Jewels in the Lexus crown

I’VE SAID it before and I’ll say it again: one could easily get used to the world of the well-heeled with their palatial pads and luxurious limos.

Especially the luxurious limos – she can wallow in the pad to her heart’s content. For me, the Rolls, the Jags, the Mercs, the Beemers, the Lexus’...

The Lexus’... ah, now there’s a set of jewels that would bring a sparkle to anyone’s eyes. They make life so...totally bearable. Freed from the shackles of a hard day at the office and plunged into lounge-like luxury. Such are the joys of appraising these executive saloons, if only for a mere week. A brief and appreciative taste of the ‘high life’. But then this young, fast-moving prestige brand have been extremely busy lately with upgraded and new models. Not that I am one to disapprove, you understand, for it has peppered my diary with numerous weeks of dream drivin’.

First up was the upgraded GS300 ‘Executive’, which features a novel ‘E-Shift’ transmission system, but more about that later. There is also a new GS430 which gets its power from a muscular 4.3 litre, 32-valve engine with Variable Valve Timing-intelligent (VVT-i), linked, on our test car, to a five-speed automatic gearbox.

These sporty, hi tech and lavishly equipped saloons with their sleek aerodynamic styling feature distinctive twin oval headlamps, a widish, elegant body and a coupe-like rump, share some of the most sophisticated automotive technology on the market today.

Both models also feature Lexus’ redesigned radiator grille and rear combination lamps, with different coloured headlight extensions distinguishing between the GS430 and GS300 models. Whereas the GS300 rides on 16”, six-spoke aluminium alloys, the GS430 features bigger 17” five-spoke alloys. Otherwise there is little to differentiate the two from the outside bar the chrome badging on the rear.

The cabin is wide and spacious with driver and passenger sitting quite far apart. Five adults, with three-point seat belts for each, can relax in total comfort.

A fabulous array of standard features include a very effective air conditioning system with separate temperature settings for the driver and passenger and backlit Optitron instruments, with three individual hooded dials.

Then there’s telescopic steering, two-memory driving seat which moves into the memorised settings when the key is inserted, cruise control, power windows and power-heated door mirrors. I could go on... and I will...leather upholstery on our test car, pollution sensing climate control and a six-disc CD system in the glovebox. Not to mention the large central armrest, classy rich wood veneer inserts and sporty wheels. But I have!
Both GS versions feature chromed bezel surrounding the transmission shift lever, the GS430 additionally getting reprofiled wood and leather steering wheel and sculpted real wood for the ash tray receptacle.
And safety features see the addition of SRS curtain shield airbags to the already impressive list of computer controlled ABS, vehicle stability control, traction control and brake assist.

For the GS300 this is ably delivered by the proven and refined 3.0 litre VVT-i 24-valve straight six which pumps out a beefy 218bhp at 5,800rpm and torque, readily available right across the rev range, to 220lbs at 3,800rpm for a 0 to 60mph in 8.2 seconds and a top speed of 143mph. I returned an average 27.5mpg.

And so to the E-Shift, featured on the GS300. “There are times when we all want to indulge in luxury and, let’s face it there are times when we want to take control,” quotes a wise old Lexus lad promoting the joys of this advanced dual system.

In manual mode and with the floor shift lever engaged in the ‘M’ position, gear changing switches to buttons, one each on the left and right spokes of the steering wheel, marked ‘down’ and two on the underside behind these buttons marked ‘up’. A display below the odometer informs the driver of which gear he or she is in when using the manual mode. When shifting down or up only one button needs to be pushed, whichever is the more convenient.

When you want to revert to the auto mode, just flick the lever into ‘D’.

Then it was into the GS 430 with its mighty refined and powerful 4293cc V8 VVT-i 32-valver. There’s nothing slow about the GS300– and there’s everything fast about the LS430! So, you have to keep firm control on the throttle foot or else you’ll be taking off before your brain gets fully in gear.

It develops a mighty 283bhp at 5600rpm along with a muscular 308lb ft of torque at 3500rpm for a 0 to 62mph in 6.3 seconds and a governed top speed of 155mph. This executive express sure doesn’t hang around, climbing smoothly too its 6500rpm red line. There is so much power and torque around 3000rpm.

And the quick and smooth five-speed automatic gearbox slips smoothly between each ratio. Fuel wise I averaged 22.5mpg.

Biggest letdown for me – the ride, which I found extremely disappointing for a luxury executive of this value. On everything but smooth tarmac road irregularities make themselves heard and felt. At one stage I even thought I had a flat. And I didn’t a bit like the feel and weight of the power steering which seemed to want to do its own thing.

Superior build quality, environmental friendliness and maximum driver and passenger safety all add up to a luxurious and secure driving package. Just a pity about the ride.