Lexus GS300 LE
Lexus arent known for the vociferous promotion of their products. In the past, Toyotas prestige wing has deemed it sufficient to manufacturer a vehicle reeking of quality and integrity, furnish it with advanced engineering and technological solutions then sit back and wait for the discerning customers to arrive. Thats why this GS300 Limited edition model came as a bit of a surprise. Not only is it a special edition, a marketing ploy more commonly associated with less regal brands, its a special edition with big alloy wheels, side skirts and a spoiler.
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The answer, of course, is a stern certainly not. The GS 300 LE was launched at the 2006 British International Motor Show and it worked a treat as a more visually-engaging GS model to help generate footfall on the marques stand. Now the LE is on general release and tasked with fulfilling additional roles, firstly of drawing attention to the considerable merits of the GS executive saloon and secondly of shifting its exclusive 250 units in double-quick time. The 18" five spoke alloys, the boot lip spoiler, the chin spoiler and the extended side skirts might not be typical Lexus but they look good and you can rest assured that the GS 300 LE is 100% Lexus underneath. Much of what we love about cars is defined by the noise they make - the otherworldly staccato rasp of a Porsche 911 at maximum attack, the piercing yowl of a Ferrari V8 or the eardrum annihilation of an F1 racer at close quarters. These are sounds that stir the blood and stoke the soul of people who care about cars but theyre the last thing you want invading your headspace after a particularly monstrous day at the office. Thats why Lexus went to such great lengths to make the cabin of their GS executive saloon a paragon of silence and tranquillity.
Heres a car that cant generate the exhilaration associated with the worlds classic automotive din makers but is still defined by the way it infects its drivers lugholes with the soothing sound of nothing very much at all.
"Youll need to be quick and have disposable funds to the tune of £37,350 if you want to be one of the UKs 250 Lexus GS 300 LE owners."
The interior of the GS 300 LE is a supremely relaxing place to be. The driver is cocooned in the LEs soft grey perforated leather upholstery and dark wood trim with custom made floor mats, that are exclusive to this model, underfoot. There really is very little by way of aural stimulation, with the GSs comprehensive soundproofing measures playing the role of overzealous librarian and telling the wind, the tyres and the 245bhp 3.0-litre petrol engine, in no uncertain terms, to sssssshh! Even when you give it the gas, only a distant roar from the V6 finds its way inside and at low speeds, the engine is virtually inaudible.
That doesnt mean that the GS 300 LE is a pussycat without the bite to back-up its performance car styling accoutrements. The smooth, free-revving engine will vault the 60mph barrier in 7.2 seconds and theres a 148mph top speed to be explored should you take a wrong turning and end-up on the Rockingham Motor Speedway oval. Combined cycle fuel economy is a not unreasonable 28.
8mpg and carbon dioxide emissions are measured at 232g/km. The transmission is controlled via a suitably silky six-speed automatic box. Despite the impressive straight-line performance and the aggressive looks of the GS300 LE limited edition model, the GS isnt the engaging drivers car that an equivalent BMW 5-Series or, to a lesser extent, Audi A6 is. It can be hustled along quite nicely but refinement and comfort are given absolute priority to the extent that you eventually wonder what the hurry actually is and ease back into laidback cruising mode.
There are executive saloon customers who wouldnt be without their sharp steering set-up and taught chassis under any circumstances but in the era of crippling congestion, draconian traffic calming measures and a speed camera behind every apparently innocuous piece of roadside furniture, maybe Lexus have got it just about right. All of the GS 300 LEs extra features come in addition to the mainstream SE specification, so buyers will get to see precisely what the term fully-loaded actually means. Its a particular strength of Lexus that they include as standard features which rival manufacturers would position on the options list adjacent to a wallet-buckling price. So buyers of this car get touch screen DVD satellite navigation, keyless entry and start, Bluetooth connectivity, electric seats with memory functions, adaptive headlamps and a 10-speaker audio system with an in-dash autochanger all thrown in.
Theres also climate control, cruise control, automatic wipers and numerous airbags including side bags for the rear occupants. Phew! Youll need to be quick and have disposable funds to the tune of £37,350 if you want to be one of the UKs 250 Lexus GS 300 LE owners. The promotional blurb accompanying the cars launch crows that its set to become one of the most exclusive Lexus models yet sold in the UK. The car is offered solely in Aleutian Grey metallic paint and with its styling accessories added in to the bundle, it makes sound financial sense compared to the £36,348 mainstream SE derivative.
If you value the exemplary refinement of a GS but want a little extra road presence and individuality, the LE version fits the bill.
Facts At A Glance
CAR: Lexus GS300 LE
PRICE: £37,350 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 15
CO2 EMISSIONS: 232g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 7.2s / Max Speed 148mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 19.6mpg / (extra urban) 39.2mpg / (combined) 28.8mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags, side-airbags, ABS, VSC WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE? (length/width/height) 4825/1820/1430mm
