2003 Lexus LF-S Concept

Sneaking a Peak at the Next GS

Theres often so much in a name. Take the Lexus LF-S that debuted at the Tokyo motor show in the fall for instance. What does LF-S stand for? Lexus Future Sedan: if thats not a hint Im not an automotive reporter.

OK, most likely a few things will give way when Lexus debuts its next-generation GS next month, but if the Japanese luxury brand manages to move the design forward from concept to reality relatively unchanged, the GS will also go to the top of the charts.

Lexus unveiled its LF-S at the Tokyo auto show this fall, along with a sport tourer dubbed LF-X that looks identical to the HPX concept which debuted much earlier in the year.

Compared to the extreme modernism of new BMWs, the staid convention of Jaguar or the classic albeit somewhat generic styling of Mercedes-Benz, Lexus looks to be moving toward an elegant yet futuristic approach to its future GS, more on the lines of Audis design philosophy but nevertheless quite original.

This refreshing approach could spell havoc for competitive luxury brands. After all, with stellar performance now a factor in the majority of the brands current crop of products, superb fit, finish and quality of materials, and best in the business reliability looking to continue forward, the lack of a distinctive brand identity to set all of its models apart from rival carmakers is the only attribute keeping its mainstream cars from cleaning up.

It would help if that distinctive character look is also undeniably attractive to the largest portion of the sport sedan demographic as well, which should be the case for the LF-S. The new concept is much more aggressive than anything saleable Lexus has introduced up to this date, with narrow headlight slits that make it look like its up to no good at all. The fenders ease rearward following graceful shoulder lines that extend the entire length of the car, matched by parallel lines that start at the innermost point of the headlamps and rise upward along the much taller hood lines, finalizing at a pair of slender integrated side mirrors and resultantly abbreviated A-pillars. Due to the raised hood the windshield appears extremely short, but nevertheless fits the overall design well.

From the side the LF-S appears coupe-like, which has as much to do with its rearward sloping roofline, raked back window and seemingly nonexistent C-pillars as its complete lack of door handles, the latter the brands SmartAccess (remote sensing keyless entry and startup) technology as used on the LS 430 (and Toyota Prius) taken to the extreme.

The new concept looks even more coupe-like from behind. Sculpted taillights meld into the complex corner curves as if holding the entire superstructure together. Theyre smaller than the current oversize tail lamp trend, giving the cars rear end a simple elegance not seen often since classic European cars of the 1960s. The smaller lights make for a larger are for sheetmetal and composite body panels though, which could have been overly heavy to the eye if not for a raised valance with integrated underbody air ducting and what looks like a rear diffuser. The tail end treatment is capped off with what might be the largest Lexus insignias yet. From front to back the LF-S design stirs inner emotions with similar effectiveness as the original SC 400 did when introduced in 1991 as a 1992 model, a car that still looks sensational today.

So how does it measure up to the current GS? At 193.3 inches in length the LF-S is 4.1 inches longer than the car it would replace if current speculation is to be believed. Also, theres no saying that the concepts 74.6 inch width and 53.0 inch height will remain the same if produced, figures that now compare at 3.7 inches wider and 3.7 inches lower to the ground than the GS, lending the prototype a road-hugging appearance. My guess is the car will rise up in height by a few inches when it comes time to build a road-going version.

The LF-S features a 32-valve DOHC V8, but unlike the eight-cylinder current GS models house under the hood this version is enhanced with an all-wheel drive high-output hybrid system. Something similar is expected for 2006 (although still tentative), being that Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC), Lexus parent company, is planning to offer its best-in-class hybrid gasoline-electric system throughout its multi-brand lineup in coming years, with the RX SUV the first among Lexus models to receive the green treatment, its only natural that the future GS will be included in the program. But dont think for a minute this will be a "save the environment at all costs" option. Lexus has made it clear its hybrid models will not only reduce harmful emissions and improve fuel economy, but offer enthusiastic power.

The production GS to come along sooner is rumored to feature a 3.3-L V6 in base form, replacing the current 220-hp inline-six. The new configuration, if identical to the current ES 330 engine, would produce 235-hp. This might spell the demise of the super-smooth L6 - a sad yet nevertheless understandable move being that it is only featured in the GS and IS models.

In 2006 the current 320-hp 4.3-L V8 is expected to be replaced by a 5.0-L iteration developing somewhere near 360-hp, which would make the already quick midsize sport/luxury sedan dominate the segment in straight-ahead power; that is if everyone else stands still which they wont.

But theres more to the LF-S, or the GS production car that will debut in about a years time, than a refreshingly elegant styling direction and improved performance. The car will signify the launch of a new global brand. Lexus was initially designed to target the North American market only. Now the LS, SC, ES, RX and LX models lead the charge into the European market while Central and South American, African, Middle Eastern, South Asian, Southeast Asian and Oceanic, plus some East Asian markets, such as Hong Kong and Korea, also have a full line of Lexus automobiles to choose from. Ironically only domestic Japanese customers have been kept out of the loop, a status that will be rectified by August of 2005, or thereabouts. TMC started a dealership selection process on June 6 of this year, looking for representation from its current 308 domestic retail outlets for the upscale brand. By now TMC should have received approximately 180 applications.

When all is said and done the Japanese automaker will have had time to dramatically redesign or completely eliminate its domestic Toyota nameplate products that wear Lexus badges in foreign markets. However the company decides to do it, Lexus will finally end up in the driveways of Japanese customers and the now revered luxury marque will be available in every major western market.

Upon this days arrival I can only hope that Lexus will have been able to stay true to a great percentage of the LF-S design when going to GS production. Its a stunning automobile, a design that could change peoples perceptions about the brand, bringing a certain animal magnetism to an automaker that is best respected for offering intelligent purchasing decisions rather than objects of desire. What irony? Something truly good for body and soul that also whets the appetite! Lexus might just be onto something.