[table:876964073f][row:876964073f][col:876964073f]Following the success of the LS400 and ES250 in the beginning of the 90s, Lexus needed a new model to slot between the flagship and Camry-variant. Toyota used the existing platform and running gear of the Japanese Toyota Crown to create the Toyota Aristo, which was imported to the US as the 1993 Lexus GS300. The styling was the responsibility of the famous Italian styling house Ital Design and was contriversial at the time, but Lexus needed something that would stand out to compete with the BMW 5-series and the Mercedes-Benz E-class.

The Toyota Aristo was launched in Japan during October 1991 with two versions offered. The R6 shared the Supra Turbo's 3.0L 24-valve 276hp twin-turbo 2JZ-GTE engine. The 3.0Q also shared a Supra engine with the 226 hp 2JZ-GE. In 1992 a third model was introduced called the 4.0Zi-Four. It came with the 1UZ-FE engine found in the Toyota Celsior/Lexus LS and the Toyota Crown Majesta. Four wheel drive was also standard on this car which bore the chassis code, UZS143.

Production of the Lexus variant (JZS147) began on February 22, 1993 at the Tahara, Japan assembly plant. The only engine available for the export markets was the naturaly-aspirated 3.0L 2JZ-GE, hence the title GS300.

The second generation Aristo was launched in Japan, codenamed JZS160 for cars with the 2JZ-GE engines and JZS161 for those with the 2JZ-GTE twin-turbo engines. VVT-i was now standard, resulting in a rise in torque. The twin-turbo version was available with electronic four-wheel steer as well as VDC and automatic gearbox with manual sequential mode. No 4WD models were offered.

The second generation GS (JZS160) began production on August 4, 1997. The American market GS400 was equipped with the UZ-series V8, producing 300 hp and 310 ft-lbs of torque. The GS 430 replaced the GS 400 in 2001 and while peak horsepower was unchanged torque increased to 325 ft-lbs. The GS was Motor Trend's Import Car of the Year for 1998. It also made Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list for 1998 through 2000.

The third generation GS (GRS190) began production on January 24, 2005. The Aristo name was eliminated worldwide and the Lexus nameplate was introduced to those markets. Models are the GS300, with a 3.0L V6 and the GS430 with the same 4.3L V8 used in the previous model. The GS300 has a direct-injection engine for all markets except for Continental Asia. The AWD option was finally available in the US, but only on the GS300. A 3.5L GS350 is expected to replace the GS300 and a 4.6L GS460 to replac the 4.3L GS430 by 2007.

The hybrid GS450h joined GS line for 2007. It is the first mass-production rear-wheel drive luxury hybrid car. Its powertrain includes a naturally-aspirated 3.5 L 2GR-FSE V6 engine and an electric motor. The fuel-injected V6, which is longitudinally mounted at the front of the vehicle, has four valves per cylinder and a DOHC valvetrain. Toyota unveiled the GS450h at the 2005 New York International Auto Show. The GS 450h is a Super Ultra Low Emissions vehicle and uses a continuously variable transmission. It will be priced at $55,595.

The GS 450h weighs 4134 lb (1875 kg), but the combined hybrid powertrain produces 339 hp (253 kW), allowing the GS to accelerate to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 4.6 seconds. Lexus promises combined city/highway fuel economy of 28 mpg (8.4 L/100 km).

75 "Neiman Marcus Edition" GS450h sedans were offered as the annual holiday catalog car at a price of $65,000. All were sold in less than three hours on October 19, 2005 and will be delivered around April of 2006.

[col:876964073f]93-97 GS300

98-05 GS

96- GS

Neiman Marcus GS450h

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