Lexus GS History
Lexus's rear-drive mid-size sport sedan — the performance-focused foil to the ES, available with a V8 and the GS F variant, discontinued after 2020.
Photo: “File:LEXUS GS 300 (L10) China.jpg” by Dinkun Chen / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
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The GS launched in the US for 1993 as the GS 300 — a rear-drive, Italdesign Giugiaro-styled sport sedan positioned between the IS and LS. It gave Lexus a genuine sporting credential before the IS existed, competing with the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class.
The second generation (1998–2005) gained in-house styling and added a GS 400 V8. Third-generation (2006–2012) versions brought the GS 450h — the world's first rear-drive luxury hybrid — and a V8 GS 460. The fourth-generation GS (2013–2020) wore Lexus's sharp spindle grille and added the GS F performance variant (2016–2020) with a 467-hp 5.0L V8. Production ended in August 2020 as crossover demand eroded sedan sales; no direct replacement was planned.
The GS is remembered as the driver's Lexus sedan — more engaging than the ES and more accessible than the LS, and the home of the brand's first hybrid drivetrain in a rear-drive platform.
Generations
First generation (S140) · S140 — GS 300
Giugiaro-styled rear-drive sedan; GS 300 inline-six only; established the mid-size Lexus niche.
Second generation (S160) · S160 — GS 300/400/430
In-house restyling; added GS 400 V8 (became GS 430 in 2001); broader appeal.
Third generation (S190) · S190 — GS 300/350/430/460/450h
World's first rear-drive luxury hybrid (GS 450h); V6 and V8 options; new platform.
Fourth generation (L10) · L10 — GS 350/450h/F
Photo: “File:LEXUS GS 300 (L10) China.jpg” by Dinkun Chen / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Spindle grille redesign; GS F performance variant (2016–2020) with 467-hp V8; discontinued 2020.
Body styles
- Sedan
Notable special editions & performance variants
GS F
V8-powered (467 hp, 5.0L) performance sedan from the F sub-brand; discontinued with the GS after 2020.
GS 450h
Rear-drive full hybrid (parallel hybrid, V6 + electric motor); the world's first rear-drive luxury hybrid when launched for 2007.
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