A taped-up GS was recently seen in Europe, sporting a revised front bumper, which could indicate that there’s a refresh in the pipeline.

The changes are admittedly subtle, and focus around the bottom grille, which has been reduced in size and given some extra height. The openings around the grille have been deepened as well.

Here’s the current model, for comparison’s sake:

It’s unlikely that only the front-end of the GS will be revised, most likely this is just the beginning of the style update, which hopefully includes a slimming down of the GS’s rear.

[Source: World Car Fans]

I’ve just posted the third part of my Lexus Body Kit Series, the GS 300/350/430/450h.

With eighteen different body kits, it was the largest collection so far. Most are in the VIP style, evidenced by the tilted rear wheels. The additional styling brought by the kits change the GS appearance significantly, and bring a much needed “Sport” look to Lexus’ sports sedan. I’m not a big fan of the bubbly rear of the car, but it’s surprising how much a trunk spoiler diminishes my dislike.

It must be said, most of these body kits are incredibly similar, which makes choosing a favorite particularly difficult. I really like the Aimgain UZS190 Premium, pictured above, as well as the Fabulous Various, with its super clean look:

Next up, the IS 250/350.

Two GS Donut videos in one day? Seriously?

This second video continues on the grand tradition of Russian Lexus Destruction, only this time there’s blood and exploding rubber:

For the life of me, I don’t understand why the cameraman inside the car didn’t pull back when he started seeing sparks. Crazy Russians!

Autoweek has picked up a 2007 Lexus GS 350 for their fleet, and their first impressions are decidedly mixed:

Some of our drivers loved the exterior styling of the GS, while others found it amorphous. The interior also divided drivers; they called it either comfortable or eerily numbing.

I have to agree with any criticism of the GS’s new styling. While the front end is a satisfying amalgamation of the standard GS cues & the new L-finesse design language that’s shared among all new Lexus models, the backend of the vehicle is exactly as Autoweek says, “amorphous.” Far too large in proportion, the expansive derrière is no doubt a result of trying to differentiate the GS from the latest ES (which, in my opinion, is a much better looker of the two).

One interesting fact in Autoweek’s first impression regards the V6 of the GS 350 as compared to the GS 430’s V8:

Lexus says the GS 350 awd gives up 0.6 second to the [GS 450h] hybrid from 0 to 60 mph (5.8 seconds versus 5.2), and — for now, at least — this new direct-injected six actually outpowers the 290-hp V8 in the GS 430.

Another study was released today, this one by San-Diego-based research firm Strategic Vision. Their Total Quality Index, or TQI, is considered the premier measure of new vehicle owner satisfaction, as it asks buyers to rate every aspect of the owner experience.

Lexus made a decent showing, with the RX 350 placing first in the Near Luxury SUV category, and the LS 430 coming in second in Luxury Cars. Other models didn’t fare so well in their segments: The GS 350/430 placed sixth in Luxury Cars, the IS 250/350 placed fifth and the ES 350 ninth in Near Luxury Cars. The remaining models didn’t even figure into the rankings, as their sample size was too small to be included.

The bigger news from this study was the lack of any Toyota-branded vehicles taking top spot in their respective segments, and more importantly, Hyundai coming away with three first place finishes. Hyundai has developed into a real threat for their competitors, and the results from this study add some serious credibility to the Korean manufacturer.

[Source: Strategic Vision]
[Via: Carscoop]