2006 Lexus GS Road Test

To drive this point home, excuse the pun, at the end of the slalom course was an immediate left hand turn over a wet

The Lexus VDIM system is impressive and will inevitably save lives. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

surface. We were instructed to reduce our speed to 50 km/h when entering a cone "gate", and then lock the steering wheel to the left without touching the brake pedal. VDS-equipped GS 300s performed the feat pretty well, understeering as the front wheels lost their grip and plowed outward, before the car rolled to a stop, or almost a stop. The VDIM-equipped GS 430s I tested made much sharper turns, braking automatically and coming to a complete stop without any driver intervention. It was almost freakish, the system totally taking over control of the vehicle and executing a picture perfect accident avoidance maneuver as if a professional driver was at the wheel. While some driving purists might scoff at such an intrusive driving aid, most of which wouldn't have the know-how to complete the VDIM-managed maneuver with anywhere near as much grace as the GS 430, it is the type of technology that will inevitably save the lives of the rest of us average or, self-proclaimed better than average drivers.

With regards driving safety, all-wheel drive was once the end-all to be-all. On this note I can't tell you how many SUVs I've seen plowing snow in the median, their driver's sitting inside or next to their beached 4x4s dumbfounded that their all-wheel drivetrains didn't save them from stupidity. In reality, while extremely helpful for accelerating through slippery

Lexus offers all-wheel drive as well as rear-drive in the new GS. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

situations AWD doesn't do much of anything when the need to slow down arrives - and not as many accidents occur when accelerating.

Just the same, Lexus offers all-wheel drive as well as rear-drive in the new GS. Conditions, fortunately or unfortunately depending on your take, were too good to get a feel for its ultimate capability. The wet part of the slalom didn't offer much opportunity for acceleration, which again is when all-wheel drive mostly benefits road holding, and therefore it didn't feel much different through the cones than the rear-drive equivalent. Like BMW's upcoming all-wheel drive 5-Series, the AWD option is only available in V6-powered models, leaving those wanting V8 power at all four corners with the need to look across the street to an Audi, Cadillac or Mercedes-Benz dealer, or possibly a Chrysler dealer as the 300C now comes with AWD.