2013 Lexus GS Tees Off At Pebble Beach
In a press release announcing the new 2013 Lexus GS, Lexus group vice president and general manager Mark Templin explains the sports sedan’s mission as follows:
Today, buyers in the mid-size luxury segment want a more engaging driving experience, styling that makes a statement, and a roomier interior package. With the all-new GS, we’re giving them what they asked for, and more.
And if the new GS looked more like the LF-Gh concept, we might agree. But with its toned-down looks failing to move the game past its foregettable forbears (at least in these 2-D images), it seems as though Lexus listen too hard to the customer (for example, creating more space with the same dimensions) and missed an opportunity to create a design that makes a statement that buyers didn’t yet know they couldn’t live without. Tarted-up midsized front-drivers are one thing, but this class of larger, rear-drive sports sedans demands bold yet sophisticated looks… and I’m not convinced this Lexus is “there.”
Comments
Join the conversation
This car will still get absolutely dwarfed in sales by the 5 series and A6's that I see all the time. Why is the GS so invisible? I suspect it isn't styling, but rather an image problem. Lexus just isn't a "sports" luxury brand. While the ES works fine for what it is and the LS is a decent competitor in the large lux sedan market, the GS just doesn't carry the cache that BMW does in the "just made partner at the law firm" crowd. At least Nissan is doing a better job at the sports lux segment with the G37, all be it not quite as high end as the Lexus GS. Maybe that would be a better route for Lexus...an ES Sport.
It certainly doesn't have the visual presence of the 5 or A6/7 but maybe that is what they are aiming for. I'm sure it will drive much like the old one but since an excessively insulated and remote driving experience is now standard in this segment, that shouldn't matter.