We’d like to believe that these are the first spy
shots of the Lexus GS successor, caught during some benchmark tests at the
Nurburgring. The size of the prototype certainly fits the bill, as well as the
fact that Lexus brought a Mercedes E-Class to benchmark against it.
There are a lot of rumors suggesting that Lexus has
decided to axe the GS from its line-up, with the current model being the last
of the GS family. Another report suggests that the Japanese premium car maker
has decided to replace the GS with a new ES model.
Part of the reasoning behind this is financial, with
the ES being based off Camry’s cheaper front-wheel drive platform, which is
Toyota’s much advertised global TNGA, and the current GS riding on a more
expensive rear-driven architecture.
Lexus could also decide to give the model a
completely new nameplate but at this point we have more questions than answers.
Despite the camouflage, we can already see that the design of the new Lexus
will be more grounded, featuring a smaller grille that the one featured in the
current model.
The only thing we can be certain about is that the
prototype is a hybrid, thanks that yellow round sticker on the rear window,
which is mandatory for all hybrid test cars on the Nurburgring due to safety
regulations.
Cr : Carscoops