2016 Lexus GS F REVIEW| A Decent Drive But Falls Short Of Class Benchmarks
WHEN A BRAND CLAIMS THAT IT HAS 'NO DIRECT COMPETITORS' IT CAN BE A WAY TO SIDE-STEP CROSS EXAMINATION. But with the 2016 Lexus GS F the statement may actually be true.
Could this $150,000 sports sedan be like a much more expensive HSV? Its naturally aspirated V8 and rear-wheel-drive configuration suggests it could be.
Or perhaps this Lexus is an executive-express to rival the Audi S6 that retails for $15,000 more? The quality of the GS interior indicates that could also be the case. Maybe it is a cut-price BMW M5 Pure Edition for $35,000 less?
This 4.6sec 0-100km/h sedan is also loaded with equipment. So it is not only cheaper than German rivals, but it is also better equipped. Let’s find out exactly what the GS F is, then…
Vehicle Style: High Performance large sedan
Price: $148,800 (plus on-roads)
Engine/trans: 351kW/530Nm 5.0 V8 petrol | 8sp automatic
Fuel Economy claimed: 11.3 l/100km | tested: 14.1 l/100km
OVERVIEW
Lexus claims it went its own way with the GS F. Rather than emulating any particular rival, it wanted to duplicate the character of its RC F while adding practicality with four doors, more cabin space and a larger boot.
With the GS F, Lexus says it wanted to create an ‘everyday’ sports sedan that anyone can have fun in.
The question we have is why Lexus didn’t just build another IS F sedan, and it’s one that the company struggles to answer. The GS F retails for around $25,000 more than the IS F did before it ceased production in 2014, so perhaps there's an answer to be found somewhere there.