Lexus GS launched in Malaysia - two engines, three trims, from RM366,200

Lexus Malaysia has launched the new GS Series to Malaysia market today. For Malaysian market, we are getting the full range of gasoline engine namely the 2.5L V6 D-4S engine in GS250 and the 3.5L V6 in GS350. The "entry level" is available in Standard Trim, as well as in Luxury and F Sport guise. The last two trims are also available for GS350, giving five variants of Lexus GS in total for our market.

Typical to Lexus standard, equipment level is pretty high, even for an entry level variant. The GS250 Standard comes with Bi-Xenon headlamps with auto levelling and washer, LED DRL, rain sensor, all leather interior with choices of 3 shades (no walnut panelling), 8" display screen that controls the audio systems with 12 speakers and with GPS, dual zone aircond, 10-way electrically adjustment for front seats (with memory for driver) and "only" 17" wheel wrapped in 225/50R17 tyres. This version goes for RM366,200.

Opting for Luxury and F Sport will gives the GS250 an adaptive headlights, 18" alloy with 235/45 R18 tyres, wooden interior trim option, larger 12.3" screen in the console controlling 17 speakers Mark Levinson audio system, 3-zone climate control and upgraded front seats with 18-way electrical adjustment with memory functions for both front seats. The GS350 Luxury is similarly equipped too. GS250 Luxury goes for RM398,660 while the GS350 Luxury is pitched at RM456,800.

Going for F Sport range will gives you a sport-treated bumper design, skirting and lip spoiler. The alloy wheel is different in design too. The F Sports version gets an uprated braking systems with larger disc brake at the front and the suspension is recalibrated too. The GS350 F Sport also gets Dynamics Rear Steering for an added agility. For the interior, the seats are trimmed in F Sport leather and the front ones are the sport seat that offers 16 way of adjustment for the driver. The F Sport versions are priced at RM400,600 for the GS250 F Sport and RM464,800 for the top range GS350 F Sport. More detail after the jump.

Lexus launched the entry level GS250, GS-F to be LFA powered?

Lexus launched the smallest version yet of its mid-sized sedan , the GS250 at Guangzhou Motorshow. Powered by the 2.5l V6 D-4S engine producing 206bhp@6400 rpm and 253Nm@4800 of power and torque figures respectively, sufficient to push the 4,850mm long sedan to century sprint of respectable  8.6 seconds and 230km/h of top speed. The V6 engine is hooked to 6 speed Super ECT-i automatic transmission. Combined fuel consumption is 11.2km/l.

The smaller engine capacity should increase the appeal of the GS series in engine-size sensitive market, such as in UK and also Asian country. BMW and Mercedes also offered the small engine, even in 2.0l guise in their E-Class and 5-Series at some point. This should cater the lower end of the mid-size luxury sedan market, where the previous GS never dipped below 3.0l engine.

However, according to Lexus, there is no plan to equip the GS with four-cylinder diesel to given BMW 520d a run for its money. The hybrid model is already there to cater the market segment which otherwise will opt for a diesel.

In the meantime, there is also a rumours of M5-rivalling version of Lexus GS. There is a possibility of the hot GS-F to be powered by a version of Lexus LFA V10 engine, reduced in capacity to 4.6l and targeted to produce around 450bhp. Lexus is really upping their ante this time around, with comprehensive segment coverage of their model in the territory that is firmly occupied by the German. Interior photos after the jump.