Lexus adds GS entry hybrid

Lexus Australia has added the frugal GS 300h petrol-electric hybrid to its line-up as part of the latest generation’s first update, which also includes model deletions and price and equipment changes.

There will be three 300h models, starting at $79,000 for the Luxury, progressing through $87,000 for the F Sport and $102,000 for the Sports Luxury.

The cheapest GS 450h hybrid, the $99,900 Luxury, has been dropped, as has the most expensive 250 four-cylinder petrol model, the $99,400 Sports Luxury. Potential buyers of both those models are expected to migrate to the 300h.

However, with supply limited to around 10 examples of 300h per month, Lexus Australia isn’t expecting a lift in hybrid’s 35 per cent share of GS sales. The company is chasing a long term overall 50-50 sales split between conventional drivetrains and hybrids across sit model line-up in Australia.

The GS 300h brings the hybrid models on offer here to six, with both RC coupe and NX small SUV hybrids tipped to join the range in 2014.

The 300h is powered by the same combination of 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine and electric motor as the IS 300h launched in Australia earlier this year.

Driving the rear wheels via a planetary gear continuously variable transmission, it develops 164kW, drinks at an official claimed rate of just 5.2L/100km and emits 121 grams of CO2 per kilometre.

Those figures make it the most efficient model in the GS range, but it still can’t match the claimed fuel economy of rival sedans such as the 5.1L/100km Audi A6 2.0 TDI, 4.3L/100km Mercedes-Benz E300 hybrid and 4.9L/100km E250 CDI turbo-diesel.

The GS 350 Sports Luxury cops a $2555 price hike to $111,600 and the F Sport an $855 rise to $99,900. The GS 450h Sports Luxury rises $1600 to $123,500 and the F Sports $200 to $112,100. The 250 F Sport and Luxury both drop $45 to $85,000 and $77,000.

New equipment includes eight speed auto from the IS for the GS 350 and Lane Keep Assist as standard across all GS Line Sports Luxury variants and optional on GS 350 and GS 450h F Sport models.

The GS Line’s head up display (HUD) has also been upgraded so that it projects navigation, audio and vehicle speed information onto the windshield in full colour.

Sports Luxury variants also receive new 19-inch alloy wheels (replacing 18-inch alloys) and LED fog lamps as standard.

Year-on-year GS sales are down 3.3 per cent from 422 to 408 sales. Lexus Australia says that’s because it has not been promoting he car of late. That’s a situation it intends to correct in the New Year.

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