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5th
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The 2013 GS is proof that Lexus is trying to shed its old-man appeal. The question is: Will it tempt the younger crowds? Possibly, however it won't happen overnight. This thought swirled in my head the whole time I was with this car.
The GS has held the designer beacon for Lexus from the moment it arrived in showrooms very early in the '90s. In actuality, the first generation of the car was designed by the famed Giugiaro. That pretty much seals my comment.
Nice body!
There's no doubt in my mind that the new 2013 Lexus GS 350 is the styling winner among all four-door Lexus cars and SUVs. Be it in profile or head-on, the GS sports striking lines previously reserved for essentially all other brands. Conscientious of the fact that looks play a monumental part in the selection process, Lexus -- I can only imagine -- let loose the team that designed the LFA supercar and mixed them amongst the others in order to create this car.
My tested 2013 GS 350 AWD, draped in Fire Agate Pearl, was handsome enough, but most of the design efforts went into creating the F-Sport Package which further enhances the GS' street cred. Beside the LFA and IS F, it is the most dynamically styled of the Lexus brethren.
On this front, the 2013 Lexus GS 350 is well equipped to tackle competition from Germany.
Smooth and powerful operator
Concealed beneath the slopping bonnet is the only internal combustion engine fitted to the 2013 Lexus GS. The 3.5L V6 is at its healthiest in the GS, pumping out 306 hp at 6,400 rpm and 277 lb-ft at 4,800 rpm. One step up from here is the GS 450h's version which, with the help of Lexus' Hybrid Drive system, further boosts output to 338 hp.
In the non-hybrid 2013 Lexus GS 350, the transmission is a well-geared 6-speed autobox that sends the power to the rear or all four wheels. Because the AWD system is rear-wheel drive biased, the 2013 Lexus GS can be piloted energetically thanks to the favourable dynamics provide by RWD and the added safety and traction afforded by the front wheels.
Although doing without the F-Sport package's sport-tuned Adaptive Variable Suspension with electronically modulated damping, the GS' standard fully independent suspension managed to keep all four wheels in constant communicative contact with the road's surface.
Other than the aforementioned IS F and LFA, the basic 2013 GS is the sportiest Lexus of the entire lineup. Steering provides, for a Lexus, a well judged mixture of information and isolation from road imperfections. The four-wheel vented discs do a masterful job of keeping situations under control despite the 2013 Lexus GS 350 AWD's hefty 1,765 kg (3,970 lb) girth and ability to get up to speed quickly.
Sumptuously sporty
When Lexus redesigned the 2013 GS, they had performance and styling in mind. They did very well on both accounts.
The cabin's visual impact is just as big as the sheet metal's. Once the doors are opened, passengers are greeted by rich, two-tone, 18-way power adjustable premium leather seats and a gorgeous woodgrain and leather-wrapped, heated steering wheel.
Controls are on the small side, but their textures and weight are very high end. The optional 12.3” LCD display is huge and features lovely graphics, however, the user experience is marred by Lexus' Remote Touch user-interface system. The mouse-like controller is awkward and requires far too much concentration in order to be properly used.
Be that as it may, I loved the large heated and vented front seats. They are intent on keeping their occupants sane even on the longest road trip. The rear bench is best suited for two, while the trunk is somewhat snug given the overall size of the car. A pair of golf bags are all one will be able to squeeze in.
The final note on the cabin belongs to the excellent -- nay -- mind-blowing, superb Mark Levinson Surround Sound Audio System. This 835-Watt 17-speaker boom box was created specifically for the 2013 Lexus GS 350 and it sounds as fantastic to humans as an electric can opener sounds to a hungry cat. Lexus has figured out the ideal combination of comfort and entertainment. Bravo.
Pricing the competition
The base RWD 2013 Lexus GS 350 has a sticker price of $51,900. When compared to a 2013 BMW 528i at $54,500, it seems like a great deal if only because of its extra power. The catch is that a recently tested BMW 528i xDrive ($56,900) returned an abuse-burdened average of 9.5L/100 km while the GS 350 AWD ($54,900) managed no better than 11.5L, and I was kind. This may or may not be important to the potential buyer.
With the Infiniti M now having completely lost its way, the Lexus GS is now the only viable alternative to the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class. Its design is spot-on, while luxury bounds. It's worth being considered.
The GS has held the designer beacon for Lexus from the moment it arrived in showrooms very early in the '90s. In actuality, the first generation of the car was designed by the famed Giugiaro. That pretty much seals my comment.
 |
Nice body!
There's no doubt in my mind that the new 2013 Lexus GS 350 is the styling winner among all four-door Lexus cars and SUVs. Be it in profile or head-on, the GS sports striking lines previously reserved for essentially all other brands. Conscientious of the fact that looks play a monumental part in the selection process, Lexus -- I can only imagine -- let loose the team that designed the LFA supercar and mixed them amongst the others in order to create this car.
My tested 2013 GS 350 AWD, draped in Fire Agate Pearl, was handsome enough, but most of the design efforts went into creating the F-Sport Package which further enhances the GS' street cred. Beside the LFA and IS F, it is the most dynamically styled of the Lexus brethren.
On this front, the 2013 Lexus GS 350 is well equipped to tackle competition from Germany.
Smooth and powerful operator
Concealed beneath the slopping bonnet is the only internal combustion engine fitted to the 2013 Lexus GS. The 3.5L V6 is at its healthiest in the GS, pumping out 306 hp at 6,400 rpm and 277 lb-ft at 4,800 rpm. One step up from here is the GS 450h's version which, with the help of Lexus' Hybrid Drive system, further boosts output to 338 hp.
In the non-hybrid 2013 Lexus GS 350, the transmission is a well-geared 6-speed autobox that sends the power to the rear or all four wheels. Because the AWD system is rear-wheel drive biased, the 2013 Lexus GS can be piloted energetically thanks to the favourable dynamics provide by RWD and the added safety and traction afforded by the front wheels.
Although doing without the F-Sport package's sport-tuned Adaptive Variable Suspension with electronically modulated damping, the GS' standard fully independent suspension managed to keep all four wheels in constant communicative contact with the road's surface.
Other than the aforementioned IS F and LFA, the basic 2013 GS is the sportiest Lexus of the entire lineup. Steering provides, for a Lexus, a well judged mixture of information and isolation from road imperfections. The four-wheel vented discs do a masterful job of keeping situations under control despite the 2013 Lexus GS 350 AWD's hefty 1,765 kg (3,970 lb) girth and ability to get up to speed quickly.
 |
| The 3.5L V6 is at its healthiest in the GS, pumping out 306 hp at 6,400 rpm and 277 lb-ft at 4,800 rpm. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour) |
Sumptuously sporty
When Lexus redesigned the 2013 GS, they had performance and styling in mind. They did very well on both accounts.
The cabin's visual impact is just as big as the sheet metal's. Once the doors are opened, passengers are greeted by rich, two-tone, 18-way power adjustable premium leather seats and a gorgeous woodgrain and leather-wrapped, heated steering wheel.
Controls are on the small side, but their textures and weight are very high end. The optional 12.3” LCD display is huge and features lovely graphics, however, the user experience is marred by Lexus' Remote Touch user-interface system. The mouse-like controller is awkward and requires far too much concentration in order to be properly used.
Be that as it may, I loved the large heated and vented front seats. They are intent on keeping their occupants sane even on the longest road trip. The rear bench is best suited for two, while the trunk is somewhat snug given the overall size of the car. A pair of golf bags are all one will be able to squeeze in.
The final note on the cabin belongs to the excellent -- nay -- mind-blowing, superb Mark Levinson Surround Sound Audio System. This 835-Watt 17-speaker boom box was created specifically for the 2013 Lexus GS 350 and it sounds as fantastic to humans as an electric can opener sounds to a hungry cat. Lexus has figured out the ideal combination of comfort and entertainment. Bravo.
 |
| When Lexus redesigned the 2013 GS, they had performance and styling in mind. They did very well on both accounts. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour) |
Pricing the competition
The base RWD 2013 Lexus GS 350 has a sticker price of $51,900. When compared to a 2013 BMW 528i at $54,500, it seems like a great deal if only because of its extra power. The catch is that a recently tested BMW 528i xDrive ($56,900) returned an abuse-burdened average of 9.5L/100 km while the GS 350 AWD ($54,900) managed no better than 11.5L, and I was kind. This may or may not be important to the potential buyer.
With the Infiniti M now having completely lost its way, the Lexus GS is now the only viable alternative to the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class. Its design is spot-on, while luxury bounds. It's worth being considered.