2016 Lexus GS Sedan and LX SUV Get a Makeover

Lexus used the media hoopla surrounding the Pebble Beach Concours to pull back the curtain on the 2016 versions of its GS sedan and LX SUV. Nobody should be surprised by the addition of the massive spindle grille to either of these models, as they were the last ones still sporting the milder, less-scary Lexus face.

But the bigger news was hidden beneath the hood of the GS. It will be the third Lexus to sport a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder.

First introduced on the new NX 200t, this engine will be available in both the IS and GS sedans for 2016. In the newly named GS 220t, it gets bumped up to 241 horsepower (six more than in the NX) and will be mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, the standard gearbox on all rear-wheel-drive versions of the GS. The V6-powered GS 350 gets a small bump in power, from 306 hp to 311.

All versions of the GS get the blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert system as standard equipment, and the Lexus Safety System + is optional. Safety System + includes collision warning with pedestrian detection and automatic braking and lane-departure warning with steering assist. Navigation is also standard on the 350 and 450h trims.

The updates to the LX are similar. Beyond the freshened styling, the LX also gets the eight-speed automatic, which helps boost the EPA fuel economy by an estimated 1 mpg to 13 mpg city/18 mpg highway. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert and the Lexus Safety System + are both standard. Inside, the LX has been upgraded with a new 12.3-inch infotainment display and the Remote Touch interface.

Both the GS and LX are available with the Lexus Enform Remote, which is an app-based system (for iOS and Android) that gives the user the ability to start or stop the engine and climate system remotely, monitor “guest” drivers, remotely lock/unlock the doors, and find the vehicle from a remote location (such as in a mall parking lot), among other features. The system is used in conjunction with the Lexus Enform Safety Connect and Enform Remote subscriptions, both of which are complementary for one year.

Look for the new models to his showrooms this fall. Pricing will be announced closer to on-sale dates.

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