Today Lexus officially unveiled the new GS F performance sedan at the Detroit Auto Show – slated to be released as a 2016 model.
The biggest highlight of the new model is what’s under the hood, which is a 5.0-litre V8 engine in place of the old 3.5-litre V6. It produces 467 horsepower and 389 pound-feet of torque, while being paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission that channels power to the rear wheels. Admittedly, this isn’t the first GS with a V8, but it is the first to make an appearance in this generation and it’s also the most powerful engine GS has ever offered.
To make sure all of these horses translate into speed, the GS F comes with Lexus’ Torque Vectoring Differential that made its debut on the RC F coupe. Lexus has also reinforced the car’s structure and included a sport-tuned suspension exclusive to the F model. And to make the whole package work seamlessly, Lexus has included driver-selectable modes like slalom and track.
The body of the vehicle will weigh 4,000 pounds and feature 19-inch alloy wheels with wider 275-mm tires in the back. If you are the perceptive kind, you might have also noticed the bold grille at the front accompanied by flared wheel arches.
Lexus says that performance-oriented models like the GS F are vital when it comes to attracting younger car buyers. F Sport vehicles currently account for about one in four cars the brand sells – which amounts to almost 50 per cent of IS sedans sold. Despite this surprisingly high figure, Lexus expects to sell only around 1,600 GS F vehicles per year. It will go on sale in the last quarter of 2015.
The Detroit Auto Show opens its doors to the public on January 14 and ends on January 25.
