Since the debut of the Lexus GS F at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show (NAIAS), I think it's safe to say a lot of enthusiasts have been found scratching their heads. That's because Toyota's L brand may have missed a helluva opportunity.
It also may have set itself up for disappointment due to rumors that speculated how awesome a theoretical GS F would be. Remember the word about a 550 horsepower V10 from the LFA making its way into the GS? So you can only imagine how the oxygen was sucked out of the air when we heard that the GS F would actually use the RC F's V8.
Now that reviewers are getting their greasy paws on the all-new Lexus, it seems that the head scratching, more or less, continues. One of the first reviews in comes from Evo. According to the Chief Engineer Emeritus at Lexus, the GS F isn't to be thought as a competitor to the likes of the BMW M5, Cadillac CTS-V and Mercedes-AMG E63. It should be thought as an alternative.
What the hell does that even mean? From my seat, it sounds like Lexus already knows it made a mistake, but I digress.
From what we're reading, essentially it sounds like a pretty fun and interesting vehicle to drive, but it has some downsides. Two examples include the vehicle's driving mode selections — and how to get the most out of it — and a rather clumsy transmission — reviewers tend to hate anything that's not a dual-clutch these days.
Having said this, please check out the FULL review by clicking "Read Article" below!
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What’s it like to drive?
As per Mr Yaguchi’s vision, it’s 'different'. Despite a set of bewinged leather seats and a splash of carbonfibre, it’s all very serene and Lexus-like inside. That’s not a bad thing – the GS cabin is a thoroughly pleasant place to spend hours at a time. Once comfortable – the work of but a moment – your next task is to tiresomely tweak half a dozen different buttons and knobs to adjust the electronic systems to your liking...
...Less sharp is the gearbox, which never responds quite as quickly as you’d like and thumps through changes on part-throttle. The steering too has a light, remote feel to initial inputs that only improves slightly as you wind on more lock. It is however predictable, so you quickly learn to tolerate the lack of feedback, and eventually adapt to it....
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