NewLexus GS F revealed ahead of Detroit show

Lexus will exhibit the all-new, high-performance GS F sports sedan at the North American International Auto Show 2015 in Detroit, United States, from January 12 through 25. Right on the heels of the RC F sports coupe debut in 2014, the new GS F is positioned to add further spice to the Lexus lineup.

At the heart of the powertrain is a naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 engine. The 8-Speed Sport Direct Shift (SPDS) transmission which, when set to manual, allows rapid gear shifting with response times as low as 0.1 seconds.

Lexus says the GS F has had its chassis stiffened over that of the standard GS saloon on which it is based. The chassis will feature “structural reinforcements and an exclusive suspension package [strut and multi-link] designed to optimise the car’s handling capabilities and ride quality”.

Weighing in at 1830kg, the GS F undercuts the BMW M5 by 115kg and the E63 AMG by 40kg, making it the lightest model in its class.

The GS F is equipped with Lexus’s Torque Vectoring Differential as standard. It includes three modes: Standard, Slalom (which improves steering response and agility), and Track (for circuit driving).

Design wise, the GS F builds on the look of the standard car and features several aggressive-looking F aerodynamic and styling additions, including new front and rear bumpers, flared wheel arches, side skirts, a rear diffuser and a subtle lip spoiler. Quad exhausts feature at the rear.

The GS F rides on 19in alloy wheels front and rear. The front wheels are shod in 255/35 R19 tyres while the rears use 275/35 R19s.

The GS F is the second four-door saloon Lexus’s performance F division has created after the 2008 IS F. F division was also responsible for the V10 LFA supercar and the new RC F coupé, which is now arriving in the UK for sale.

Pricing has yet to be revealed for the GS F as it is still some way from its European launch, but expect it to cost around £80,000 (Rs 78.74 lakh) when it arrives towards the end of 2015. The high price will in part be justified by the high level of standard kit Lexus will offer with the car.

Following the GS F is likely to be a four-door version of the RC F, the IS F, which will feature identical underpinnings to those of the coupé but a slightly lower price tag. Expect to see the IS F "sometime in 2016", according to sources. This may well be followed by a convertible version of the RC F.