LEXUS GS 2008-2011 Photos, engines & full specs

Lexus introduced a facelifted the third generation of the GS lineup in 2007 for the 2008 model year and improved the safety package, and upgraded the engines.

Toyota tried to keep the money coming during the 2007 world financial crisis, and, in order to do that, it had to offer something better than its competitors. Thus, it upgraded the GS lineup and gave it more power and more equipment in all trim levels.

On the outside, there was not a good time to give the vehicle a major refresh, but still, there were subtle modifications on the front fascia. Thus, the chromed surrounding for the grille and the reshaped lower bumper helped distinguish the facelifted version from its predecessor. The lower valance integrated fog lamps and minimized the drag coefficient to 0.27, which led to better fuel efficiency.

Inside, the automaker combined expensive wood trims and polished-metal accents throughout the cabin, increasing the car's elegant feel. For a more comfortable experience, Lexus added the Smart-Access keyless entry system, with push-to-start feature that allowed the driver to keep the key in their pockets. Depending on the options, the GS also featured an improved sat-nav system, which displayed its info on an LCD placed atop the center stack.

Under the hood, Lexus raised the power for the engines' lineup. In addition, it brought the 4.6-liter V8 as a replacement for the former 4.3-liter powerplant. Last but not least, the hybrid version was even better and produced almost 60 hp more than the previous hybrid model.