The rear-wheel-drive GS 300 ($42,900) sports a completely new 245-horsepower V6 under the hood; the GS 300 AWD ($44,850) grips the road through the first all-wheel-drive system in a Lexus passenger car; and the top of the line GS 430 ($51,125) is the quickest Lexus yet due in part to its recently refined 300-horsepower V8.
Every GS puts its power to the wheels through three variations of a new close-ratio six-speed automatic transmission, each designed for optimum performance with their respective GS applications. One of the smallest and lightest gearboxes of its type, it includes a sequential manual shift mode, with gear changes made via a lever in the center console. Steering-wheel-mounted pushbutton gear selection is no longer offered.
The list of standard equipment places the GS line squarely in the luxury fold. And yet despite all the amenities wrapped in the more appealing bodywork, on a comparably equipped basis the new GS 300's cost-up is a paltry $140 over the outgoing model. In addition to the usual electronics, every GS gets a bunch of cool stuff, including leather-trimmed, heated front seats with 10-way power adjustment; SmartAccess keyless entry and a pushbutton starter; a premium sound system with both CD and DVD capability; Bluetooth wireless telephone technology; and a 7-inch multi-information touch screen for easy access to a wide range of information and commands.
Not surprisingly, given the generous array of standard items, interior options are limited: a steering-sensitive Park Assist system ($500); DVD navigation system and rear backup camera ($2,250); one-touch open/close moonroof ($1,000); ventilated front seats ($200); power rear sunshade ($210); and an eardrum-pounding, wallet-smashing Mark Levinson audio system ($4,030), its 11 channels of sonic wash flowing through 14 speakers.
Exterior options are even fewer: a Rain-Sensing Wiper package ($525) that includes adaptive front lighting and headlamp washers (standard on the GS 430); a rear spoiler ($200); and all-season run-flat tires ($400), which also can be ordered with a spare ($480).
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