Teresa’s View
Since the GS went on sale in 1993, it has become a perennial top seller of luxury automobiles, outselling BMW and Mercedes-Benz for the fourth consecutive year. To celebrate, Lexus gave its luxury sport sedan a total redo.
The redesigned GS represents Lexus’ new styling direction. The cabin sits further back on the rear wheels. A slightly longer wheelbase creates a more spacious feeling in the cabin. Leather, ultra-premium wood and polished metal are attractively applied throughout the opulent interior. Comfort is the operative word.
The design direction includes a vast array of wondrous gadgetry. Coincidently, the state of Washington is a perfect challenge for testing the GS’ marvels. The adaptive suspension system makes smooth uneven patches of I-90. Luxury features such as optional fan-ventilated seats and rear sunshade help regulate the heat of the center of the state. Variable-ratio electronically assisted steering automatically compensates for those inevitable wind gusts outside of Ellensburg. In the mountain passes, the GS climbs comfortably, enthusiastically tackling the twisties. The intense, stop-n-go traffic of the west side is no problem with the optional Dynamic Radar Cruise Control.
There are two trims from which to choose: the GS300 and GS430. The main difference is primarily in the engine size. The GS300 gets a 3.0-liter V-6 that produces 245 horsepower. The drive GS430 is powered by a 300-horsepower 4.3-liter V-8. Both enjoy the kind of high-level technological sophistication that makes an engineer’s socks roll up and down.
And now a word about sound. The GS offers the next-generation discrete 5.1 home theaters, surround-sound audio and entertainment system from Mark Levinson. Designed specifically for the GS, the optional premium audio system turns the sedan into a mobile home theater. Whether you are listening to a DTS 5.1 CD or DVD video, this isn’t an audio experience, it’s a sonic event.
What Is It?: The 2006 Lexus GS is a mid-size, four-door, five-passenger high-performance luxury sedan. For the first time, the GS300 will also be available in an all-wheel version. Prices start at $44K with destination charges.
Gadget Rating: 9 out of 10. The multitude of gadgets are attractively presented although it takes some searching to discover the secondary set of switches tucked into a dash panel to the left of the driver. The GS includes a keyless ignition. The idea is that the push-button ignition can start while the key fob remains in one’s pocket or purse. You don’t even need to remove it to unlock the door. For me, it’s a wee too much wizardry to solve a problem I didn’t have.
Safety: If you think the comfort features are over the top, check out the safety gear. Airbags, including knee airbags for front-seat occupants, abound. A less alert driver helped me try out the powerful, new breaking system. Thumbs up!