The latest Lexus to carry the marque’s F performance designation will give a first European demonstration of its speed and handling on Goodwood’s famous hillclimb course, with Toyota Gazoo Racing pilot Mike Conway at the wheel.
The V8-powered machine will be a poised performer, having been dynamically honed on the famous Nürburgring Nordschleife during its development programme.
Although the confines of the Goodwood hill won’t permit a full-blooded drive, the car’s sound, turn of speed and sharp-edged styling promise to make a big impression.
The festival date follows the car’s world debut at the Detroit motor show earlier this year and first European appearance at the Geneva motor show in the spring.
In the best traditions of Lexus’s F models, such as the LFA and new RC F coupe, the GS F is designed and engineered for exceptional driver rewards. Although based on the GS saloon, it benefits from significant revisions to sharpen its performance and handling. The body shell is reinforced, the suspension is sports-tuned and Lexus’s Torque Vectoring Differential – first seen on the RC F coupe – is fitted as standard.
Under the hood will be a fire-breathing naturally-aspirated 5.0-litre V8 that produces a remarkable 477PS and peak torque in excess of 530Nm.
The powerplant is mated to a lightning quick 8-speed automatic gearbox with manual-shifting capabilities and four different modes: Normal, Eco, SPORT S and SPORT S+, the latter designed specifically for the racetrack.
With the GS F tipping the scales at a class-leading 1830 kg, the acceleration of the new rear-wheel-drive sedan will be similar to a sports coupe, while its top speed should give some racecars a run for their money. As powerful as the engine is, the DOHC 32-valve powerplant is also fuel efficient, incorporating the Atkinson cycle when the car is driven in a civil manner.
The GS F’s Goodwood bow is an early preface to its appearance on the road; details of a production version for the UK will be announced later in the year.
Lexus will further add to the festival’s programme of rare and exclusive machines with appearance from the LFA supercar and the RC F GT3 competition car that is being campaigned this season by Frey Racing in the VLN endurance series in Germany.
