2012 Lexus GS250: cheaper E-Class fighter confirmed | CarAdvice

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2012 Lexus GS250: cheaper E-Class fighter confirmed

LEXUS GS250
By Brett Davis |
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Lexus Australia will introduce the entry-level Lexus GS250 to the local line-up, joining the GS350 and GS450h when it is launched in Australia during the second quarter of this year.

Currently the cheapest GS on sale (the GS300) retails for $94,814, which is around $10,000 more expensive than the entry-level BMW 5-Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class, and $11,000 more expensive then the entry-level Audi A6.

The new variant will allow Lexus Australia to offer more direct competition to its key German rivals, such as the BMW 520i and Mercedes-Benz E250 CGI.

The Lexus GS250 comes with a 2.5-litre V6 engine producing 154kW of power and is backed up by a six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and throttle-blipping technology on downshifts. Acceleration from 0-100km/h takes 8.4 seconds.

Like the rest of the GS range, the GS250 will be available with the optional F Sport package which gives the GS a sporty character. Revisions include more aggressive styling with new front and rear bumpers, 19-inch alloy wheels, sports suspension, uprated brakes, and various F Sport badges and logos.

Pricing for the GS250 will be announced closer to its launch.


 

  • Spc

    Why would anyone choose the weak GS250 over the GS350? If you are paying this much, then surely an extra 10k wouldn’t hurt..

    • Anonymous

      What they’re saying is the GS350 is at least $10K more expensive than the entry level BMW/MB/Audi. I dare say Lexus will try to under cut pricing on all of these with the GS250. 

    • Kicker

      For the same reason why lots of Merc and BMW buyers buy the weakest E classes and 5 series…

  • Lbrinsmead

    Because some people don’t need as much poke and luxuries.

  • ML

    The 520i and E250 engage turbo charging to boost torque. The GS250 engine is lacking in torque. I would guess most people that engage the 520/E250 do so in diesel which provides added low down boost in comparison to a smaller V6 petrol

    • kazuo

      Totally agree. I bought 520d last year and it got plenty grunt for a small engine. a bit lag but once rev to 2000rpm it does push a long nice hard

    • Sx1

      So if I were to race an E250 with my IS350 which pumps out 306 HP and does 0-100 in 4.7-5.0 sec range..

      Who would win?

      • Scottjames_12

        What has your IS350 got to do with the GS250/E250/520i? 

        The point he is making is the extra torque of the turbocharged E250 (7.4 s 0-100) makes it quicker than the IS250 (7.9 s), let alone the heavier GS…

      • Imo

        In your own lil fantasy world the is350 would win coz it can’t do 0-100 in 4.7 in the real world. Try a second slower than that.

      • Goodjjp

        You must just bought IS350 and have to tell someone LOL
        Or didnt read article well..

      • Andre

        You will win… Definitely!!! Why did I not check my facts before sending my cheque to Stuttgart…
        Interesting mentality and interesting you need to ask the question..
        Fine cars all around… Lexus too, whether GS or IS though I just can’t warm to them…

        I for one prefer Mercedes, Volvo or BMW and, yes, were it a Lexus I’d need it to be the quickest model on the lot as the quicker it is the less time I’d have to spend in it!

        • Dan

          Volvo? LOL! That’s kind of odd having it sitting there next to bmw and merc…

  • Altezza

    The 2.5L V6 engine should be tuned to 160kw-170kw to carry extra weight in GS250 compared to IS250. The IS250 already feels slow as I last test drove it…let alone the GS250. Anyway, good strategy by Lexus, but it won’t beat fuel economy for 520d, Jaguar XJ 2.2, for the same class although GS250 may be cheaper or about the same price as other competitors.

    • Smoothcall

      Tuning the 2.5 to produce 160 – 170kw isn’t going to be of much help in normal driving. As others have stated, what the car needs is more mid-range torque. Merc, Audi and now finally BMW are providing this in their level entry petrol cars via turbos. Adding power at the top end will look good on paper only.

      Only so much you can do with a na 2.5…

    • Smoothcall

      Tuning the 2.5 to produce 160 – 170kw isn’t going to be of much help in normal driving. As others have stated, what the car needs is more mid-range torque. Merc, Audi and now finally BMW are providing this in their level entry petrol cars via turbos. Adding power at the top end will look good on paper only.

      Only so much you can do with a na 2.5…

  • vin

    What’s the problem? most people who buy these cars are older city people who drive them to the bowling club.

    • Kaas

      Not sure where you get the idea that old people with money go to bowling clubs lol.

      My boss goes travelling around the world and when he is at home he goes to sports events, expensive dining, yacht clubs, have coffee at expensive cafeterias, shop with his wife at designer shops.

  • Shak

    I don’t think it’ll make much of a difference to potential customers of this car how much power it has. If they are buying this base model they can probably only afford this car, or don’t want the extra power. remember at this end of the buying scale if pele are spending almost 100k then they can probably afford the extra for a car with Moore power if they wanted to.

  • Dave S

    For that sort of money, I would like a few more kw’s. For those who live in a hilly areas, some extra torque will help a lot.

  • Dan

    People seem to be missing the point. For instance majority of German cars sold are the base model bread and butter varieties with minimum options. Just look at how many bade model 320i there are with not even a satnav installed. Because for the same money people tend to prefer to buy a car in the higher class but of the cheaper specifications, than a car in the lower class but with more options. So same thing here, perhaps instead of buying a fully optioned IS, they might be keen to get into a base model GS.

  • Don’t do it

    Don’t waste your money, get a 310kw F6, get a much bigger grin each time you put the foot down and save $25K in the process.

    • Oliver Cromwell

      I agree, and the resale value on falcons is through the roof too in Australia to any foreign cars!!! How can anybody compare euro trash and jap crash to aussie engineering; blows my mind everytime?

      Not to mention the 25K i get to spend at the pokies!

    • Oliver Cromwell

      I agree, and the resale value on falcons is through the roof too in Australia to any foreign cars!!! How can anybody compare euro trash and jap crash to aussie engineering; blows my mind everytime?

      Not to mention the 25K i get to spend at the pokies!

      • Yowie

        Haha i see what you did there mate :D

  • Sumpguard

    I’m not a fan of their Darth Vader front styling. To me it actually cheapens their luxo image. Their cars are no doubt superbly built and worthy competitors to the Germans but they need to have a rethink on their styling direction. Just my opinin.

  • Bruce Lee

    The best cars for family.

  • Barignall

    Amazing!  In the USA the entry level LS 460 is only $67,000 of their devalued dollars and here I would expect that the entry level GS will be much more.  Shame about the Samurai helmut styling.