Wednesday 7th January 2015

Lexus GS F confirmed

That teaser was a V8 supersaloon from Lexus - here are the details

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Without wishing to begin the story on a bum note, you can't help but think naturally aspirated V8 saloons aren't long for this world. They're hardly models of efficiency after all. So Lexus deserves credit for bucking the turbo trend and dropping the RC F's 5.0-litre V8 into the GS saloon. Just the idea is cool.

Looking good from here

And the execution? Well it doesn't look half bad from the first tech spec and photos. Incredibly this (quite striking) barge is lighter than the RC F by 10kg at 1,830kg. Admittedly that's from the 'preliminary US market data' but it bodes well. For reference an M5 is 1,945kg and the Audi RS7 is 1,995kg.

But they will have a power and torque advantage. The GS F will strut into a 500hp+ club sporting 'just' the 473hp and 389lb ft. These are very slightly different to the officially stated numbers for the RC (478hp and 391lb ft) so we expect that to be a slight discrepancy and the actual figures to be identical. Can a redline on the exciting side of 7,000rpm make up for a significant torque deficit? The eight-speed auto will also feature in the GS F.

So when's RHD coming Lexus?

Furthermore, the GS will use the RC's torque vectoring with standard, slalom and track modes. Expect too a wealth of upgrades to the suspension and brakes, all to be detailed at Detroit next week.

Is it too early to speculate on price? Probably. Lexus wasn't shy about pricing the RC F directly against the M3/M4 but it was entering that battle with more power. With the GS F down slightly on its rivals a price slightly undercutting them would seem appropriate. A standard Jaguar XFR is £65,440 and the Audi S6, closest on output with 450hp, is £56,000. Whatever the outcome on price, it's another fast Lexus to excite the enthusiast and surely that must be good news.

 

 

[anonymous-user]

Interesting looking motor, it may be slightly down on power but the lower weight should help

[anonymous-user]

A surprising lack of interest, thought this would tickle PHer's fancy

[anonymous-user]

Bladedancer said:

Is an estate too much to ask for?
Please Lexus, please!

For some reason Lexus are reluctant to do estates

[anonymous-user]

sunnydude959 said:

hmm I don't know - theres already a good choice to choose from already; BMW M5/M6GC, Audi RS6/RS7, Merc E63/CLS63, Jag XF-R & XF-RS ...
I don't know why someone would choose this over the others?

Choice is a good thing

[anonymous-user]

I don't know why Toyota/Lexus are persisting with the NA V8.

Toyota need another insanely over engineered turbo engine to be a spiritual sucuessor to the 2JZ to get me interested in anything hot they do.

[anonymous-user]

Bladedancer said:

MonkeyMatt said:

Bladedancer said:

Is an estate too much to ask for?
Please Lexus, please!

For some reason Lexus are reluctant to do estates

Maybe they do not sell in Japan (do they?) but look at, well, pretty much anywhere else - they do!
Lexus is missing a lot by not having an answer to RS6 Avant and E63 estate.
I'd love to buy a 2nd hand GS but since I need an estate it's off the list. Shame.

Lexus sell most of there cars in the USA, not sure if they like their wagons over there or not? I think estates are very much a Euro thing