LEXUS GS F Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Introduced by Lexus in 2015 as a competitor in the mid-size sport sedan segment, the GS F was one of the last performance-oriented vehicles built by the Japanese automaker powered by a naturally-aspirated V8 engine.

The fourth generation of the GS lineup appeared on the market in 2011, but the Japanese automaker decided to introduce the F version just four years later at the 2015 North American International Auto Show as a 2016 model year. While it shared many body panels with its non-F sibling, it was a different kind of animal. It was, as Lexus put it, an 80% sportscar and a 20% luxury sedan. And they were just about right about that.

Sporting the spindle-design grille at the front inspired by the RC F sports car, the GS F featured wider side scoops on the air dam than its GS stablemates. On its sides, the 19” light-alloy wheels were not just a statement for the car's performance but also allowed bystanders to see the large rotors mounted in all corners. On the front fenders, the automaker made a vertical vent that stretched from the sills to the beltline. But the back of the car said everything about GS F's behavior: a lip spoiler adorned the trunk lid, a quad exhaust with two stacked pipes on each side peaked from under the bumper, flanking a diffuser.

Inside, it was a luxurious vehicle fitted with everything someone needed. The high-bolstered front bucket seats reminded customers that it wasn't just a regular GS but the F version. On the center console, next to the armrest, the automaker put a rotary dial that tuned the entire vehicle from Eco-mode to Sport Plus. Also, a reminder of the performance-oriented sedan was the carbon fiber trim on the dashboard, center stack, and door panels.

Under the hood, Lexus installed a 5.0-liter V8 engine that ran into Atkinson cycle when cruising but changed its behavior when it was throttled. The eight-speed automatic transmission sent all the power to the rear wheels via a Torque Vectoring Differential.