2020 Lexus GS F Sedan

Few in number produced, but high in quality
By Durhl Caussey
Durhl Caussey
Durhl Caussey
June 21, 2020Updated: June 21, 2020

Talk about a head turner. The Ultrasonic Blue Mica exterior paint causes all eyes to look this way. Once you look inside and see the smooth black leather-trimmed “F” sport seats, you are hooked. Then you notice the “F” leather wrapped steering wheel surrounded by a mix of Alcantara and black carbon fiber trim pieces throughout the cabin, and you’ll know just how special this Lexus really is.

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The interior is a mix of leather, Alcantara, and carbon fiber. (Courtesy of Lexus)

Lexus also offers a red and a black/white interior for the GS F.

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White and Black leather interior. (Courtesy of Lexus)

The GS F is a rather rare vehicle.

Lexus calls this GS their best ever. As the old Superman intro used to proclaim, it’s “more powerful than a locomotive.” That pretty much describes the engine of the GS F. The 5.0-liter V8 engine puts out 487 horsepower through an 8-speed Sport Direst-Shift automatic transmission with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters. This big engine achieves 24 mpg on highway and 16 mpg in the city for a combined 19 mpg.

The GS F rests on 19-inch Black BBS forged alloy wheels with staggered Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires. You also get Torque Vectoring Differential (TVD) with three modes to distribute torque as-needed with machine speed, and high performance Brembo ventilated disc brakes.

The whole package provides stylish, smart looks outside while at the same time adding to safety and handling.

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The front prominently features the Spindle Grille.

Sitting in the cabin, the technology was superior to anything I’ve seen in any vehicle for 2020. The Lexus Navigation System with a 12.3-inch display and Dynamic Voice Command complemented the Lexus Enform connectivity suite. Enform Remote allows you to perform some commands through smartphones and smart watches through several digital assistants, including Amazon Alexa skill and Google Assistant action. Lexus Enform Destination Assist is another helpful feature which connects you to a live response center agent to advise and find your point of interest.

The Alcantara faux-suede trim on top of the instrumental panel, console and armrest was the most impressive feature I have ever seen on the interior of a vehicle. It adds to the upscale-athletic ambience. Together with the power slide/tilt moonroof, it encourages you to stay in the cockpit a little longer.

This beautiful space is wrapped in a meticulously crafted exterior, featuring the brand’s distinct Spindle Grille, a sharp and angular silhouette, black power-folding side mirrors, and a carbon fiber rear lip spoiler.

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Carbon fiber lip spoiler. (Courtesy of Lexus)

Looking at the combination of raw 5.0L V8 performance with Lexus craftsmanship inside out, the Lexus GS F is both special and rare. It’s a statement of how far the GS platform can go.

The driver’s seat is 10-way power adjustable, while the co-pilot’s seat is 8-way. These seats are low and tight, and that combined with the sports design that rise at the edge some inches, makes it just too uncomfortable when getting out of the car.

Lexus New Vehicle Limited Warranty
4-year/50,000-mile Basic Warranty
6-year/70,000-mile Powertrain Warranty
6-year/unlimited-mile Corrosion and Perforation Warranty.

Durhl Caussey writes a car column read around the world. He may be reached at this paper or [email protected].