GS F worth it for the soundtrack alone

What is it?

It’s a brawny looker with a beefy soundtrack.

The Lexus GS F packs a 5.0-litre V8 with 351kW and 530Nm.

The 10th Anniversary gets a few extras including a matte grey paint job.  It adds a more assertive look to a truly aggressive, yet user friendly package.

Fuel economy is quoted as 11.3L/100km from the 66L tank and there’s little reason to doubt that, unless the boot is used appropriately on the right pedal.

Somehow, however, with both exuberant and normal driving, we finished with a final figure of 10.0L/100km.

What’s it cost?

For 2019’s Lexus GS F 10th Anniversary Edition, a sticker price of $155,940 plus on roads has been applied.

By the way, it’s the anniversary of the F Sport division, just in case you were wondering what the 10th bit was all about.

For the dosh there’s the aforementioned paint, blue painted Brembo brakes, a curiously shaded blue inside on the seats which feature provision for race harnesses.

There is a take it or leave it blue suede dash cover and some small, subtle, body enhancements. 

Added air intakes up front flank the broad, gloss black painted grille.

It looks evil just standing still.

The L shaped driving lights are separate to the main LED lights, and look great at night or when indicating.

Rubber is big at 275/35/19 from Pirelli, and provides plenty of grip, both in a straight line and in sweepers.

They connect a front and rear track of 1555mm and 1560mm, and a wheelbase of 2850mm. It looks smaller than its 4915mm thanks to the space warping paint.

In terms of safety there’s eight airbags and the usual active and passive features such as Blind Spot Alert, Radar Cruise Control, and Automatic Emergency Braking, plus European flashing tail lamps.

The safety package comes under the umbrella of Lexus Safety Systems+. A Head Up Display is fitted and is crystal clear to read.

The dash design is not of the older folded style, rather a more traditional look, and it’s much easier on the eye. The widescreen display is connected to the now traditional mousepad.

What also delights is the sheer volume of information available. G force, lap times, torque vectoring from the active differential, and the drive modes such as Sport and Sport+ — both dial the GS F up to 11 and a bit more.

Front seats are skin-tight comfortable, with just the right amount of bolstering and lateral support.

Rear seats have the same, and rear legroom is adequate for most body types.

The same blue trim found up front is on the outermost sections of the rear pews, but the rear does not get the white centre stripe as seen in the forward section.

Extras outside include splashes of chrome around the grille, and a carbon fibre rear lip spoiler, sitting atop a 520-litre boot space.

Front guard air vents form a line that flows through to the rear wheel arches at the bottom of the doors, in keeping with the Lexus “L” ethos.

What’s it go like?

Think of every phrase you’ve ever heard to describe the rapid movement of a car or animal. Apply it to this.

It’s quick, very quick. But quick in a straight line is irrelevant unless the rounder parts of roads can be negotiated safely. Have no fear, immaculate handling is here.

There’s a beautiful baritone note to the exhaust, the tips of which are stacked in a slanted vertical style.

The experience begins with the press of the start button: a quiet whirr, and then a deep, distant rumble before it settles into a subdued grumble.

Weighing 1865kg it’s still no lightweight, yet there’s a spring in the step, a sprightliness, and a feeling that it will peel your face off from a standing start.

Aurally it’s a sensation, and coupled with the slick 10-speed auto, the rise and fall of that demonic howl is spine tingling.

Handling is en pointe too, with one of the most tactile steering systems I’ve experienced. It’s thought-quick in response, yet never over assists. It’s akin to the laser targeting system in the military, with a point and shoot mannerism.

In the lower stretches of the Blue Mountains is a superb piece of tight winding road, and it provides an ideal test for any car with handling pretensions.

Short apexes, long sweepers, downhill into 90 degrees, the GS F eats and spits them out without pause. The brakes are instant, with a breath on them providing a sensation, and the travel is perfectly balanced from top to bottom.

The F Sport suspension doesn’t merely keep the GS F on the straight and narrow in the twisty bits, it keeps body roll to a minimum and hard braking sees minor pitch forward.

What we like?

• Sensational soundtrack
• Sensational ride
• Sensational engine and transmission

What we don’t like?

• Mid $150k is a bit of an ask
• I don’t have the asking price
• Can’t buy the engine and exhaust notes on CD

The bottom line?

It’s a truly well sorted sports sedan, but a hefty whack to the wallet. The glorious soundtrack alone may justify the asking price, forgetting for a moment the rock solid handling and looks that caress the eyes.

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