2006 Lexus GS Road Test

The 3.0-litre V6 is all-new, and the first non-inline six-cylinder to ever receive duty in a GS. It is more energetic than

Lexus endows its GS 300 with a sophisticated six-speed automatic transmission featuring a manual mode. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

the outgoing engine by 25-horsepower, and more powerful than what BMW has to offer in its current 530i. This will change in the fall, however, when BMW brings its 530i to market with a new engine that will make 255-horsepower.

Like the BMW, Lexus endows its GS 300 with a sophisticated six-speed automatic transmission featuring a manual mode, wonderfully smooth yet quick to downshift when called upon.

While the six-speed is instrumental in improving the GS 300's acceleration times, if charging to 100 km/h is an all important part of your daily commute then the GS 430 is the model to choose, also featuring a six-speed gearbox. Its powerful V8 produces an adrenaline inducing snarl as well, which in Lexus fashion only fills the cabin under full throttle - the GS is eerily silent under normal conditions.

Similar praise must give to its suspension. Adding to the quiet cabin is an impeccably smooth ride, but when asked to perform,

When asked to perform, the GS's agile chassis hunkers down and delivers tenacious grip no matter the road surface. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

its agile chassis hunkers down and delivers tenacious grip no matter the road surface. Lexus wanted to make sure we went home fully aware of the car's capability, and to do so set up a lengthy acceleration test, in which we charged from zero to 100 km/h, braked before leveling off at 80, and then powered up to 120 before once again slowing, but this time dramatically in order to make a sharp left hand curve. During repeated runs, both V6 and V8-powered cars accelerated well, but of course the additional power offered by the GS 430 made sprinting to highway speeds all the more enjoyable.