| High equipment levels and meticulous quality and | | | | The car has an all-new 3.0-liter DOHC 24-valve |
| refinement have been the formula for building and | | | | aluminum V-6, which replaces an iron-block straight six |
| maintaining the Lexus. It embodies a fresh design | | | | of identical displacement. With Toyota's VVT-i |
| approach, re-engineered from the ground up. | | | | variable-valve-timing system operating on cams, plus |
| Dominated by a long cabin with steeply angled front | | | | direct injection, plus a formidable 11.5:1 compression |
| and rear glass, the windows allow plenty of light into | | | | ratio, the new six generates 245 horsepower and |
| the well-organized interior. The Rear passengers get | | | | 230 pound-feet of torque, compared with 220 of |
| plenty of legroom - the wheelbase has been | | | | each for its predecessor. The new V-6 is bolted to |
| lengthened by 50mm - and large quarter-windows. | | | | an equally new six-speed automatic transmission, |
| The GS300 Sports at $95,000 includes climate | | | | featuring manumatic shifting and an electronic brain |
| control, heated and ventilated front seats, auto | | | | that does a good job of avoiding excessive hunting, |
| headlights and wipers, reversing camera and steering | | | | particularly in uphill runs. |
| wheel audio controls. The Sports Luxury model | | | | Other features include leather-trimmed, heated front |
| tested here adds satellite navigation, a sunroof, | | | | seats with 10-way power adjustment; SmartAccess |
| intelligent cruise control, parking sensors and an | | | | keyless entry and a pushbutton starter; a premium |
| excellent Mark Levinson stereo system. | | | | sound system with both CD and DVD capability; |
| Operating full time, the GS300's all-wheel-drive | | | | Bluetooth wireless telephone technology; and a 7-inch |
| system features a planetary gearset and a wet, | | | | multi-information touch screen for easy access to a |
| multidisc clutch to couple the primary drive wheels, at | | | | wide range of information and commands. |
| the rear, to the front. The standard torque split is 30 | | | | Options include: a steering-sensitive Park Assist |
| 70 front to rear, but the system's electronic brain | | | | system; DVD navigation system and rear backup |
| can vary that to 50/50, making its judgments based | | | | camera; one-touch open/close moon roof; ventilated |
| on various driver inputs such as throttle angle and | | | | front seats; power rear sunshade. It also has an |
| steering angle, and vehicle data such as wheel speed | | | | eardrum-pounding, wallet-smashing Mark Levinson |
| and yaw rate | | | | audio system, its 11 channels of sonic wash flowing |
| Every GS has three variations of a new close-ratio | | | | through 14 speakers, Rain-Sensing Wiper package |
| six-speed automatic transmission, each designed for | | | | that includes adaptive front lighting and headlamp |
| optimum performance with their respective GS | | | | washers (standard on the GS 430); a rear spoiler; |
| applications. One of the smallest and lightest | | | | and all-season run-flat tires. |
| gearboxes of its type, it includes a sequential manual | | | | Luxurious amenities, exquisite quality, and remarkable |
| shift mode, with gear changes made via a lever in | | | | technology--these are all the things that make up a |
| the center console. | | | | Lexus. Partstrain likewise strives to preserve these |
| An outstanding feature of the car is the | | | | qualities in delivering only the best Toyota |
| all-wheel-drive system. The more slippery the road, | | | | Replacement Parts, Performance Parts, OEM and |
| the more pronounced is its advantage over | | | | Aftermarket Parts. |
| conventional two-wheel-drive systems. | | | | |