looks great inside.

 

Actually if we look in detail at the design of the FirstGen & Second GenGS the Third Gen is a mixture of both with obviously some new style and design features!
why I say this? well....... because the First Gen backlights are sort of similar in design to the new ThirdGen GS except the FirstGEn GS back wasnt as beefed up as the new third Gen GS back!
The Front of the 2nd GS is similar to the Front Headlights on the ThirdGen GS! except the grill is differently styled on the third GenGS which gives a much more aggresive look to the new ThirdGEn GS! So in essence guys the Third GEn is a combination of the First Gen and Second Gen GS!

 

I have not seen the new GS on the road yet. Until then I will wait to comment on it. SO far, I just wonder how heavy that massive Lexus front grille emblem is...its HUGE!

 

GS Chronology - 2005
MILESTONES

* January 1993 - A new addition to the Lexus family, the Lexus GS 300 luxury performance sedan, makes its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show and the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit.

* March 1993 - The GS 300 goes on sale.

* January 1997 - Lexus introduces the HPS (High Performance Sedan) concept vehicle at the 1997 North American International Auto Show. The HPS is a dramatic hint of the all-new GS 400/300 performance sedan to be launched as part of the Lexus model line-up for 1998.

* September 1997 - Lexus introduces its next-generation GS 400/300. New engines featuring Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i) produce 300 horsepower in the V8 GS 400 and 225 horsepower in the six-cylinder GS 300. A new 5-speed automatic transmission is also installed. "Something Wicked This Way Comes" advertising campaign is acclaimed for its dramatic impact.

* October 1997 - The second-generation GS 400/300 goes on sale.

* December 1997 - Lexus debuted its one-of-a-kind Street Rod at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Based on a '32 roadster, the Lexus Street Rod was created to showcase a specially modified Lexus GS 400 V8, producing more than 400 horsepower.

* March 1999 - Lexus enters the world of motorsports with the GS 400 luxury sport sedan in the GrandAmerican Motorola Cup Sports class. The Team Lexus GS 400 won at Road Atlanta in its sixth race and went on to claim two track records and four podium finishes in Lexus' inaugural racing year.

* April 1999 - Team Lexus launched and debuted two privateer Lexus GS 400 racecars in the Motorola Cup series. In its successful inaugural season, the GS 400 secured four podium finishes in nine races.

* August 2000 - Lexus L-Tuned Sport Packages, aftermarket sport packages that add more performance and style to the GS series, go on sale through Lexus dealers.

* September 2000 - The GS receives a new 4.3-liter V8 engine and is re-named the GS 430.

* March 2003 - Lexus introduces a limited edition GS 300 SportDesign model. The 2003 SportDesign edition features new saddle-color leather seats, gunmetal-colored aluminum wheels and an exclusive Graphite Gray Pearl exterior.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

* May 1994 - The GS 300 takes the second spot (between LS 400 and ES 300) in J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study (IQS).

* June 1996 - Toyota Motor Corporation's Tahara Plant, home of the GS 300 (and LS 400) captures the J.D. Power and Associates Gold Plant Award among Asian manufacturing facilities.

* February 1997 - The research firm IntelliChoice names the GS 300 a "Best Overall Value" in the Luxury Car category.

* October 1997 - The all-new GS 400 named a "Best Buy" in the Luxury Car category by Consumers Digest.

* October 1997 - The GS 400 is given "Best of What's New" status by Popular Science.

* November 1997 - The GS 400 wins the American Automobile Association (AAA) "Top Car" award for best all-around car in the $40,000 to $50,000 category.

* December 1997 - The GS 400/300 high performance sedan series is named Motor Trend's "Import Car of the Year."

* January 1998 - The GS 400/300 are honored as one of Car & Driver's "10 Best."

* December 1998 - Consumer Digest names the GS 400/300 a "Best Buy."

* December 1998 - The GS 400 wins the American Automobile Association (AAA) "Top Car" award for the best all-around car in the $40,000 to $50,000 category.

* January 1999 - The GS 400/300 is honored as one of Car and Driver magazine's "10 Best."

* January 2000 - Car and Driver magazine again honors the GS 400/300 as one of its "10 Best."

* October 2001 - The GS sedans are named "Most Appealing Mid-Luxury Sedans" in J.D. Power and Associates' APEAL Study.

* April 2001 - Consumer Guide rates the GS 300 a "Best Buy."

* March 2002 - Consumer Reports rates the GS 300 and GS 430 a Luxury Car "Best Buy."

* May 2002 - The GS 430/300 ranks first in the Mid-Luxury Car segment of the J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study.

* November 2002 - The GS 430/300 ranks first in the Entry Luxury Car segment of the 2003 J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Index (VDI).

* May 2003 - The GS 430/300 ranks first in the Mid-size Luxury segment in the J.D. Power and Associates' Initial Quality Study. J.D. Power and Associates also awarded the GS 300/430 manufacturing facility, the Tahara Plant in Japan, the worldwide Platinum Plant Award.

* June 2004 - The GS 430/300 ranks first in the Mid-Luxury Car segment of the J.D. Power and Associates 2004 Initial Quality Study.

http://pressroom.toyota.com/photo_li...l?id=2005_gs_h

 

Mike, you forgot to mention the 1998 PPG GS400 Pace Car!

 

I figured I was posting so much info tonight it would get lost, so I would add later. We can now if you think it would be good.

 

09/06/1997 Monterey, CA

A new breed of Lexus, the GS 400 high-performance sedan, makes its first public appearance this weekend pacing the Toyota Grand Prix of Monterey CART race.

The latest addition to the PPG CART World Series Pace Car fleet, the GS 400 showcases an innovative paint and graphics package created jointly by Lexus and PPG Industries. Finished with PPG's high-tech Chromaflare paint process, the GS pace car graphics create an optical “positive-negative” effect as the car is seen in motion.

Thanks to a new Lexus powerplant with the first use of continuously variable valve timing in a V8, the GS pace car will boast more than 300 horsepower. Its race-car-inspired E-Shift 5-speed semi-automatic transmission promotes lightning-fast shifts for high-performance driving – increasing control through demanding roads like Laguna Seca's world famous 'Cork Screw'.

The GS 400 pace car rides on Goodyear Eagle GSC tires in 255/40 ZR 19 size, mounted on BBS alloy wheels. It is also fitted with Brembo brakes, Borla custom exhaust and H&R racing suspension.

The production GS 400 will be available for sale in October, and is expected to be the fastest production automatic sedan in the world. It is capable of sprinting from 0-60 in 5.7 seconds and has a top speed of 149 mph.

Like its production siblings, the GS 400 PPG pace car is the wicked member of the family, a completely different kind of Lexus.

Lexus GS 400 Pace Car

Performance Features:
4.0-liter four-cam 32-valve V8
Aluminum block and heads
Continuously variable valve timing
300+ hp, 310+ ft.-lbs. Torque
E-Shift semi-automatic 5-speed transmission

Design:
TMC Design Studio, Japan

Fabricator:
Toyota Motorsports

Paint:
PPG Industries

Color:
Spectra Blue Chromaflare

Graphics Design:
Molly Designs

Tires
Goodyear Eagle GSC 255/40 ZR19

Wheels
BBS 'LM Rad' 8-1/2 x 19 alloy

Brakes
Brembo 4-piston

Suspension
H&R coil-over shocks, racing springs.

Exhaust
Borla custom-built free-flow

Safety:
Roll cage
Dual halon fire system
Fuel cell
4-point safety belts
Lexus Vehicle Skid Control system




Credit: Lexus USA - Archives

 

I miss that car. It didn't last too long, was quickly replaced by the IS300 & SC430 pace cars for events. This car sat in the Toyota Museum down here in SoCal for a long time. It's no longer in the museum, the last I heard it was put in Toyota's storage of vintage cars and later auctioned off. When it was at the museum, I got to sit in it, smell the race fuel, strap into the harnesses and play with the super bright law enforcement grade Whelen strobe lights. Like the IS300 pace car, the moonroof was removed and sealed up. The only hint of a moonroof existence was the maplight/moonroof control assembly overhead along w/the rollcage.

 

any pics of this?

btw- great thread.

 

nevermind, I found it http://www.rodmillen.com/Lexus.htm

 

Just noticed this, all three generations of the GS have a flat, retangular rear glass. It's very distinct to the GS, whereas others have it curved. IMO, this goes back to 1SICKLEX's other thread about the Big Three with the signature and heritage marks.

 

first time hear but I still in love with the 2nd GS i want one so bad

 

Learned something new...I didn't know our GS started with an Italian design. I think that pretty cool. I'd l ike to know more about how it all started. It's good to know lineage..like knowing your own family tree. Tell us more about our car's grandparent.

 

I moved this throughout the GS forums and now here

 

That is really interesting. I never knew that the GS was a descendant from that car.