The days of Lexus looking like a soft, boring comfort-based luxury line are long since dead and gone. The GS F making its debut at NAIAS 2015 only drives another nail into that image’s coffin lid.
The new sedan lacks the overall aggressive two-door styling of the new Lexus RC, but the GS F’s 5.0 liter V8 and 467 horsepower should have it performing just as well. Lexus will mate that to its standard eight speed automatic and paddle shifting transmission, allowing for track performance or casual highway cruising.
Related: NAIAS 2015: Ford Performance Cars
To the uninitiated, the idea with the F Sport line is to pump some sports car performance in what would otherwise be a luxury-centric Lexus line. So, in the GS F, tightened suspension and an enhanced braking system with 15-inch front rotors improve handling beyond the expectation of the average “softer” luxury car. Lexus stripped out 300 pounds below comparable German competitors to improve agility and fuel consumption.
For hardcore gearheads, Lexus built in their Torque Vectoring Differential (TVD), featuring three operating modes: Standard (default) provides a balance of agility and firmness — basic driving mode. Slalom emphasizes better handling. Track improves control during high-speed track day driving.
Pricing and date of availability is still to come.
