on 09.49 / 0 comments / Read More

Lexus to Unveil New LF-Gh Concept Study at 2011 NY Auto Show

Next up on our motorshow calendar is the 2011 New York Auto Show in late April, where we’re expecting several world premieres, including a new concept car from Lexus. The Japanese automaker made the announcement today through its Twitter channels with a rather vague note: “LF-Gh: LF = Lexus Future. h = hybrid. G = ...”.

The company also stated in an invitation to the press that the concept “will present a glimpse into the future of Lexus design.” We’re assuming the ‘G’ stands for a prototype version of the next generation of the GS premium sedan but we’ll know more within the next couple of weeks.

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Posted on 14.02 / 0 comments / Read More

Infiniti’s 2012 M Hybrid Campaign Takes a Swipe at Lexus GS 450h

‘Remember’ is the name of Infiniti’s new campaign for the 2012 M Hybrid, which is set to launch in the USA in spring of 2011 with prices starting from $53,700. The 31 second spot takes us on a quick journey through the history of hybrids, beginning with the first hybrid car in 1888, to the hybrid patent in 1909, and through the hybrids of the 1970s on to today’s hybrid models including the Lexus GS 450h, which can be seen in the ad parked on the road.

According to Infiniti, the 2012 M Hybrid directly challenges “the notion that you can’t have great performance and great fuel economy” adding that its model is the only car in America that delivers 360 horsepower and 32 miles-per-gallon (highway) – combined fuel economy is rated at 29mpg.

There’s no mention in the commercial on the model that single handedly made hybrids a household word bringing the technology to the masses – we’re talking of course about the first generation Toyota Prius.

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Posted on 09.37 / 0 comments / Read More

Trapped Accelerator Pedals Come to Haunt Toyota and Lexus Again, 2.12 Million Vehicles Recalled in the USA

The Toyota Group may be off the hook over suspicions of unwanted sudden acceleration caused by software-driven throttles after the findings of the NHTSA-NASA study, but the Japanese automaker is once again making headlines over trapped accelerator pedals. Today, Toyota announced that it will conduct a voluntary safety recall of approximately 2.12 million vehicles in the United States to address accelerator pedals that could become entrapped in floor mats or jammed in carpeting.

More specifically, Toyota is recalling approximately 20,000 Lexus GS 300 and GS 350 All-Wheel Drive vehicles from the 2006-2007 model years to modify the shape of the plastic pad embedded in the driver’s side floor carpet. According to the company, if the floor carpet is not properly replaced in the correct position after a service operation, it is possible that the plastic pad embedded into the floor carpet may jam against the accelerator pedal and keep it from returning to the idle position.

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Posted on 06.53 / 0 comments / Read More

Lexus Issues Voluntary Recall on 245,000 GS and IS Models in the U.S.

Lexus has issued a voluntary safety recall involving some 245,000 cars in the U.S. because of a potential defect that may cause fuel leakage. The models affected by the recall include the GS300 and GS350 from the 2006-2007MY, the IS 250 from the 2006-2009MY, and the IS 350 from the 2006-2008MY.

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Posted on 13.57 / 0 comments / Read More

VIDEO: Lexus Sets the Bar High, Chains Four Cars on LS in New TV Ad

In another sign that luxury automakers in the U.S. are raising the stakes -or so to speak- with their latest commercials, following Audi's recent A8 ad, Lexus has released a new TV spot as part of an advertising campaign to demonstrate how far the company goes to achieve perfection.

This particular broadcast ad is titled “Chain” and it shows a crane slowly lifting the front end of a LS, which is attached to four more Lexus models (RX, GS, ES and IS) using nothing more than cables and stretch bars. At the end of the spot, a $375,000 LFA comes into the shot and parks directly below the chain of vehicles weighing a total 21,000 pounds.

The key point here is that the commercial is real and that no special effects were used for its creation as Lexus proves in the 'Behind the Scenes" video.

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Posted on 08.57 / 0 comments / Read More