2006 Lexus GS

[boombexus]

So here is the 3rd generation of the GS series.

What are your thoughts on it's styling?
Personally, I didn't really like it when I first saw it, but it's definately growing on me.

2006 Lexus GS

 

[Glut]

It's a toyota. The styling just screams 'mundane'. It's prolly a nice car and all, but the looks fail to inspire me at any level.

 

[Viper_Maniac]

I dont like the looks and I doubt that they'll grow on me.

 

[toyomatt84]

I like it. But I do have some qualms with it. For instance, the rearend is a little short-cut, like a hatchback, but that's not too bad. All in all, it's sweet.

 

[Ethix101]

From the side it looks like an Altima to me.

Meh. It's okay. I think it looks slightly better than the previous GS, but I was never a huge fan of that styling either.


-Mark

 

[vat_man]

What's the deal with the boot and the C-Pillar? If you make it look like a friggin' hatchback, why not make it a hatchback.

Oh wait, I just remembered the Citroen XM, the last attempt at a large luxo hatch - I financed one of about five sold in Australia in the early '90s. I wish I was making that up. Poor bloke.

 

[Jugend]

Good. The GS has been around for quite a while now. One flaw in the design though is that it looks "overloaded" in the rear, sort of like it's ass got it's own ass. I'll probably like it irl though.

 

[Sage]

Toyota's preoccupation with boats lately has been a bit disturbing... the SC430 was designed after some kind of boat or canoe or something, and they've taken its design and applied it to the rest of its lineup. While not a bad idea (certainly, there's a lot of brand identification now), they need to work out some aspects. Like GTJugend said, this thing's problem is its hind-quarters... it's fat. Really fat. Those rear wheels look miniscule compared to the butt.

 

[VIPFREAK]

Boats? Anyway, looks ok I guess. Reminds me of the new Maxima.

Nick

 

[Sage]

Originally posted by VipFREAK
Boats?

Yes. And I quote from my February 2001 issue of C/D:

The chief engineer at Lexus, Yasushi Nakagawa, says the new SC430 design was inspired by the French Riviera. He sent the design team to the Côte d'Azur to check out the sights and sounds, and after they were dragged off the beach, the team sketched up this new convertible between espressos and bière pression.

[...]

This car has a clear Italianate flavor derived, we thought, from the Riva powerboats that carve the cerulean waters of the Mediterranean. Nakagawa confirmed the suspicion: "Some of the character lines of the region's yachts are reflected in this car, replacing traditional wavy lines."

 

[Josh]

I think it looks fine.

 

[VIPFREAK]

hmm... don't get C/D anymore but, interesting. I thought they were actually designing boats. Inspiration can be good, well most of the time.

Nick

 

[1X83Z]

Originally posted by Josh
I think it looks fine.

Actually, you don't. See, you don't get any respect among the 12-year-old community here unless you not only say that it's ugly but give a specific design flaw and what they could do to improve it. You also need to make a comment based on something that appears not to be the correct color, and maybe a comment on the style or size of the wheels as well as something that seems large or small that somebody else might not have noticed - wing mirrors or the grille, for instance. It's also nice to compare the whole vehicle or part of a vehicle to a non-automotive thing. If it was designed by Chris Bangle, you simply need to make it known that you think it's ugly and that it's Chris Bangle's fault. And yes, all this needs to be gathered from one small picture usually taken by the manufacturer in a strange mix of light never seen in the real world. Follow these tips and you're the smartest person on GTP.

 

[Joecool593]

I think the styling is sort of futuristic, especially the roofline. I love double lights

 

[ACremona22]

For the love of god just have two lights instead of four on the front.

 

[1X83Z]

Originally posted by ACremona22
For the love of god just have two lights instead of four on the front.

See what I mean?

 

[Ethix101]

Just checked out the link. I really like the interior, except for the wood trim. I could do without that, but it's probably an option anyway.

As for the 4 front lights..I like them. It helps distinguish the car from the Camry's and the Maxima's.


-Mark

 

[NIAL8U]

I would not complain cruising the streets in one of those, would look really nice with a descent body kit on it, lowered, 19" shadows, GT wing, be quite impressive

 

[1X83Z]

Originally posted by NIAL8U
I would not complain cruising the streets in one of those, would look really nice with a descent body kit on it, lowered, 19" shadows, GT wing, be quite impressive

Pathetic.

 

[vat_man]

So, Doug - having taken a shot at those of us willing to comment, do you have an opinion on the styling of this vehicle.

I guess it must be hard for Lexus, with BMW and Mercedes heading in such differing styling directions...

 

[1X83Z]

Originally posted by vat_man
So, Doug - having taken a shot at those of us willing to comment, do you have an opinion on the styling of this vehicle.

Looks like a pretty natural evolution to me. Keep in mind that when the present version came out in 1998, it was criticized beyond thought because it looked 'too different.' This one's going to take flack for being too subdued. We've already got a few of the standard 'boat' comparisons even though I'd bet anything that its length remains below or just slightly above the A6's. Your argument was fair, but the GS would never appear as a hatch - isn't its primary market North America? I know it does poorly in Europe, but that's no surprise given the engine choices.

I guess it must be hard for Lexus, with BMW and Mercedes heading in such differing styling directions...

Lexus and Mercedes are heading in the same direction, wouldn't you say?

 

[Josh]

Originally posted by M5Power
Actually, you don't. See, you don't get any respect among the 12-year-old community here unless you not only say that it's ugly but give a specific design flaw and what they could do to improve it. You also need to make a comment based on something that appears not to be the correct color, and maybe a comment on the style or size of the wheels as well as something that seems large or small that somebody else might not have noticed - wing mirrors or the grille, for instance. It's also nice to compare the whole vehicle or part of a vehicle to a non-automotive thing. If it was designed by Chris Bangle, you simply need to make it known that you think it's ugly and that it's Chris Bangle's fault. And yes, all this needs to be gathered from one small picture usually taken by the manufacturer in a strange mix of light never seen in the real world. Follow these tips and you're the smartest person on GTP.

****. Let me try again.

That **** is ugly. I don't understand why they gave it 4 headlights. That ***** needs 6 - two big ones in the middle so you can see where you're going when you're driftin' dat **** around a rally course at night, y0! What's with that black/chrome strip thing below the doors? Totally ghey! And those wheels suck ass. 5 stars are so 1980's. They need to be 19" bronze 7 spoke Volk TE-37's with 5p!nn34z! And what's with the size of the Lexus emblem? I've got dinner plates smaller than that ****. Toilets are cooler than that car because I can crap in them without worrying about messing up the interior. I bet Bangle had some say in the design of that GS. God damn him. He should be shot.


Oh, and Skylines r0x0r to da mAx04 d00d!

 

[vat_man]

Originally posted by M5Power
Lexus and Mercedes are heading in the same direction, wouldn't you say? [/B]

In much the way a car and a trailer are heading in the same direction, yes.

 

[Ethix101]

Originally posted by Josh
****. Let me try again.

That **** is ugly. I don't understand why they gave it 4 headlights. That ***** needs 6 - two big ones in the middle so you can see where you're going when you're driftin' dat **** around a rally course at night, y0! What's with that black/chrome strip thing below the doors? Totally ghey! And those wheels suck ass. 5 stars are so 1980's. They need to be 19" bronze 7 spoke Volk TE-37's with 5p!nn34z! And what's with the size of the Lexus emblem? I've got dinner plates smaller than that ****. Toilets are cooler than that car because I can crap in them without worrying about messing up the interior. I bet Bangle had some say in the design of that GS. God damn him. He should be shot.


Oh, and Skylines r0x0r to da mAx04 d00d!

....and the Oscar goes to....pens envelope:....Josh!! :applause:



-Mark

 

[Innotech]

Originally posted by M5Power
Actually, you don't. See, you don't get any respect among the 12-year-old community here unless you not only say that it's ugly but give a specific design flaw and what they could do to improve it. You also need to make a comment based on something that appears not to be the correct color, and maybe a comment on the style or size of the wheels as well as something that seems large or small that somebody else might not have noticed - wing mirrors or the grille, for instance. It's also nice to compare the whole vehicle or part of a vehicle to a non-automotive thing. If it was designed by Chris Bangle, you simply need to make it known that you think it's ugly and that it's Chris Bangle's fault. And yes, all this needs to be gathered from one small picture usually taken by the manufacturer in a strange mix of light never seen in the real world. Follow these tips and you're the smartest person on GTP.

I am 21 years old and even I can tell this car is disproportionate ****. Its not hard to see. the previous GS was much nicer.

Lexus 2005 GS-BAD design
Infiniti G35 sedan-GOOD design

 

[sn00pie]

I like the horizontal line across the car. Or some ****. The grill looks nice.

 

[1X83Z]

Originally posted by Josh
****. Let me try again.

That **** is ugly. I don't understand why they gave it 4 headlights. That ***** needs 6 - two big ones in the middle so you can see where you're going when you're driftin' dat **** around a rally course at night, y0! What's with that black/chrome strip thing below the doors? Totally ghey! And those wheels suck ass. 5 stars are so 1980's. They need to be 19" bronze 7 spoke Volk TE-37's with 5p!nn34z! And what's with the size of the Lexus emblem? I've got dinner plates smaller than that ****. Toilets are cooler than that car because I can crap in them without worrying about messing up the interior. I bet Bangle had some say in the design of that GS. God damn him. He should be shot.


Oh, and Skylines r0x0r to da mAx04 d00d!

:tup: Perfect.

In much the way a car and a trailer are heading in the same direction, yes.

Why? They're both taking dated "normal" designs and evolving them into rounded, up-to-date, decent-looking cars. BMW's certainly heading in a seperate direction, but Mercedes and Lexus don't seem to be that far apart.

 

[vat_man]

That was kind of my point - think of Mercedes as the car, towing the Lexus trailer.

 

[1X83Z]

Originally posted by vat_man
That was kind of my point - think of Mercedes as the car, towing the Lexus trailer.

I wouldn't say that at all - Merc might be coming out with a few designs before Lexus, but it's just as frequently the other way around (new RX came out before new ML; SC430 beat SL-class). Plus, everybody's playing catch-up to Lexus - it had a year high sales total for 2003 making it the number one luxury brand in the US for a fourth consecutive year. Or maybe Lexus stays with their sedan designs longer because they have more staying power.

 

[vat_man]

Not debating the quality of the cars or their engineering - indeed, the 'trickle down' effect of a lot of the Lexus refinement technology has seen not only garden variety Toyotas improve, but also forced the competition to up their game as well.

That said, the LS430 looks more like a 1998 S-Class with each facelift, the GS picked up a four headlight front end in the 1998 model change after the 1996 E-Class went with a four headlight front end.

The only original styling trend they've shown was with the hideous model change for the 2002 ES300, elements of which (particularly the headlights) also appeared in the SC430 released the same year - elements which seem to have been abandoned in the new GS series.

It still strikes me as a brand struggling to find an identity - the upper spec models have not found a consistent niche here (although there are plenty of LX470's running around - unless people are just buying Landcruisers and replacing the badges). The IS has found a big following, though. The GS probably ran two years too long, and the LS has simply moved too close to the S-Class and 7 series to sustain the badge deficit (irrational though that is).

It's a little ironic - it's been by far the most successful of the prestige badge products of the Japanese in the late '80s, although Infiniti seems to finally be getting some traction in the US (Nissan gave up on it here years ago, after a spectacularly half hearted effort). How is it placed dollar-wise against comparable products in the US?