Test drive Lexus GS 2005 - 2008 sedan

Sophistication named Lexus

With the advent of the GS of the new generation, German competitors of business class are waiting for difficult times.
 



Work on mistakes
And yet, a wonderful thing of Moscow traffic jams! Three seconds ago, you serenely rushed in the left row, with the flashes of Xenon, driving away the low -proceedings, and now as far as the eyes of the five rows of the ring road turned into a giant automobile herd stamping on the spot. But for once, I am even happy to this circumstance somewhere. Such an exceptional love for the surrounding world, you experience such an almost Tibetan appeal while Lexus-GS.
 

This is the same in the bathhouse, but in traffic we feel differently depending on the brand and model of the car. Sweeping newspapers, desperately baking, every minute stalling-boiling drivers and their cars are all on the other side of the luxurious salon and are perceived as on the silent cinema screen. Inside, behind thick doors and sound- (and even water-!) Purmonding glasses of Lexus, life is comfortable and good.
 

The most curious in the usually harsh faces of my compatriots I do not see envy or anger. On the contrary, more and more friendly gestures. Here, the 12th tanned tightly toned, and from there a hand appeared with a thumb raised up. What, really liked it? I admit, so very much.

After all, what was the bad GS of the previous generation? Yes, in fact, nothing. ZhEES, with its comfortable salon, understandable to the child with ergonomics and powerful engines, was well -deserved in the United States. And in Europe the car did not take root. Perhaps a rustic style for an expensive car did not inspire the Germans, French and British accustomed to the refined design. In addition, that GS was a luxury copy of the purely Japanese Toyota Aristo. Europeans ate Ford Mondo under a much less eloquent appearance of the jaguar-x-type, and they could not help but notice such a forgery.
 

Now everything is in the past. From now on, Toyota will not have a model similar to Lexus. As in the best houses of Bavaria, London and Detroit, the corporate style of Lexus has even its own name. The answer of Cadillac science and art and Banglism of BMW is called L-Fainis or L-dummy. GS as the first -born of the new designer wave is especially curious. You just need to learn how to watch.
 

The Japanese never hesitated to adopt stylistic solutions from competitors. So in the appearance of the new Lexus, if desired, you can find the features of the current BMW. But pay attention to the radiator grille lowered below the headlight level. But from the point of view of the stylists, Audi, BMW and Mercedes Benz is nonsense. Nevertheless, it is such an informal solution that will now become a decoration of all Lexus. An aggressive swift profile with narrow loopholes of windows and a massive stern, in my opinion, a successful attempt to cross solidity and sports. I want to touch these contours and lines ... I think Academician Tupolev, who claimed that only beautiful planes can fly, would have patted Lexus approvingly on the wing.
 



Want to know everything
Comparison with the aircraft is not accidental. In the salon of the new GS, aviation features are obvious. Not so much in design as in ergonomics. Just imagine a pilot who, with the help of, say, a backwater ay-drive, you need to change the settings in a matter of moments. The consequences may be the most sad, too high demands are against the driver of the Bavarian joystick. I am sure everything will cost GS. After all, Lexus engineers almost ten years ago came up with a panacea from the myriads of buttons on the central console screen of control with the function of the touch-screenshide.
 

It’s easier to switch programs here than on TV. You press right on a 7-inch display, where virtual, but perfectly working keys are displayed. How is Microsoft's ancient advertising: where do you want to go today? And I have plenty of options driving the GS430.

Bi-ip! A sound signal sounded distinctly, and I find myself in the submenu of the musical system. Another BIP has already added bass juicies to the 350-Watt Mark Levinson with 14 speakers. Instantly, without taking my eyes off the bumper looming in front, I find out almost everything that my heart wants. How much, say, there is a gasoline in our tank before refueling. And I can just step asleep, from there is nothing to do changing the color background of the monitor.
 

In this very touch-screens, the whole brilliant simplicity of the inner world GS was reflected. After such a masterpiece, it is even inconvenient to be interested in banalities, such as the clarity of the work of steering wheel switches, the quality of finishing materials, the number of electric drives. It’s about the same way to doubt whether Professor Baumanka knows the multiplication table.

 
   
The information display of the touch-screech is simple and unusually convenient to use

The shed sedan is intended for only two, but very important people

On the hidden retractable panel on the left side of the dashboard are the buttons of the settings of mirrors, the lids of the gas tank, the trunk and other little things
 
 
Spectacular metal glow of dials of devices is not an obstacle readability

Even a lightning lighting ceiling in Lexus is a small work of art




To the aid, friend!
But what is it? The columns of sound adjustment on the display were replaced by the contour of the car and a desperate squeak. Yeah, someone is not moderately active too close to the bumper of Lexus. Here are the Parctronics, raised by the Japanese to an exciting height, and tries. In GS, it is even called a solid parking assistant. And indeed, it helps to park! The distance to obstacles is broadcast on a color display and is accompanied by sound signals. It would seem familiar to the business class sedans. The highlight is that on the monitor, if necessary, the commands of the right or the left steering wheel are displayed.
 

The Moscow cork disappeared as unexpectedly as it formed. And although the Lexus salon has been studied along and down, there are plenty of secrets in this car. What, for example, brings it into action? The internal combustion engine, in which a mixed gasoline mixed with air explodes several hundred times? Eight pistons with connecting rods, a massive crankshaft, chains, belts, 32 valves and four camshafts ... If I had not known this for sure, I would never believe it. It feels like a quiet, or rather, close to the threshold of absolute noiselessness V8 resembles an electric motor. In terms of energy supply, he would like to compare it with some hyperproductal vortex converters in Robert Shekeli's science fiction helped ships to plow the spaces of star oceans.
 

In fact, there is something fantastic when you press the gas and almost simultaneously with this emptys the rearview mirror, and in front of you is only a rapidly flat highway. The GS430 is surprising not just a wonderful dynamics. The main thing here is the packaging in which this dynamics is submitted. I do not hear either a moor of a motor, no shocks when switching gears, no aerodynamic noise. Everything happens in such silence, as if Berushi had put in the ears. And a cursory glance at the speedometer literally makes you rub your eyes for the really 200?!
 



Speed \u200b\u200bis not sport yet
Nevertheless, an impressive dynamics, not inferior to the 8-cylinder five BMW, does not turn Lexus into a sports sedan. This is not good and not bad, it is a credo of the Japanese company. All Lexus, without exception, are famous for the family trait, the car, as it were, removes the driver from the management process. Like, you indicate the direction, and I will do everything else for you. The new GS builds this concept to a degree.
 

It is difficult to believe that it sets him in motion. It is not easier to understand how it is managed. The steering wheel does not indulge in informativeness, but for some reason, transverse rolls are absent, and wide tires on 18-inch discs, it seems, cannot be forced to squeak at the clutch limit. It seems that quick turns the car passes as if he was not going on asphalt-on, or even planning it. Obediently obeying the movement of the steering wheel, the five -meter sedan is completely calm, without rolls and the screech of rubber enters the turn and ... safely comes out of it. And the seeming ease of what is happening even somehow begins to contradict the laws of common sense.
 

All this is the merit of the system of integrated dynamics management (VDIM). A whole complex of electronic assistants monitors the brakes, transmission and steering control. Yes, yes, electronics, if necessary, can independently adjust the angle of rotation of the front wheels. The cardinal difference from competitors' systems is that VDIM starts to work not when the permissible speed limit in the turn has already been passed, but before that. In other words, Lexus does not correct the driver’s mistakes warns them.
 



Because good
After 20 minutes, I don’t want to drive such an active ride. Lexus is a miracle as obedient, but does not light. So the one who does not represent a business class car without an evil roar of a motor, endowed with a pleasant elastic steering wheel and a harsh suspension, is unlikely to charm. The Japanese are not offended by their car a special client. In addition to, of course, that obvious fact that this is a very wealthy person, he still carefully monitors technical news, has his own idea of \u200b\u200btaste, and most importantly, he emphasized intellectual and attentive to others. In the sense that he never splashes his aggression behind the wheel of a car.
 

On the contrary, Lexus literally charges the driver with politeness and tact. , Surrounded by such luxury and power, oddly enough, I don’t want to press more hard to slip the intersection to yellow, although there are all the prerequisites for this. On the contrary, he is drawn to skip pedestrians or give way to the car driving away from the sidewalk. Be kind, please, do not be gratitude ...
    
Maximum or optimum?

In terms of the dynamic properties of the GS300 with a 3-liter V-shaped six, it is inferior to an older brother with an 8-cylinder engine with a volume of 4.3 liters, just a little only 1 C when accelerating to hundreds and 10 km/h of the maximum wipes. But the three-hundredth, thanks to the smaller wheel diameter of 17 inches, instead of 18, is distinguished by a noticeably more smooth move, and besides, $ 20 thousand is cheaper. Moreover, unlike all German competitors, more expensive, by the way, even the initial set of execution is truly exhaustive. It consists of 44 positions and includes, among other things, 10 airbags, separate climate control, electroregulation of front seats with settings, ventilation and heating, rain sensors, illumination, parking and tire pressure.
  
PER

The appearance that does not cause controversy, the enviable smoothness of the automatic transmission, the luxurious interior, the tach-screenshine screen, excellent dynamics, passive safety at the highest level, exhaustive equipment, competitive price
AGAINST

Imperfect fluid on 18-inch discs, underestimated the opening of the rear door
 
Lexus GS 430 (GS300)

common data
 
Body (number of places/doors)
Sedan (4/4)
 
Equipped mass, kg
1695 (1620)
 
Length x width x height, mm
4825x1820x1430
 
Base, mm
2850
 
Front/back, mm track
1535/1540
 
Speed, km/h
250 (240)
 
Acceleration time 0100 km/h, with
6.1 (7.2)
 
Fuel consumption, l/100 km highway/city
8.6/16.3 (7.2/14.4)
 

Engine
 
Location
The front is longing
 
Design
gasoline, V-shaped, 8-cylinder (6-cyl.)
 
Working volume, SMZ
4293 (2995)
 
Power, L.S. at rpm
283/5600 (249/6200)
 
Torque, kgsm at rpm
42.5/3500 (31.6/3500)
 

Chassis
 
Drive unit
On the rear wheels
 
Transmission
Automatic 6-speed
 
Suspension
independent, spring, with stabilizers
 
Steering
rack type with amplifier
 
Brakes
Disk ventilated
 
Tires
245/40 R18 (225/50 R17)
 
 
Mikhail Medvedev, photo of Maxim Goncharov
 
 

Source: Magazine buy a car [09/2005]