Lexus GS: 3rd Generation

I have to post this link to Autoblog's photo set of the Project GS on the floor at SEMA -- there's always a concern seeing a vehicle outside of the highly manicured official photo environment, but the GS doesn't disappoint. Take a look at this rear close-up:

Looks almost cartoonish to me, I love the handmade look of the matte black paint. I have to say, I'm sold on this car. It's just awesome.

[Source: Autoblog]

The eagerly awaited Project GS by Five Axis has been unveiled, and it's quite handedly the best looking GS I've ever seen. Just take a minute and click through each of these images to get an up-close-and-personal look:

From the extensive widebody conversion right down to the Five:AD R5:F onyx rims, the Project GS hits all the right notes, so much that I barely notice the orange accents -- and when I do notice them, they look good...You know what, I love this concept so much I'm going on a photo hunt. More soon.

Click through for a full modification list.

Update: I found some desktop-size images of the Project GS, check out the added gallery.

Exterior

• Five Axis widebody conversion
• PPG custom formulated Satin Titanium Pearl paint by Five Axis with onyx and papaya accents

Exhaust

• Custom fabricated exhaust with dual finishers by Five Axis

Wheels

• FIVE:AD ONYX R5:F alloy wheels
o Front: 20x8.5”, ET25
o Rear: 20x10.5”, ET22

Tires

• Yokohama Advan concept tires with tread design by Five Axis
o Front: 245/30- ZR20
o Rear: 295/25-ZR20

Suspension

• Sport shocks
• Performance lowering springs

Brakes

• High-Performance Big Brake Kit - Front
o 355mm x 32mm rotors
o Six-piston opposed, 2- piece fixed, bolt-in-bridge caliper
• High-Performance Big Brake Kit - Rear
o 345mm x 28mm rotors
o Four-piston opposed, fixed, bolt-in-bridge caliper

Lexus & Five Axis will be making another big splash at next month's SEMA -- last year, the Project IS-F was the result of their collaboration, and this year, Five Axis is turning their attention to the Lexus GS 460 (click for a larger version):

I know it's a sketch and everything, but this is huge news. The GS needs this sort of attention, and I fully believe Five Axis are going to do a fantastic job.

Not only that, there's more:

• Five Axis will also be bringing the Project IS-F back to SEMA, only this time it's packing a heavily modified V8 engine. This could signal the IS-F modifications that have been bandied around since last year.
• Heavily acclaimed Icon 4x4 Design will be bringing an "anti-bling" version of the LX 570 to the show, which is promised to be subdued and super functional.
• Four custom Lexus IS-Fs from Fox Marketing, Import Tuner, 0-60 Magazine and MotorworldHype will also be displayed.

A lot of big news. Very excited about the Five Axis GS and the Icon 4x4 LX.

It was only days ago that I posted a Flickr photo, but this new set from 360° Forged photographer William Stern (see previous feature here) is beyond stunning:

The wheels are 360° Forged Mesh Eights, matte black and super. You can see the rest of the set here.

(In fact, this car/wheel combo is right in line with my future car purchase, though I'm planning on the GS hybrid.)

Edmunds has went ahead and pitted the Lexus GS 350 against the brand new Hyundai Genesis, resulting in a mismatch that places far too much emphasis on the pricetag:

So the Genesis is a large, rear-drive luxury sedan that's priced like a smaller front-drive one — at 195.6 inches long it's just 2.4 inches shorter overall than Lexus' flagship LS 460, but the $33,000 base price for the V6-powered Genesis is more than a grand cheaper than the base price of the entry-level ES 350. There isn't really anything directly comparable to the Genesis at Lexus or, for that matter, at any other manufacturer.

As tested, the GS 350 came fully equipped at $49,670. The Genesis showed up with a $4,000 Technology package and a $42,000 sticker. That's a thick $7,670 price difference, in case you haven't already made the calculation yourself. Yet the Genesis essentially matched the Lexus luxury for luxury, gizmo for gizmo.

Basing a vehicle's value entirely on the MSRP is faulty for so many reasons -- consider the residual value, which will favor the Lexus heavily. If the Lexus maintains 50% of its value over three years, and the Hyundai only 40%, the initial price difference will be reduced by more than half.

Now factor in Lexus' superior customer service, Hyundai's unfamiliarity with luxury customers, and the better fuel efficiency of the GS 350's V6 (5.3 mpg better). What's left?

Checking out the latest offerings from Tom's, the Japanese tuning company specializing in Lexus, I came across these fantastic VP17 wheels:

I tend to be very picky when it comes to wheel designs, but this staggered look is fantastic. The spokes could stand to be a bit thicker, but would probably wreck the entire look.

As for specifics, these are 19" forged alloy wheels that will fit all current IS and GS models and are currently available from Carson Lexus for $1200. Top-notch.