RE: Lexus GS F - PH Videoblog

RE: Lexus GS F - PH Videoblog

Saturday 30th July 2016

Lexus GS F - PH Videoblog

Dan has a poke around around the latest Fuji-fettled Lexus - how does it compare to an M5?



It's fair to say we've been rather excited about the arrival of the Lexus GS F at PH. Oh sure, it might not be as fast as the immediate rivals, but the combination of a big V8 in a sharply styled saloon is one that will always appeal to us.

We finally managed to get one on test recently, and here's a brief video intro ahead of the full review to follow soon. In it Dan runs through how the GS F looks inside and out, the surprising specification and, of course, how it drives as well. Throughout there's a sense of the Lexus being a very individual car, one that does things its own way regardless of what the opposition is doing.

Is that a good thing? That's a discussion the video will begin, and one that will be taken up in the story. Stay tuned!

 

Author
Discussion

culpz

Original Poster:

4,881 posts

111 months

Thursday 28th July 2016
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The initial message was deleted from this topic on 28 July 2016 at 11:40

Cable

239 posts

182 months

Thursday 28th July 2016
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Excellent! I saw this last year, in Geneva, and I really liked the interior and overall styling.

Also sounds great; makes me miss my IS-F frown

I agree about the joystick control; I had a IS 300h, for a few days, with one of these and found it dire.

The 'eco' mode cleverly switches the engine to a pseudo Atkinson cycle, perfect for a long cruise.

Edited by Cable on Thursday 28th July 13:12

chappardababbar

409 posts

142 months

Thursday 28th July 2016
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Dan - this was a very good video. Good stuff, thanks

Also really want this car

chappardababbar

409 posts

142 months

Thursday 28th July 2016
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In future video, can you touch on a comparison to the RCF. Would like to know why this car seems to be more positively received than its two door sibling

moffat

1,020 posts

224 months

Thursday 28th July 2016
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Shame it can't compete with BMW, Audi and Mercedes on power though... 100bhp is a big loss. and that's set against 3 last gen cars which will all likely have 600bhp++ in the next versions.

ganser

103 posts

198 months

Thursday 28th July 2016
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I think price and spec-wise it competes with the 550i,s6, e43. I do like the look of these especially in that blue, those alloys and orange calipers. As a daily driver I can imagine it to tick plenty of boxes, both in terms of performance, comfort and image

big_rob_sydney

3,394 posts

193 months

Thursday 28th July 2016
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Big fan.

Lexus quality, now in a NA V8. Sure, others have more power. Good luck to them. But when they've rattled down to their skeletal bones, the Lexus will still feel like its been built like a bank vault. Quality manufacturing.

The downside though will be weight. I didnt see any figures for it, but I suspect it will be a heavy car (not great).

philmots

4,630 posts

259 months

Thursday 28th July 2016
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I like it a lot, maybe a rival to that new Alfa?

Does it come with an LSD ?

Dan Trent

1,866 posts

167 months

Friday 29th July 2016
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It has a fully automated locking differential that operates in the same way as an LSD, via the three modes as outlined in the vid. Full explanation from press pack below.

Cheers!

Dan

Lexus said:
Torque Vectoring Differential
Lexus’s Torque Vectoring Differential has been honed through many hours of test driving on some of the world’s most renowned race tracks. It improves the car’s dynamic performance by precisely controlling rear-wheel torque, giving better control when cornering. The system has been tuned to provide a natural feel.

The Torque Vectoring Differential transfers an ideal amount of torque between the right and left side rear tyres, according to data including throttle input, braking, yaw rate, longitudinal and lateral G-force and other relevant parameters. Torque is transferred almost instantaneously between the rear wheels, with optimal control, regardless of whether the accelerator pedal is being pressed or not. The system lets the driver work with more confidence than ever before, accentuating driving enjoyment well beyond what a traditional rear-wheel drive car can offer.

The system has three settings the driver can select to suit personal driving style or conditions, using a switch on the centre console. Standard gives a high level of stability and agility; Slalom places extra emphasis on steering response, giving the car a more agile character, akin to one with a smaller wheelbase; and Track provides additional stability when driven at higher speed, letting the driver accelerate with confidence.

Drive Power Control is a unique feature of the Torque Vectoring Differential. By using high-response motors as the ECU calculates the ideal amount of torque transfer, a speed-multiplying planetary gear instantaneously adjusts the left/right torque distribution by engaging a multi-plate clutch. This highly advanced system can fine-tune torque distribution in a thousandth of a second.

jeremyc

23,335 posts

283 months

Friday 29th July 2016
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The only question we need answering is whether it has those daft fake exhaust tips like the IS-F. wink


saxy

258 posts

123 months

Friday 29th July 2016
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jeremyc said:
The only question we need answering is whether it has those daft fake exhaust tips like the IS-F. wink

Wow I had no clue those were fake. Makes me hate the car instantly.

Vocht

1,630 posts

163 months

Friday 29th July 2016
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Surprisingly the ISF has held it's value quite well over time, I wonder if this will be the same?

Either way I would definitely have one of these over an M5/E63/XFR if I was in the market for one as it's just so much more unique and thus special for that.

E65Ross

34,946 posts

211 months

Friday 29th July 2016
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Surely this is more a rival to the 550i, rather than an M5? It's performance isn't even on par with an M3, let alone an M5. At £69k including "options" it is a bit cheaper than an M5, so seems better to compare to a 550i or such like, no?

Appreciate it's meant to be their halo performance model, but it really isn't in quite the same category as an M5/E63 is it...not just 100bhp down top end, but the other rivals have so much flatter torque curves it means that they're always producing a lot more power than the Lexus.

Cable

239 posts

182 months

Friday 29th July 2016
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saxy said:
Wow I had no clue those were fake. Makes me hate the car instantly.
Just checking you're joking, right?

Cable

239 posts

182 months

Friday 29th July 2016
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E65Ross said:
Surely this is more a rival to the 550i, rather than an M5? It's performance isn't even on par with an M3, let alone an M5. At £69k including "options" it is a bit cheaper than an M5, so seems better to compare to a 550i or such like, no?

Appreciate it's meant to be their halo performance model, but it really isn't in quite the same category as an M5/E63 is it...not just 100bhp down top end, but the other rivals have so much flatter torque curves it means that they're always producing a lot more power than the Lexus.
If you were playing top trumps, then yeah, you're right, but for driver enjoyment, I'd bet there's not a lot in it. No, it doesn't have the flexibility of the Germans, but I find the modern turbo V8's lacking the peaky power I find enjoyable.

giblet

8,824 posts

176 months

Saturday 30th July 2016
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Nice video review. I'm hoping that my local main dealer can sort me out with one as a hire car when my ISF goes in for a service next month. They had a demonstrator in a few months back that I had a look around. The interior is a nice place to be, those seats are awesome! Not sold on the front grill mind. It's a shame they are no longer making the ISF. The GS seems just a tad too big in comparison.

Dan Trent

1,866 posts

167 months

Saturday 30th July 2016
quotequote all
jeremyc said:
The only question we need answering is whether it has those daft fake exhaust tips like the IS-F. wink

Nope, they're real. Thank god!

Dan

ITP

1,996 posts

196 months

Saturday 30th July 2016
quotequote all
saxy said:
Wow I had no clue those were fake. Makes me hate the car instantly.
Yawn.

How many times does this get dragged up. Why do people only seem to be offended by Lexus having done it once on the isf ? People do realise, i assume, that lots of other cars use this type of 'styling'. Including many german cars believe it or not!!! Audi's, mercedes, and even a Lamborghini aventador has a whopping great fake tip that is actually part of the bumper.
Its not exactly hard to replace with 'real' tips either on an ISF with aftermarket backboxes.

Cable

239 posts

182 months

Saturday 30th July 2016
quotequote all
ITP said:
Yawn.

How many times does this get dragged up. Why do people only seem to be offended by Lexus having done it once on the isf ? People do realise, i assume, that lots of other cars use this type of 'styling'. Including many german cars believe it or not!!! Audi's, mercedes, and even a Lamborghini aventador has a whopping great fake tip that is actually part of the bumper.
Its not exactly hard to replace with 'real' tips either on an ISF with aftermarket backboxes.
Yup, I do believe pretty much most of the manufacturers have done it, including Ferrari!

You can see some of the culprits on this list https://www.carthrottle.com/post/7-fake-exhaust-pi...

The Ferrari 458 and 488 are guilty of it also, so give Lexus a break!

LasseV

1,754 posts

132 months

Sunday 31st July 2016
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Cable said:
If you were playing top trumps, then yeah, you're right, but for driver enjoyment, I'd bet there's not a lot in it. No, it doesn't have the flexibility of the Germans, but I find the modern turbo V8's lacking the peaky power I find enjoyable.
I agree. Lexus GS-F is already too fast for normal roads, so i don't think that you need another 100hp or so. That V8 just sounds so lovely cool Besides, people doesn't remember anymore how good it feels when you have a car with good throttle response.