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| [[Image:GS-523_lg.jpg|right|250px|GRS190 Lexus GS]]
| | #REDIRECT [[Lexus GS]] |
| The '''[[Lexus|Lexus]] GS''' is a [[rear-wheel drive]], luxury sports sedan manufactured by the [[Toyota|Toyota Motor Corp.]] under the [[Lexus]] brand and sold as the '''Toyota Aristo''' in Japan. Based on the platform and running gear of the [[Toyota Crown]], it was introduced in 1991 in Japan and two years later in the United States, Europe and selected markets in Asia. The model was designed to fill the gap between the [[Lexus ES|ES]] and [[Lexus LS|LS]] and to provide [[Lexus|Lexus]] with a [[sports sedan]] that could compete with the [[BMW 5-Series]] and the [[Mercedes-Benz E-Class]]. For most of its life, the GS had a longer wheelbase than the ES, and was shorter than the ES in length.
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| Though essentially identical, '''GS''' and the '''Aristo''' differ in their engine and transmission combinations as well as equipment packages.
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| ==First generation (1991-1997)==
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| [[Image:800px-Old_Lexus_GS.jpg|right|250px|Old Lexus GS, from the mid-1990s]]
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| With a body styled by the famous Ital Design firm, the '''Aristo''' was launched in October 1991, offering two versions: the '''R6 3.0 (3.0V)''' with a 24-valve, 276 [[HP|hp]] (205 kW) [[turbo|twin-turbo]] ''2JZ-GTE'' engine, and the '''3.0Q''' with a 226 [[HP|hp]] (169 kW) ''2JZ-GE'' engine. A third model, the '''4.0Zi-Four''' joined the Aristo lineup in 1992 and given the chassis code UZS143. This model came with the ''1UZ-FE'' engine also found in the [[Toyota Celsior]]/[[Lexus LS]] and the [[Toyota Crown]] Majesta and standard [[four wheel drive]]. Production of the '''[[Lexus|Lexus]] GS 300''' (JZS147) began on February 22, 1993 at the Tahara, Japan assembly plant. The only engine available for the export markets was the ''2JZ-GE''.
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| ==Second generation (1998-2005)==
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| [[Image:Lexus_GS.jpg|right|250px|Second-generation [[Lexus GS]](JZS160)]]
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| The second generation '''Aristo''' was launched in Japan, codenamed JZS160 for cars with the ''2JZ-GE'' engines and JZS161 for those with the ''2JZ-GTE'' twin-[[Turbo Engine|turbo]] engines. VVT-i was now standard, resulting in a bump in torque. The twin-[[Turbo Engine|turbo]] version was available with electronic four-wheel steering, VDC and an [[Automatic transmission|automatic]] gearbox with a manual sequential mode. No [[Four Wheel Drive|4WD]] models were offered.
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| The GS began production in the JZS160 body style on August 4, 1997 and was launched in 1998. The American market '''GS 400''' was equipped with a UZ-series V8 that produced 300 [[HP|hp]] and 310 ft·lbf of torque. Edmunds.com reported a 0-60 time of 5.4 seconds for the 3693-pound sedan. Again, no [[Turbo Engine|turbo]] models were offered outside Japan.
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| In 2001, the engine received a 0.3 liter bump in displacement and the model was renamed '''GS 430'''. Peak [[HP|horsepower]] was unchanged, but torque increased to 325 ft·lbf.
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| The GS was ''Motor Trend'''s Import Car of the Year for 1998. It also made ''Car and Driver'' magazine's Ten Best list for 1998 through 2000.
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| ==Third generation (2005-present)==
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| [[Image:800px-Lexus_GS430.jpg|right|250px|GRS190 GS430]]
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| The third generation GS was first sold in 2005 as a 2006 model, with the chassis codename GRS190. The model lineup included the '''GS 300''', with a 3.0 L [[V6]] ''3GR-FSE'' engine, and the '''GS 430''' with the same 4.3 L [[V8]] used in the previous model. The '''GS 300''' has a direct-injection engine for all markets except for Continental Asia. The 3.0 L engine is also found in the [[Toyota Mark X]] as well as the '''Zero''' [[Toyota Crown]]. A [[4WD]] option was made available in the GS300 only.
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| A 3.5L '''GS 350''' is expected to replace the '''GS 300''' and a 4.6L '''GS 460''' to replace the 4.3L '''GS 430''' by 2008. In Japan, [[Lexus|Lexus]] is already selling the GS 350. Production of the 3rd generation began on January 24, 2005.
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| The equivalent '''Aristo''' was not released as [[Toyota]] sought to align all world markets, including Japan, using [[Lexus|Lexus]] as their premium brand worldwide.
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| ===GS450h===
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| Unveiled at the 2005 New York International Auto Show, the [[hybrid car|hybrid]] '''GS450h''' joined the GS line for the 2007 model year. It is the first mass-production rear-wheel drive luxury [[Hybrid Cars|hybrid]] car. Its powertrain includes a naturally-aspirated 3.5 L ''2GR-FSE'' [[V6]] engine mated to an electric motor and a continuously variable transmission. The '''GS 450h''' has a Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle emissions rating and an MSRP (including delivery) of $55,595. In some markets, however, the car can only be purchased with at least one option package, which raises the price by another couple of thousand dollars.
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| The GS 450h weighs 4134 lb (1875 kg), but the combined [[Hybrid Cars|hybrid]] powertrain produces 339 [[HP|hp]] (253 kW), allowing the GS to accelerate to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 5.2 seconds, compared to the GS430's 5.7 seconds. EPA-rated highway fuel economy is 28 mpg (8.4 l/100 km), while the city fuel economy is rated at 25 mpg, which is slightly unusual for [[Hybrid Cars|hybrid vehicles]] of this type (as they normally have higher city fuel economy ratings).
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| 75 "Neiman Marcus Edition" GS450h sedans were offered as the annual holiday catalog car at a price of $65,000. All were sold in less than three hours on October 19, 2005 and were delivered around April 2006. The GS450h went on sale in Japan on March 16, 2006.
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| ==External links==
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| *[http://www.edmunds.com/apps/vdpcontainers/do/vdp/articleId=109609/pageNumber=1 Edmunds review of 2007 GS 450h [[Hybrid Cars|hybrid]]]
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| [[Category:Lexus vehicles|GS]]
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| [[Category:Luxury vehicles]]
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| [[Category:Prestige vehicles]]
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| [[Category:All wheel drive vehicles]]
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| [[Category:1990s automobiles]]
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| [[Category:2000s automobiles]]
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