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The Lexus GS is a mid-size luxury car sold by Lexus, the luxury division of Toyota. The same car launched in 1991 as the Toyota Aristo in Japan, but the Lexus-badged model did not appear until 1993. Now in its fourth generation, the GS sold under the Aristo name in Japan only until the release of the third generation in 2005. Designed as a performance sedan competing in the mid-luxury class, the GS slots between the entry-level/compact executive IS and full-size/flagship LS, and shares its chassis with one of Toyota's longest-running platforms: the S-series which has been used under multiple generations of the Toyota Crown premium sedans. Four generations of the GS have been produced since 1993, each available with six-cylinder engines and rear-wheel drive. V8 engines were offered in the second and third generations, and all-wheel drive and hybrid versions debuted in 2005. The first two generations had a Japanese domestic market equivalent, the Toyota Aristo ("Aristo" is Greek for "the best"), which was sold from 1991 until the Lexus marque's domestic debut in 2005. Though largely identical in exterior and interior design, the GS and the Aristo differed in their engine and transmission combinations as well as equipment packages. The GS name stands for Grand Sedan.〔(【引用サイトリンク】 title=Lexus GS (GS430/GS350) )〕 However, some Lexus importers use the backronymic name, Grand Sport. The first-generation Lexus GS began sales in the United States, Europe and selected markets in Asia in 1993, where it was introduced with an inline-6 engine and exterior bodywork designed by Italdesign Giugiaro. The second-generation model premiered in 1997, using a new platform, in-house styling, and adding a V8 version for the first time outside Japan. The third-generation GS, which premiered globally for the 2006 model year, was produced in V6, V8, and hybrid versions, the latter known as the GS 450h performance hybrid. The third-generation models were the first GS sedans to be sold domestically in Japan. The fourth-generation Lexus GS premiered in August 2011 at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, where models introduced included the V6-powered GS 350, hybrid GS 450h, and performance-tuned F Sport variants. A lower-displacement V6 model, the GS 250, premiered at the Auto Guangzhou Exhibition in November 2011, targeted at Asian and European markets. In some markets such as North America, the GS shares the mid-size sedan category in the Lexus lineup with the front-wheel drive ES. == First generation (S140; 1991–1997) == Italdesign Giugiaro began the first design drawings of the GS 300 in 1988.〔 The design firm aimed to produce a deluxe saloon which did without the numerous exterior features and detailing found on existing Japanese premium sedans, in favor of a more simplified, European-style appearance. The vehicle's exterior styling blended elements of the then-current Lexus LS flagship and SC performance coupe in a rounded, aerodynamic wedge-like shape which featured a high rear decklid and longer and wider proportions than rival vehicles.〔 The exterior produced a drag coefficient of 0.31 ''C''''d''. The offered color schemes included single-tone bumper and body finishes,〔 along with dual-tone schemes. Similarities with an Italdesign concept car which debuted in 1990, the Jaguar Kensington, led some observers to suggest that the GS 300 was derived from its design, but the firm has stated that the GS 300 was developed earlier.〔 Equipped with an independent, double-wishbone suspension setup at both front and rear ends, Italdesign's saloon design first appeared in Toyota Aristo form in Japan in October 1991. Built at Toyota's Tahara assembly plant in Japan, production of the Aristo involved more automation than previous vehicles built at the Tahara factory; robots performed 4,200 welds on each body, while only eight spot welds were performed by hand.〔Dawson, Chester. ''Lexus: The Relentless Pursuit'', pp. 146–47, 164–65. 2004: Jon Wiley & Sons, NJ.〕 Toyota of Japan offered two straight-six engine options for the Japanese market Aristo—the 3.0 Q and 3.0 V. The 3.0 Q (JZS147) featured the ''2JZ-GE'' engine which produced , while the Aristo 3.0 V (JZS147) was equipped with a 24-valve twin-turbo ''2JZ-GTE'' engine which produced . The Aristo was exclusive to the ''Toyota Vista Store'' as the top level luxury sedan at ''Vista'' dealerships, positioned above the Toyota Cresta and Chaser. In 1992, a third model, the V8-powered 4.0 Zi-Four (UZS143), joined the Aristo lineup. This model came with standard all-wheel drive and a ''1UZ-FE'' engine. Production of the export Lexus GS 300 (JZS147) began on February 22, 1993.〔 For Lexus, The GS was placed above the front-wheel drive ES luxury sedan with its superior drivetrain setup, power and available amenities. Lexus only offered the GS with the 3.0-liter ''2JZ-GE'' straight-six, producing and of torque. For the interior, the GS 300 featured walnut wood trim on the center console, leather seating, an automatic tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, and the option of a Nakamichi premium stereo system. Driver and front passenger airbags were standard.〔 A moonroof, remote 12-CD auto changer, and traction control (TRAC – left hand drive vehicles only) were options. The GS was intended to take the price position of the original LS 400 flagship, which had moved upmarket since its 1989 launch.〔〔 By the time of the GS 300's debut, the initial base price of the LS in the United States had climbed to ,〔 while the GS 300 at debut carried base price of . However, sales of the GS 300 were modest, with 1993 seeing the greatest sales at 19,164 sold that year. Sales dropped in later years as the Japanese yen rose in value against the dollar and made the vehicle more expensive than its rivals.〔 Additionally, more powerful V8 sport sedans provided strong competition. By 1997, the price of the GS 300 had risen to . Production of the first generation GS sedan ended in July 1997. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Lexus GS」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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