Wednesday 17th August 2011

All-New Lexus GS Leaked...

...And no, it's not all that exciting...

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Lexus is set to unveil its new GS model - that would be the company's 5-series/Audi A6/ E-class challenger - at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in California this weekend, but these undisguised photos of it have already leaked onto the web via a Chinese blog site.

And we're sorry to report that Lexus seem to have taken all the sexy bits from the LF-Gh concept that it showed off at the New York motor show back in the spring and, er, thrown them away. We'll know more when the car gets its official unveiling, but for now we're left feeling distinctly whelmed.

It still looks like an E60 BMW 5-series, however. Which is interesting in itself, because once upon a time the Lexus styling department used to spend its time putting tracing paper over pictures of Mercedes models, so the switch to aping BMW styling cues (which really began with the IS range) is an interesting one.

Does it mean Lexus has decided it wants to get all sporty? The LFA supercar would certainly seem to suggest so...

[Hellbound]

If you squint, it sort of looks like the LFA.

[jezzaaa]

Hmmm usual bland 'I'm really a toyota camry' styling, presumably with similarly numb handling characteristics. Another Dull dull dull lexus...quelle suprise.

[Codswallop]

Took looks rubbish. The grill and rear lights in particular are naff.

[Frimley111R]

From the side it looks like the old 5 series.

[SSCooperS]

Looks like a badly photocopied IS.

[cheesyblob]

...And no, it's not all that exiting...


So which bit of the car doesn't leave the factory then?

[jonnydm]

4 wheel drive Lexus saloon. Interesting.

[PascalBuyens]

cheesyblob said:

...And no, it's not all that exiting...


So which bit of the car doesn't leave the factory then?

The rubber left behind during the inaugural burnout

[Remagel2507]

Its gone from an ok looking car to something which looks like it should have a Kia or Hyundai badge on

[Stu R]

Looks pretty bland compared to the german stuff, but I quite like it. The rear - from the side profile looks a bit E60 5 series, but the rest isn't bad.

Once it's got some nicer trim, black paint and wheels that aren't hideous, it'll look decent enough. I still fancy a current gen GS450h. Lovely motors, and finished to a level way beyond that of BMW, Audi and Merc.

[Garlick]

I hope it looks more like the concept in reality, as that looked to be a contender

[honest1]

It might just be me, But I think it looks nice. Plus AWD should be a bonus for our few days of snow.

[Ecurie Ecosse]

Garlick said:

I hope it looks more like the concept in reality, as that looked to be a contender

The actual car doesn't looks too dissimilar - different bumpers, wheels and a higher ride height. Maybe the pics are of a base model car and the performance version will look more like the concept.

[andy665]

Ecurie Ecosse said:

The actual car doesn't looks too dissimilar - different bumpers, wheels and a higher ride height. Maybe the pics are of a base model car and the performance version will look more like the concept.

The car in the metal - in a decent colour with production wheels is much better than the leaked photo. The performance version looks superb

[daveco]

Garlick said:

I hope it looks more like the concept in reality, as that looked to be a contender

Look at the rear of the car, it's basically an E60 5 series with a sport kit.

Lexus did this with their old LS; take the dimensions and shape of a well selling competitor, fill it with more reliable Japanese parts, and BINGO, you've got a winner.

Edit; it's even got BMW's hoffmeister kink in the rear window/pillar!

Edited by daveco on Wednesday 17th August 14:01

[Xavier259]

Garlick said:

I hope it looks more like the concept in reality, as that looked to be a contender

Looks like somebody traced a E60 M5

[esvcg]

Looking somewhat better:

[DavidHM]

Can't say it leaves me feeling much over a Hyundai Genesis with a bit of a tidy-up of the styling... interior is very BMW F10 though (whereas the Genesis is more like an S-Class).

[Ten Ninety]

The new post-Bangle BMWs look great until you get to the front, where they're universally awful. The Lexus also looks great until you get to the front, where it looks... great! I'd have one over any of the German alternatives.

[drivin_me_nuts]

.. same here. Can definitely seem myself getting hold of one of those in a few years.