Montreal auto show – New Lexus GS makes Canadian debut

Montreal, Quebec – The new Lexus GS luxury sport sedan will have its Canadian debut today at the 2005 Montreal Auto Show.

Click image to enlarge

The all-new, more powerful GS utilizes the latest in advanced technology to improve both performance and handling and is the first in a new wave of Lexus products to reflect a new, more passionate direction in styling.

“From a technology standpoint, the GS employs a sophisticated array of advanced safety, comfort and convenience features that will cause even the most enthusiastic driver to take notice,” said Stuart Payne, Director responsible for Lexus in Canada.

Significantly, the new GS 300 will feature available all-wheel-drive, the first such application in any Lexus car, while the GS 430 will offer the performance enhancements and advanced vehicle control of the Lexus Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) system. Monitoring a variety of sensors, the system is capable of anticipating vehicle stability problems and correcting them with a combination of braking and throttle control. The new VDIM system is less intrusive than conventional VSC but ultimately more effective.

An all-new 245-horsepower V6 engine replaces the current inline six on GS 300. Both the powerful V6 and V8 engines benefit from an all-new close-ratio 6-speed automatic transmission with a sequential manual-shifting mode. The combination provides faster and substantially smoother acceleration for even better performance and, surprisingly, improved fuel economy. A new Adaptive Variable Suspension allows the driver to fine-tune suspension damping with four settings ranging from normal-mode for everyday driving to a sport-mode for a tighter, more precise feel.

The GS 300 will start at $64,300 for the rear-wheel drive version, while the GS 300 All-Wheel Drive will start at $66,700. The GS 430 equipped with VDIM will be priced at $74,700.