2006 Lexus GS Road Test - SPIKE, Offline in article engine

Introduction

Lexus GS 430 -- 2006 Review: Never mind the Germans.

America is all about Asian luxury now. Known once as the Lords of the Automotive Middle Kingdom, Asian automakers have been increasingly flinging some of their close-gaps and leather excellence at American luxury buyers. Excellence. It’s important, and few cars are as excellent as Lexus – owner of 11 straight J.D. Power Dependability awards and holders of the keys to the automotive leather-and-lace dream world. But all that soothing peace, quiet and comfort that Lexus, up to now, is known for, well, those darn luxury sport sedan people want more. They want some grunt and, frankly, groan over the prospect of yet another soft riding, leather-swaddled Camry. Rest easy. The 2006 Lexus GS is a luxury sport sedan with hard edges and soft hands, certainly good for a cuddle but also fit for a nice rough flogging. On the road, it falls short of what a good driver will get out of the number 5 BMW sedan, but it’s still a decent performer and a huge improvement – a car that delivers on the promise of a luxury performance sedan, at the same time providing some significant innovations in terms of driver control and safety. Perhaps even more important than the way today’s GS drives, however, is what it tips about the future of luxury performance vehicles: More technology that keeps people safe with a minimum of driver interference, power and torque that makes you feel alive, a sultry style, and an interior designed for those who like to drive.