2016 Lexus GS Gets Updates, Including a Turbo-Four

2016 Lexus GS (Credit: © Lexus)

Lexus was on a roll at Pebble Beach this year, as it unveiled a new look for two of its staple vehicles. One of these vehicles was the GS sedan, which was way overdue for a restyling, as it stuck out on dealer lots due to it hanging on to Lexus’ old design language. Along with a new look comes a revised engine lineup and a new transmission.

The huge change for the 2016 model year is the all-new front end. This more stylish nose puts the GS in line with the rest of Lexus’ lineup, plus it gives the sedan the sporty look it needs to compete with the German heavy hitters. New items up front include a revised one-piece spindle grille, shapelier bi-LED headlights, and new stylized outer air inlets. The rear end also underwent a few tweaks, including a slightly revised bumper and new taillights graphics.

2016 Lexus GS (Credit: © Lexus)

On top of the styling changes, Lexus also added three new colors to its option list for 2016: Matador Red Mica, Nightfall Mica and Ultrasonic Blue Mica 2.0.

While the overall look of the GS’ cabin is about the same in the 2016 model year, it does feature a few new tech gadgets to keep it fresh. These upgrades include standard navigation on the GS 350 and GS 450h, a larger 4.2-inch multi-information display, a new multimedia system with a 12.3-inch display and Remote Touch Interface, Lexus Enform Service Connect, and a GPS time-zone-controlled analog clock.

Also included in the upgrades to the cabin are new colors and trim options. The new colors include Chateau, Noble Brown, and Rioja Red (F Sport only), while the new optional trims include laser cut wood, Matte Walnut, Linear 3D, and Naguri aluminum (F Sport only).

2016 Lexus GS (Credit: © Lexus)

Last, but certainly not least, are the updates to the GS’ powertrain. First up is the continued spread of Lexus’ new 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. This engine rests under the hood of the GS 200t, and it delivers 241 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque exclusively to the rear wheels.

If you need more oomph, there is the updated 3.5-liter V-6 in the GS 350, which produces 311 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque (5 horsepower and 3 pound-feet more than the 2015 model). The GS 350 is available with either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.

Both the GS 200t and the GS 350 come standard with a new eight-speed automatic transmission.

For those who want a combination of power and fuel economy, there is the GS 450h. This model combines a 3.5-liter V-6 with an electric motor for a combined output of 338 horsepower and up to 29 mpg city. The GS 450h comes with a continuously variable transmission to help increase its fuel economy.

There are no pricing details nor is there a release date available yet, but we should learn more about this soon.