Lexus GS in Guangzhou

While there has been plenty of talk about Tokyo, Lexus has unveiled the new GS 250 at China’s Guangzhou Motor Show, a sure sign that the growing wealth in China is making this a very attractive market for luxury cars indeed.

The new GS 250 is a 2.5-litre V6, 206bhp version of the premium saloon with a fast-shifting six-speed automatic gearbox, sequential manual function and the de rigeur selectable drive modes. It shares safety features with the new Lexus GS 450h hybrid car and these two saloons will be launched side by side in the UK in June 2012. The range will also include a performance-themed F Sport version.

Performance is already pretty handy on the new GS 250 with the 0-62mph sprint managed in 8.6 seconds and a top speed of 142mph. Combined fuel consumption is 31.7mpg and CO2 emissions are 207g/km.

Safety features include plenty of pre-crash warning technology (soon there will be absolutely no excuse for rear-ending anything on the road), lane assist, blind spot monitoring and Lexus Night View.

The modes are Eco, Normal and Sport S, while the variants with the Adaptive Variable Suspension get the Sport S+ mode for my dynamic performance to make it feel more like a driver’s car rather than a comfy cruiser, although it should be a good buy for those who want comfort and elegance rather than something to thrash about in.

Whether you are cruising or thrashing, this can all be done in time to a 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system. More details about the new GS cars for the UK, including the all-important pricing, will be announced closer to the launch date.

www.lexus.co.uk








By Georgia Lewis

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