Trexus

I believe the 1GS came out late 1992 as a 1993 model till 1997. The 2GS was a 1998 model. The SC came out before the GS and the SC wasn't even out by early 1991 but did come out late 1991 as a 1992 model. Here are the sales for the GS since inception.

1993-18,450
1994-12,905
1995-7,797
1996-2,500
1997-175
1998-30,565
1999-30,326
2000-26,705
2001-24,461
2002-17,246
2003-13,306
2004-8,262
2005-33,457
2006-27,390
2007-23,381
2008-15,759
YTD 6/2009-3,556

As you can see 2005 was the best year for the GS. Overall the GS is the 4th highest selling Lexus model of all time. Hopefully the 4GS will be a big hit. I look forward to that...

encore888

Very interesting, thx for the sales data...btw where did you get the numbers from? I've seen some of them but not all the way back to the 1st gen.

I wonder what made for the massive jump from 2004 to 2005? Was it the 2nd gen going out with a bang or the 3rd gen coming in? Anyhow, the GS sales #s must be of great interest to the product planners for the 4GS.

Trexus

I got the sales number from Clublexus.com. Wikipedia.com and Lexus.com.

Not sure why the masive jump from 2004 to 2005, maybe since 2005 was the last model year of the 2GS and people wanted it before the 3GS came out. It's also interesting to see that the 3GS has the hybrid as well and just doesn't help sales all that much. I know the GS 450h is a low volume seller. Hopefully next time around the 4GS will have the GS 350, GS 460, GS 450h and of course the GS F...

encore888

Ah, ok, I guess the early sales numbers are from CL then...Lexus.com has production numbers, but not sales numbers AFAIK, and the wiki article has numbers up to 2000.

I wonder about the GS, based on the numbers it seems like the 1GS was not successful, particular in 96-97 (they thought of cancelling it), but the 2GS hit it out of the park with 30K sales, and 3GS is more successful than the 1st gen but a tad behind the 2nd in its first years, but now has dropped off faster.

It'll be interesting to see how they roll out the new GS variants. This time around seems to be a bit staggered, and not fully planned (e.g. the GS 460 engine bay/fit issues). Maybe the -F rollout will occur in a similar way as Mercedes does, with the AMG model coming out a few months after the new model. However that keeps from having new developments spread out to keep buzz going.

Dave600hL

Yes , it is deffinately getting longer. And I agree that it should be brought out sooner, I guess we will have to wait and see. But , I really do think Lexus is serious about adding a new customer base with these performance cars!

I am just hoping that they really out do themselves with interior quality on the cars other than the LS. In reality, although I like the IS-Fand its interior is better than other cars in the same class IMO, it has nothing on the LS. I know that is to be expected, but it would be good if they added an ultra package that would come a little closer to the LS. I would also love to see a full leather dash too. I know that would drive prices up, but people would pay for it IMO.

But I digress...

encore888

I agree completely. Lexus has always been known for the high quality and ergonomics of their interiors but there is the opportunity to take it to the next level. They have taken steps such as the customization program in Japan, the upscale materials with the top-level LS 430s and now the leather dash on the LS 600h. And a CL member from Russia just posted here about an expansion of the interior customization in Japan and possibly to be expanded elsewhere.

It makes perfect sense to have the top-of-the-line F-performance models get further interior options. After all, they are the most expensive of their line, and Lexus has seen fit to maintain the luxury aspect of the IS-F, LF-A, etc. in terms of daily quiet, luxury stereo, special interior trim etc. while offering blistering performance.

With regards to the GS, I wonder if the next GS should adopt a more 'mainstream' luxury interior for the standard models, and up the sporting aspect for F-Sport/Touring/-F variants. The current GS has unique curved wood panels, but with the instrument dials, the more spartan interior look it is much more on the severe and less on the opulent angle IMO.

Since Lexus' forte is always luxury, they can keep that while going for the performance angle with the drivetrain, chassis, etc. Making the interior as opulent as possible would help the GS' appeal, and even the GS-F's, IMO. And I agree it's a good thing for Lexus to be adding more performance buyers.

Rash

iTrader: (1)

encore888

Neat pic, thx for sharing Rashoodz! Shades of 2GS mixed in with IS-F.

Lexasaurus

iTrader: (12)

Looking forward to seeing a GS-F in the future!

syzygy

It has to be V10, IS-F --> M3

GS-F --> M5??

they are trying (or should try?) to create a lexus in the M5 class. V10 is needed.

syzygy

dude that car looks pretty sick is that how the gs-f will actually look or is it just a guess?

RCPnoi

looks almost identical to the IS-F only with the headlight and probably the same taillight configuration of the GS as far as exterior goes

can't wait to see this and the specs

TRDFantasy

These are some pretty bad photoshops of the current GS and IS-F put together. We don't know what the 4GS will look like, so it's very hard to say what the GS-F would look like.

encore888

Well I think it's neat to have a flared light/grille look, it seems like the front end is melting together. Whether that looks good in person or not I'm not sure, but it's an interesting evolution of the GS front end.

TRDFantasy

Are you referring to the refresh of the 3GS where they added the new grille?