2020 Lexus GS F: It's Never Easy to Say Goodbye
It’s the end of the road for the Lexus GS F, and that is a very sad thing.
There will be no more Lexus GS after 2020. After nearly three decades, Lexus is phasing out the GS and consolidating its sedan line-up as consumers continue to gravitate towards SUV models, instead. Included on the chopping block is the stunning, high-performance GS F.
With a screaming V8 engine under the hood, a sport-tuned suspension, more aggressive bodywork and the ability to shuttle four grown adults in comfort down the interstate at warp speed, the GS F is what all super sport sedans should strive for.
Except, the super sport sedans with which the GS F competes have, instead, strove for something else: ridiculous amounts of turbocharged horsepower. While much of its competition also feature V8 engines, all of them are turbocharged, which pumps the power figures up considerably.
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The GS F doles out 467 horsepower and 389 lb-ft of torque, which, by any other measure, is a lot, especially if any of those measures measure what it does to your face at full throttle. It may not whack the driver in the back of the head as hard as the BMW M550i, but it trades Teutonic torque figures for something a bit less tangible, but more important: fun.
While the GS F can do the 0-60 sprint in under 4.5 seconds, the objective stats are made irrelevant by the subjective enjoyment of this driver’s car. That 5.0-liter V8 engine is absolutely exuberant, feeling alive as it zings to the 7,300 RPM redline, with the intake baffles opening up half way through the rev range, unleashing an operatic, baleful bellow. It’s razor sharp, and sounds unlike anything else in the segment.
Perfectly paired to the potent powertrain is the GS F’s sport-tuned suspension, which offers perfect feedback from the fat Michelin Pilot Super Sport rubber. The rear-driver super sport sedan belies its size, as if Lexus has magically hidden a thousand pounds of the GS F’s 4,000 pounds worth of heft, and tears through a winding back road with a level of tenacity usually reserved for small, lightweight sports cars. Seriously, what magic elixir has Lexus put into these shock absorbers?
Part of the GS F’s handling brilliance also comes from a clever torque-vectoring rear differential which utilizes two electronically-controlled clutch packs in the diff to optimize torque distribution and wheel slip at each wheel. It sounds like technical jargon, but it works and feels intuitive, the GS F is forgiving at the limits of grip, seemingly pulling additional adhesion out of the pavement as if by magic.
Slightly less magical is the interior. While the materials are still stunning, class-leading stuff, with a rich blend of colors and materials, like alcantara, leather and carbon fiber, the tech leaves a bit to be desired. Lexus’ Enform infotainment system interface looks quite nice, with a huge 12.3-inch display, but is haphazardly controlled with a trackpad in the center stack that, especially while driving, results in clumsy operation. Also, the lack of Apple CarPlay or Android Auto is disappointing for a vehicle that costs $89,710.
Speaking of price, it's worth noting that GS F doesn’t have many standalone options. The base price is $86,035, which includes the $1,025 destination charge. From there, this GS F has the optional 19-inch split-polished forged BBS wheels ($600), which are worth every penny. A $900 head-up display makes controlling the Lexus Safety System + suite of driving aides very simple. The only big ticket item left worth mentioning is the $1,380 Mark Levinson premium audio system, which includes 835 watts of ear-frying power delivered by 17 speakers, and is excellent.
While the GS F commands a big price tag, it delivers an even larger personality and driving experience. It looks, and feels special, in a segment of vehicles where it’s all too easy to blend in. It’s not perfect, but its flaws are charming, and easier to overlook with a prod of the accelerator, letting the big V8 bellow and wail, all the while. Buy one while you still can.
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