Lexus GS 250 base model under consideration for Australia

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By Tim Beissmann | November 22nd, 2011

Lexus Australia is considering introducing the Lexus GS 250 to rival the entry-level variants of the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

The GS 250 – currently on display at the 2011 Guangzhou Motor Show in China – is powered by a smaller petrol engine and comes with fewer standard features than the mid-spec GS 350, which will arrive in Australia in the second quarter of 2012.

A Lexus Australia spokesman said the GS 250 was “under consideration” for our market but was not confirmed at this stage. He said the base model GS 250 had been designed predominantly for China and select European markets, where it will launch in the first half of 2012.

The Lexus GS is one of the only models that is outpriced by its key German rivals in Australia. The outgoing GS 300 is priced from $94,900 (before on-road costs), making it considerably more expensive than the Audi A6 2.0 TFSI ($77,900), and the BMW 520d and Mercedes-Benz E220 CDI (both $83,300). The GS 250 would provide Lexus Australia with a direct price competitor for the entry-level Germans. Prices of the new GS range will be confirmed closer to its local launch.

The Lexus GS 250 is powered by a slightly more powerful version of the IS 250’s 2.5-litre direct-injection V6 petrol engine. It produces 154kW of power and 253Nm of torque – 79kW/123Nm less than the new 3.5-litre GS 350. The GS 250 accelerates from 0-100km/h in 8.6 seconds and uses fuel at a rate of 8.9 litres/100km on the combined cycle, making it slower but more efficient than the GS 350.

Lexus says the GS 250 will be available with the 12.3-inch infotainment screen, ‘S-flow’ air conditioning system and a new 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system. These features will be offered as standard or as options depending on the market.

The GS 250 also incorporates Drive Mode Select for adjustable vehicle dynamics, as well as a number of advanced safety systems including Pre-Crash Safety, Lane Keep Assist, Blind Sport Monitor and Night View.

The Lexus GS 350 will go on sale in Australia around April/May next year, and will be followed by the GS 450h hybrid shortly after, around May/June. The F Sport package will be offered as an option on both models from launch.

JEKYL & HYDE

hate the dash but love the bench seat…lol

AndyGF

True! What’s that thing?

Nothing says luxury like having a bench seat. -or am I wrong?
Nothing says ‘dirty old man’ like having a bench seat?

Hugh Hefner, your wagon has arrived. “They see me rollin, 3 a-breast, they be hatin”. Maybe the middle seat was made for hugh?
ScheibeHaus

Don’t think that’s a bench seat….think it is the lid for the centre console storage compartment

Dan

Correct. It just looks like that on the photo.

t.

loving the fatass screen

Martin

Probably not a smart choice not offering a leader. The gap between the GS and LS is too wide. Is it possible that they are keeping the gap for a possible incoming ES? I saw in the US and I’m surprised we don’t have it. It is actually a smart staid-looking car which should resonate with the Lexus brand.

Dan

No, don’t want the ES here, it’s a joke.
Phil

We have the ES here. Its called Toyota Aurion Presara.

Martin

Probably not a smart choice not offering a price leader. The gap between the GS and LS is too wide. Is it possible that they are keeping the gap for a possible incoming ES? I saw in the US and I’m surprised we don’t have it. It is actually a smart staid-looking car which should resonate with the Lexus brand.

ScheibeHaus

The ES doesn’t “plug the gap” between the GS and LS…..it is actually priced lower than the GS

Grady

Whoops I meant IS! My bad! Wonder if they bring the hybrid HS sedan.

Dan

Why plug the gap? ES is the main reason why ignorant people incorrectly call the rest of the Lexus models as Camry’s… ES is a Camry. Keep it out of the Lexus line up, it’s embarassing!

David

It may be a Camry but the ES is Lexus’s best selling model. Besides, the RX is a Kluger with Lexus badges and most people have nothing against it.
Dan

Maybe in the US it is. When ES was sold in Australia, it wasn’t popular at all. Late 90s to 2003, IS was most popular, since then the RX took over. The only time ES sold well was back in early 90s when Lexus only sold the LS and ES. Obviously ES was a lot cheaper, so it sold in greater numbers than the LS. But since Lexus started selling more models, the ES sales numbers went on the backburner.

In my opinion canning the ES was a good idea.

David

The ES would be a good addition because the IS is too small and too sporty for older more conservative buyers. In the USA, the ES350 ($36k) costs less than the IS350 ($40k). If the same applied here in Australia, the ES350 should cost less than $65,000. There is a new model due out next year based on the new Camry, I think it would be a good time to reintroduce it.

Dan

Just buy a top spec Camry/Aurion then. The ES is really bad idea. Never sold well on our shores. Doubt it will happen.
Phil

But Dan, ES doesn’t need to sell well for it to work for Lexus Australia.

Car that normally sells for $45K (Aurion Presara) – ES350 costs about the same to make, but sells for $70K……massive profit margin means it can make money on very few sales.
Dan

Do you work in their accounting department Phil? How do you know what costs how much to make? And how it benchmarks to the rest of the manufacturers for that matter?

PhantomHamster

I swear thats a kingswood dashboard layout…

matt

you’re getting marked down but i agree. i dont like the dash lay out at all.

Smoothcall

Never been a fan of wooden steering wheels.

Still not.
Hyundai Lover

The dashboard looks really tall and wide, like a truck’s. I like the exterior styling a lot though.
f1worldchamp

Why would anyone want to pay that much for a Camry?

Dan

There’s no mention of anything Camry related in that article. You must have gotten confused there champ.

Tdls

Respect for Toyotas V6 engines, the Aurion is a rocket for a 3.5L, FWD heavy car..

Me n my friends the other day with an SV6 couldn’t keep up with the Aurion.. No joke

AndyGF

AKA ‘battle of the asthmatics’ ^_^

Dan

LOL!

rob

Dash looks like a last gen 7 series BMW with a bigger screen
The Doctor

I have driven a Lexus IS250 and thought it just cut the mustard power wise, so a GS250 is never going to replace boner-pills for this car enthusiast – I can walk faster that that thing will perform!!

MWCD

Prove that you can walk faster than the 250.
Dan

Yeah, I think the idea of all those big size cars (Mercs, Audi, BMW and Lexus) having small engines is stupid. Maybe economical, but really slow.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1715760895 Charles Dean

Yeah I agree, all luxury sedans should have at least 2.5L V6.. Exception being the subcompacts such as CT200 etc
Phil

Why? BMW/Merc/Audi offer about 5 different engine sizes and the smaller ones are the biggest sellers. It would be stupid to get rid of the biggest selling versions?

Dan

Biggest sellers coz they are the cheapest. Also biggest sellers in Europe due to the lower price and economy, and where performance is not important. For instance E class taxis everywhere in Europe tend to have the smallest most economical engine. But they are slugs to drive. Different engine suits differnt market/customer. IN this instance, those types of engines suit taxi operators and rental companies lol.

MWCD

Lexus’ goal of competing with BMW, Mercedes and Audi is really ambitious, especially when they want to sell 150+ units per month. Lexus really needs to improve on engines, dynamics and driver engagement. And, they need to give customers more options, e.g. GS250, GS[small hybrid], GS350, GS450h, GS460 V8 and GSF. I think they should bring back a V8. Then introduce some coupes.
Pur

I think ES could do alright in Australia, if it is priced at $55k..
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1715760895 Charles Dean

“making it slower but more efficient than the GS 350.” Contradictions much?..