Rearview Mirror: Lexus GS (S190) - 2005 to 2012

The first generation GS, also known as the Toyota Aristo in Japan was styled by Italdesign Giugiaro and is in turn inspired by an earlier concept the design house penned for Jaguar called the Kensington. The Aristo was launched in Japan in 1991 but it was only in 1993 that the Lexus GS variant went into production.

The exterior featured a distinctive wedge-like shape with a high rear deck. Under the bonnet, the 3-litre 2JZ-GE inline-6 produced 226bhp and 285Nm of torque delivers smooth power to the rear wheels.

Due to a variety of reasons, the first gen GS wasn’t a very successful model for Lexus. Over here in Singapore, only a limited number were sold as the first gen GS model was introduced when the Lexus name wasn’t exactly well established yet in the luxury segment over here.

The second gen GS model was previewed as way back as January 1997 at the Detroit Motorshow when Lexus showed off a concept dubbed the HPS or High Performance Sedan. The HPS was nothing more than a disguised version of the Lexus GS/Toyota Aristo twin. Eight months later in August, Toyota launched the second gen Aristo with a brace of straight-six engine choices, including the revered 2JZ-GTE twin turbo lump from the Supra. The Aristo-based GS went on to be launched a few months later in early 1998.

Styling wise, the new GS’ most prominent feature are its quadruple headlamps that mimics the first gen SC coupe while the high rear deck is a design feature that it shares with both its predecessor and successor. Inside, the GS is even more luxurious than its predecessor, offering more wood and leather as well as those ultra bright, electroluminescent Lexus Optitron gauges and high end audio system.

Underneath the skin, the platform was an all new one derived from the Toyota Crown. Behind those quad headlamps is an upgraded version of the previous gen model’s 3-litre straight-six churning out a more convincing 228bhp, endowing the GS300 with a sub-8seconds 0-100km/h time. Lexus also offered a V8-powered GS400 variant in other markets. This model went on to become the GS430 after the 2001 mid-life facelift. None of the V8 models though, were ever offered in Singapore. The second gen GS was a much bigger success on the sales front compared to its predecessor. This was to be the springboard for my successes for the GS in its subsequent iteration.

Credits: Story by Raymond Lai Photos by Lexus and Raymond Lai