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This site is geared toward the 2008 GS 350 Sedan, but we accept all model Lexus install documentation. I am going to get the Lexus specific site kicked off with a bang. We will start the site off with an article all about the GS series.



The Lexus GS Series: Three Generations, 1993 to the Present - 11/11/08

In 1993, Lexus, Toyota's division for luxury cars, used the platform and running gear of the Toyota Crown to introduce a mid-size, rear-wheel drive, luxury sports sedan (what some have also called an "executive car") in the United States, Europe, and some Asian markets. The vehicle was intended to fill a gap in the company lineup between the ES and LS as a direct competitor with the BMW 5-Series and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

The initial model did not play well with the critics. Production began on February 22, 1993 at the Toyota assembly plant in Tahara, Japan. Built with the latest in technology, the vehicle's 4,200 welds were performed by robots with only eight spot welds completed by hand. The interior, designed by Italdesign Giugiaro of Italy, was a combination of the original LS, the Lexus flagship, and the SC performance coupe. Shapes were rounded and aerodynamic with the center console done in walnut. Leather was used for the seats and an optional premium stereo system was offered by Nakamichi. Other options included a moonroof, a remote CD changer with a capacity of 12 discs, and traction control. The model debuted with a four-speed automatic transmission, but jumped to a five-speed in 1996.

The first generation enjoyed its highest sales in 1993 with 19,164 units sold at a suggested U.S, price of $37,930. By the end of the first generation's production run in 1997, the price had jumped to $46,195. Not a critically acclaimed offering, the GS gained more traction with the buying public in the second generation, which appeared in 1998, outfitted with a V8 for the American market and christened the "Lexus GS 400." The second time around, designers struck the right balance between luxury and performance, while trading on the brand's reputation for reliability. The GS 400 produced 300 hp and could knock off zero to 60 in 5.4 seconds. (The GS 300 equipped with an inline-6 returned 228 hp and did 0-60 in 7.6 seconds.)

In the first year the second-generation sold 30,622 units and was still selling 28,079 in 2000. In the U.S. the GS 300 sold for approximately $38,000 with the GS 400/430 at $47,000. Based on this success, this version remained in the Lexus line-up until 2005. The only major changes were added in 2001, principally clear tail lights and repositioned turn signals in the rear as well as slightly tinted headlights. It was also in 2001 that the GS 400 was renamed the GS 430. More wood was used in the interior with steering wheel shift buttons added on the GS 300. The second generation was Motor Trend's "Import Car of the Year" in 1998 and made Car and Driver's Ten Best List each year from 1998 to 2000.

Now in the third generation, after a retooling in 2006, the line-up includes the GS 300 with a 3-liter V6 3GR-FSE engine (which became the GS 350 with a 3.5-liter engine in 2007) and the GS 430 with the same 4.3-liter V8 from the previous model (until it was replaced with a 4.6-liter engine for 2008 and renamed the GS 460). Both do zero to 60 in 5.7 seconds. Graced with sweeping lines and a fastback profile, the GS has become muscular in appearance and indicative of future styling in the Lexus stable.

With a slingshot cabin and the Lexus' SmartAccess keyless system, the current GS is in keeping with existing high-tech trends in luxury automobiles. The cabin features LED lighting, Bluetooth technology, a touch-screen display in the center console, and a Mark Levinson premium sound system among other available amenities. Improved handling is achieved through the Active Stabilizer Suspension System offered on the GS 460. The GS 350 starts at $44,150 and the GS 460 at $52,630.

In 2007 the GS 450h hybrid joined the GS line with the distinction of being the first mass-production rear-wheel drive luxury hybrid. The powertrain features a 3.5-liter 2GR-FSE V6 mated to an electric motor with a continuously variable transmission. Rated as a Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle, the GS 450h sells for approximately $55,595 (including delivery). The battery is mounted in the rear, compromising trunk space. Safety features include an infrared camera mounted on the steering wheel to monitor the level of the driver's attentiveness, placing the vehicle in a more favorable car insurance tier ranking, which determine rates. Making zero to 60 in 5.2 seconds, the GS 450h has fuel economy rated at 22 mpg city and 25 mpg highway.