But I digress. The all-wheel drive system in the GS features Lexus Vehicle Dynamic Management (VDM) system for added control and resultantly, safety. The system monitors sensors throughout the vehicle that anticipate skidding or sliding before making corrections by automatically adding the brakes and throttle when necessary. Lexus' states that its "new VDM system is less obtrusive than conventional VSC but ultimately more effective."
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| By the time the new-generation GS hits the road it's entirely possible the current 300-hp 4.3-L will be updated with even more power and efficiency. (Photo: Lexus) |
The car will need all the electronic driving aids it can get being that the same powerful 4.3-L V8 resides under the hood of the GS 430. It produces 300-hp at 5,600 rpm and 325 lb-ft of torque starting at 3,400 rpm, mated to an ultra-smooth 6-speed automatic transmission with manual mode for extremely quick acceleration. And that's the 2004 model, by the time the new-generation car hits the road it's entirely possible the 4.3-L will be updated with even more power and efficiency. Who knows, it's Lexus we're talking about so why not a gas-electric hybrid?
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| The suspension will continue to be fully independent, but the next-generation GS will feature a new driver modifiable adaptive variable system. (Photo: Lexus) |
Those concerned about economy will appreciate the new 245-hp V6, 25-hp more potent than the outgoing base engine. Torque will increase by 8 lb-ft to 228, which should be a noticeable improvement under full throttle. It will get the 6-speed auto as well.
Of course the suspension will continue to be fully independent, but the next-generation GS will feature a new adaptive variable system that lets the driver modify damping through no less than four settings, starting at a normal-mode, ideal for day-to-day commuting, and finishing off with a sport-mode optimized for aggressive cornering.