Lexus retires GS large sedan

LEXUS has announced its GS large sedan will be discontinued later this year, with the Japanese rival for the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class to be put out to pasture following a 27-year global production run.

 

Lexus Japan announced production will wrap up in August after four generations, with the current model having been on sale since 2012.

 

The company’s Australian arm currently sells seven variants of the GS, ranging from the $75,202 entry-level GS300, all the way up to the fire-breathing GS F which asks $155,582 before on-roads.

 

Lexus Australia spokesperson Dan DeGasperi said the GS would be phased out of production, however stock still remained available for the time being.

 

“Lexus has confirmed production of the GS and GS F will cease later this year,” he said.

 

“The GS and GS F remain available in Australian Lexus dealerships.”

 

Lexus has not yet announced any replacement for the GS, with large luxury sedans typically not high-volume sellers in today’s SUV-obsessed market.

 

In 2017 then-chief executive Peter McGregor told local reporters the GS could be replaced by a more coupe-style sedan, however no such model has been confirmed.

 

The first generation of GS went on sale globally in 1993, with the second-gen version following in 1997.

 

In 2005 the Toyota Crown-based third generation arrived, replaced by the current model in 2012.

 

In announcing the retirement of the GS, Lexus also announced a swansong ‘Eternal Touring’ special edition grade that has not been locked in for Australia.

 

The Eternal Touring adds a number of sporty design touches including the F Sport spindle grille, a rear spoiler, orange brake callipers, red-and-black leather interior trim, F Sport seats and carbon trim on the passenger-side dash.

 

With the removal of the GS F from the line-up, Lexus Australia is left with only two models sporting the ferocious 351kW 5.0-litre aspirated V8 – the RC F and LC500 coupes, however more performance models are on the way for Lexus.

 

In February, the brand released a statement about its racing ambitions in Europe, and included in the news was the announcement it will be testing a new twin-turbo V8 that will be implemented in a production model.

 

No word has been given on what models are set to receive the new force-fed bent eight, however the most likely candidate is the LC coupe, which is being used as the test car for Lexus’ racing program.

 

No current F grade exists for the flagship coupe, however a more potent version of the V8 could see it become a reality.

 

Given the current V8 outputs 351kW/540Nm in the LC500, the twin-turbo mill would likely have to push in excess of 400kW to earn the F badge, which could possibly open the door for other models like the LS upper-large limousine to take on the Mercedes-AMG S63 and BMW M760Li.

 

Through the first quarter of 2020, Lexus has sold just eight examples of the GS, only two units down on the 10 it managed to the same point last year.

 

In 2019 it managed 31 combined sales, representing only 1.1 per cent of the $70,000-plus large car segment.