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Lexus will reveal the new GS F
Sport at the SEMA show in Las
Vegas on 1 November.
The F Sport will be available in
the UK and across Europe next
year, featuring a new front
bumper design with larger side
grilles. Together with a
dedicated mesh design for the
upper and lower grilles, this
gives the GS a stronger
appearance, reinforcing its
wider track and sportier stance.
At
the rear, the F Sport is
distinguished by a grey metallic
finish to the bumper diffuser.
On the GS 450h F Sport there is
an additional chrome moulding on
the bumper’s lower section,
adding extra dash to the car’s
road presence.
The F Sport package also
includes a rear spoiler and –
exclusive to the grade – dark
metallic finish 19-inch alloy
wheels which have a staggered
width: at the front 235/40/19
tyres are used, while the rear
wheels are fitted with 265/35/19
tyres. This not only adds to the
sportier look, it also improves
the car’s traction.
The interior features matching
door and seat upholstery that
will be available in a new
Garnet (deep red) shade that is
exclusive to the F Sport. Other
features include aluminium trim
elements, 16-way adjustable F
Sport front seats, a black
headliner and pillar finish,
dimple perforated leather
steering wheel and gear knob
covers and aluminium pedals. The
scuff plates bear the F Sport
logo in black and the F Sport
badge is also featured on the
steering wheel.
Suspension
The GS F Sport has retuned front
and rear suspension, supported
by Adaptive Variable Suspension
to maximise body control and
steering response, so improving
overall vehicle agility.
The front and rear shock
absorbers have been modified to
optimise AVS damping control,
and the use of low viscosity oil
improves their efficiency by
reducing friction. In addition
the rear shock absorbers have
been inclined further to the
rear, and the lower bushings
have been made larger and
stiffer.
Together these modifications
maximise the AVS’s control of
body roll and, hence, improve
response to steering inputs for
a more engaging drive.
AVS allows the driver to fine
tune the GS’s ride with a choice
of two damper settings: Normal,
for everyday driving, and Sport
S+, for greater body control and
precise responses to steering
when cornering.
AVS reacts to driver inputs,
movement of the vehicle body and
road surface conditions,
activating the adjustable
damping force of the shock
absorbers to automatically adapt
suspension performance at all
four wheels independently.
Switching to Sport S+ mode
automatically increases the
difference between inner and
outer shock absorber damping
when driving through corners,
further reducing vehicle roll.
At the same time, the Variable
Gear Ratio Steering
automatically reduces the
steering gear ratio by about 10
per cent, while the Electric
Power Steering increases
steering assist torque by about
four per cent. These measures
combine to minimise body roll,
sharpen handling and optimise
steering feel.
Drive mode select system
The new GS features a drive mode
select function that lets the
driver choose between Eco,
Normal, Sport S and Sport S+
driving modes, designed to
maximise the car’s environmental
efficiency or its dynamic
performance.
In
Eco mode, engine output, the
degree of throttle opening and
gear selection are all
automatically modulated to
achieve the best fuel efficiency
in all driving conditions. The
air conditioning temperature,
airflow volume and activation of
the seat heaters are also
controlled, further reducing
fuel consumption.
In
Sport S mode, engine speed and
throttle responses are adjusted
to give a more engaging driving
experience. Switching to Sport
S+ combines the enhanced
powertrain output of Sport S
with co-ordinated control of the
GS’s Vehicle Dynamics Integrated
Management system. This includes
the AVS and Electric Power
Steering, plus, where fitted,
the Lexus Dynamic Handling
system, Variable Gear Ratio
Steering and Dynamic Rear
Steering, to give a complete
package of sports driving
dynamics.
Lexus Dynamic Handling
The GS 450h F Sport is equipped
with the Lexus Dynamic Handling
system, making it the world’s
first hybrid vehicle to feature
an integrated four-wheel
steering system.
The leading-edge platform
technology enables integration
of the Dynamic Rear Steering,
Variable Gear Ratio Steering and
Electric Power Steering to
co-ordinate every aspect of
front and rear wheel control,
giving agile, sharp and
confident driving behaviour with
more direct response to the
driver’s actions.
The handling system monitors
vehicle speed, steering
direction and driver inputs, and
calculates the optimum angle for
all four wheels. Using Variable
Gear Ratio Steering at the
front, and Dynamic Rear Steering
at the rear, the system can
independently control front and
rear wheel steering angles to
greatly improve turn-in
response, rear grip, stability
and overall agility when
cornering.
Dynamic Rear Steering monitors
vehicle speed and yaw rate,
steering angle and speed, and
lateral G force to determine the
required rear wheel steering
input, up to a maximum two
degrees. At most speeds below
50mph (80km/h) the front and
rear wheels turn in opposite
directions; in certain
conditions above that speed,
they turn in the same direction.
Further coordinating the Dynamic
Rear Steering with the Variable
Gear Ratio Steering and Electric
Power Steering, the Lexus
Dynamic Handling system will
automatically adjust the tuning
of the adaptive suspension and
the active safety systems to
suit the road conditions,
vehicle speed and driving style.
All GS F Sport models are fitted
with larger, 356 x 30mm
ventilated front disc brakes. In
a world-first design, the hat
section of the braking system’s
two-piece rotor is made of
aluminium, which reduces weight
and suppresses heat deformation.
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