Lexus supercharges GS350 F Sport for SEMA

Lexus will use tomorrow's Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas to unveil one of its most powerful F Sport models yet, the supercharged 2013 GS350 F Sport.

Revealing one possible direction the Japanese luxury car-maker could go if it wanted to take on the likes of AMG with a full-blown GS F super-sedan, the supercharged GS makes use of several aftermarket parts led by a powertrain upgrade by Japanese auto tuner Apexi.

Lexus hasn't divulged how much more power the tweaked GS350 F Sport generates, but expect it to be a lot more than the regular model's  233kW/378Nm, thanks to an Apexi CG SPL custom supercharger kit, Smart Accel throttle controller and dual-header exhaust system.

Tuned by VIP Auto Salon, the hotted-up rear-drive large sedan is also fitted with Brembo brakes, RSR Super coil-over suspension and larger 20-inch alloy wheels shod with Yokohama S Drive tyres measuring 255/30 up front and 275/30 at the rear.

It's all topped off with a bodykit from Japanese tuner WALD and although Lexus isn't commenting on whether we'll see an official supercharged version of its GS tuned by TMG (Toyota Motorsport GmbH) - like the mooted twin-turbo LS460 - it's clear that Lexus intends to do more with its F Sport division.

"Since its reveal at 2011 SEMA, the GS F Sport has brought sizzle to the fourth-generation GS and Lexus line-up," said Lexus. "As if engaging driving enthusiasts with factory engineering and a heightened performance level weren't enough, this GS takes it up a notch."

Lexus last week revealed its 11th (and first convertible) F Sport model for Australia – the IS250C F Sport, which is due in local showrooms in mid-November – following the small CT200h hatch, mid-size IS250 and IS350 sedans, large GS250, GS350 and GS450h hybrid sedans, RX350 and RX450h hybrid crossovers and, also next month, the LS460 and LS600h hybrid limousines.

The latter will be launched as part of a facelifted LS line-up to make its Australian debut at the Melbourne Cup celebrations on November 7, while Lexus is expected to launch new F Sport versions with next year's redesigned IS sedan and its first IS-based coupe, as previewed by the LF-CC at last month's Paris show.

So far, however, the outgoing IS F sedan with its 311kW/505Nm 5.0-litre V8 is Lexus' only full-blown F model, rivalling the likes of BMW's M3, Audi's RS4 and the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG.

The new LS was also on show at SEMA, with a blinged-out head-turning 2013 LS460 F Sport model sporting a matt-silver paintjob and giant 22-inch custom wheels. Tuned by Five Axis, the tweaked LS460 F Sport features a new aerodynamic bodykit with an aggressive new face, and is also fitted with an AirRunner TC-5 air suspension system.

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