2013 Lexus GS - Is it What Lexus Needs?

The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance show in Monterey, California is starting tomorrow, and the GS will be unveiled in public for the first time at the show. Press materials have appeared online in advance of this event.

The GS comes at a pivotal point in Lexus history, when public relations issues have plagued the company (unintended acceleration), as well as a Japanese tsunami and earthquake. On top of that, Lexus models have failed to connect with consumers who are increasingly looking for more engaging offerings.

That has all culminated to the point of Lexus losing top billing in the United States luxury manufacturer sales race. That race will be lost by a large margin. It is against this backdrop that Lexus is introducing the new GS. Let's take a look and see if it will fare better than Lexus' previous effort.

If you remember, the previous GS was supposed to make a big splash in the segment as well. It failed to do that. The GS shows off a new evolution of the L-Finesse styling language, one that is meant to be more engaging and distinctive. The LF-GH Concept that preceded the GS certainly was bold, but the GS tones things down a bit for production.

Not a whole lot of new design ground is broken, and the centerpiece of the car is Lexus' new "spindle" grille design. It certainly is a more imposing face than we've seen usually from Lexus designers. The GS no doubt has been toned down from the concept. There are Infiniti-like themes in the design, and the greenhouse is pretty upright. There are a few unique elements though, such as the door-mounted mirror.

Overall, it isn't quite as dynamic or engaging as we had hoped. though. For instance, how does it compare to the redesigned Audi A6 and BMW 5-Series? Those are this car's biggest competition. No doubt this car is a dramatic change versus its predecessor, and one for the better. We'll have to wait to see it in person to make a final judgement.

Look inside, and you'll see something nothing short of extremely impressive. The design, the materials, everything is far improved over the previous generation car. The orientation switches from a vertical center stack to a more BMW-like horizontal layout. Vents show influence from the LFA, as well as the new steering wheel design. An analogue clock, formed form ingot, serves as a centerpiece.

Housed in the center stack is a 12.3-inch screen, the largest in the industry. It offers vehicle information and split-screen viewing for the driver and passenger. LED lighting is used extensively throughout the interior. And, check out the seats! They look extremely comfortable. The GS also debuts a new technology called S-Flow, which uses occupant detection technology to direct air from the HVAC system directly to the occupants.

Curiously enough, we're not seeing any details about the car's power train. We expect them to be forthcoming. Until we hear more, check out the car's in our full-gallery below, then let us know what you think in the comments section.