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I may have some insight into why the GS hybrid sells poorly, as in the hybrid based on the 4th Generation GS, the L10 platform. It's because Lexus essentially detuned the ICE-hybrid combination in the latest iteration.
I have owned the previous 2007-2011 GS450h based on the 3rd Generation GS, the N platform since 2014 and I have test driven the current 2012-2019 L10 GS450h, based on the 4th Gen, multiple times. The L10 GS450h is down on torque and visceral pushing power and markedly so compared to the N GS450h I own.
I know that on paper they look similar but when my 10 year old GS450h feels so much more alive and eager than a brand new L10 GS450h, something is wrong.
Lexus detuned the L10 GSh to improve fuel efficiency but at the expense of outright acceleration. The GSh is supposedly the mainstream V8 GS replacement (not counting GSF) so it has to deliver on the V8 driving experience to justify the price premium of the GSh over the GS200t and GS350 but only the 2007-2011 GSh delivers on that.
Lexus needs to return to their previous focus on performance for the GS hybrid in order for the market to accept the price premium Lexus is charging for the GS hybrid over the non-hybrid GSs. The L10 had the handling chops and the right chassis, it was let down by an anemic powertrain. The N platform had the 4.6L V8 and the barnstorming 2007-2011 GS450h 5.2 sec 0-60 but lacked handling chops out of the factory. Marry the right chassis and the V8 type powertrain together and Lexus would be on its way to reclaiming the enthusiast market.
If the new GS hybrids came with 380+ hp and V8 torque and is priced maybe 10-15% over a regular combustion engine GS, I foresee the middle class car enthusiasts flocking back to Lexus GS.
Concur. The RAV4 hybrid, if you haven’t driven it, is surprising fast, and it’s a hot seller. Of course, it isn’t going to out handle a GS, but it is embarrassing when a performance GS can’t take-on a RAV4 hybrid from a freeway on-ramp.
Concur. The RAV4 hybrid, if you haven’t driven it, is surprising fast, and it’s a hot seller. Of course, it isn’t going to out handle a GS, but it is embarrassing when a performance GS can’t take-on a RAV4 hybrid from a freeway on-ramp.
I test drove the Rav4 Hybrid, it's definitely better than the regular ICE Rav4. I'm waiting for a NX version of the Rav4 to see.
Concur. The RAV4 hybrid, if you haven’t driven it, is surprising fast, and it’s a hot seller. Of course, it isn’t going to out handle a GS, but it is embarrassing when a performance GS can’t take-on a RAV4 hybrid from a freeway on-ramp.
View it this way : a 2007-2011 GS450h is a full blooded GS350 engine with a battery pack added on as an acceleration booster. A 2012-2019 GS450h is a heavily detuned GS350 with a battery pack added on for fuel savings and just enough electric boost to keep up with a vanilla ICE GS350.
only sold poorly in US. It sold very well in Japan, more so than the Gs350. The gs450h sells faster and goes for much more in the secondhand Japan export market.
no one wants the gs350 in other countries.
GS350 is not even sold in some markets. Hybrid is cheaper to buy/own in other markets because of high taxes on non hybrids with larger displacements engines, hybrids get incentives. GS or GS hybrid does not sell well in just about all countries. It sold fairly well in the US for the first few years, vast majority of those sales were GS350's, hybrid always sold poorly whether it was the 3rd or 4th gen.
I may have some insight into why the GS hybrid sells poorly, as in the hybrid based on the 4th Generation GS, the L10 platform. It's because Lexus essentially detuned the ICE-hybrid combination in the latest iteration.
I have owned the previous 2007-2011 GS450h based on the 3rd Generation GS, the N platform since 2014 and I have test driven the current 2012-2019 L10 GS450h, based on the 4th Gen, multiple times. The L10 GS450h is down on torque and visceral pushing power and markedly so compared to the N GS450h I own.
I know that on paper they look similar but when my 10 year old GS450h feels so much more alive and eager than a brand new L10 GS450h, something is wrong.
Lexus detuned the L10 GSh to improve fuel efficiency but at the expense of outright acceleration. The GSh is supposedly the mainstream V8 GS replacement (not counting GSF) so it has to deliver on the V8 driving experience to justify the price premium of the GSh over the GS200t and GS350 but only the 2007-2011 GSh delivers on that.
Lexus needs to return to their previous focus on performance for the GS hybrid in order for the market to accept the price premium Lexus is charging for the GS hybrid over the non-hybrid GSs. The L10 had the handling chops and the right chassis, it was let down by an anemic powertrain. The N platform had the 4.6L V8 and the barnstorming 2007-2011 GS450h 5.2 sec 0-60 but lacked handling chops out of the factory. Marry the right chassis and the V8 type powertrain together and Lexus would be on its way to reclaiming the enthusiast market.
If the new GS hybrids came with 380+ hp and V8 torque and is priced maybe 10-15% over a regular combustion engine GS, I foresee the middle class car enthusiasts flocking back to Lexus GS.
You are right, the 4th Gen GS hybrid is slower and less aggressive acceleration wise then the 3rd Gen GS hybrid, but both Gen GS hybrids sold poorly, hardly anyone bought them, I think there were even more who bought the 4th Gen hybrid compared to the 3rd Gen and that is not saying much.
Nobody is driving around anymore so doesn't matter whether you have the Hybrid or not I have the 2013 GS Hybrid, and think it is plenty fast. Way better than the 2020 RX 350 loaner vehicle I have driven the past couple of days. Nothing like a little boost when you first put the foot down.
Maybe not much matter to people who know about GS in general, it is still gonna be a BRAND NEW model to everyone else regardless. GS is gonna be HISTORY soon
I just read the next gen 7 series will come with 2 electric models with a ton of horsepower, hopefully Lexus begins to join the trend. I'm a GS fanboy but even if they call it something else, I'll be interested just from the performance standpoint.
04-05-20, 10:13 PM
I have the 2013 GS Hybrid, and think it is plenty fast. Way better than the 2020 RX 350 loaner vehicle I have driven the past couple of days. Nothing like a little boost when you first put the foot down.
