With temperatures just above freezing, it is damn cold, the sky overcast clouds. The Eifel is today once again not at their best. But there is a bright spot. In fact even 477. Because today we have the opportunity, the brand-new, 477-hp Lexus GS F to drive on the airfield circuit in Mendig.
During the competition trusts in the so-called power-sedan segment on turbo-fired units, makes the GS F is a naturally aspirated 5-liter V8 engine for real pushing. And neat thrust consisting of nearly 477 horses and 530 Nm of torque, the sedan also needs. With nearly two tons of weight is the luxury liner - at least on paper - driving dynamics not necessarily blessed.
But theory and practice have always been two quite different matters. So get into the cockpit to even feel the Japanese neatly on the tooth. The heater has been running - and even the interior looks well-being: Very high quality materials dominate the cockpit, the workmanship is top. At the center of the visual field: a nice, small steering wheel - below is fortunately not flattened - contrary to the current trend. With numerous, more or less well-to-use buttons, among others, the Navi and the phone can be operated.
But much more important: The paddle shifter left and right behind the steering wheel, which can be the eight courses of direct transmission "SPDS" (Sport Direct Shift) Sort optional. The transmission control offers the driver a choice of driving modes, which are different driving styles and needs. A switch in the cockpit allows the modes "Normal", "Eco", "Sport S" and "Sport S +" enable and disable.
From comfortable to fit racetrack
The "Normal" mode is active as the default program. Here, the Lexus GS F presents cultured and comfortable as you would expect from a Lexus sedan is as usual. In "Eco" mode, the electronic supports a consumption-driving. In "Sport S" mode the electronic switching control also uses the information of the g-sensor (which also then to ensure optimum deceleration and braking stability when the sedan should once shortly lose ground contact) to engage the matching of the determined driving state transition, During hard braking of a curve, the transmission automatically switches back, keeps the low speed in the curve and selects at corner exit the appropriate translation, so that the driver can accelerate out powerfully and with maximum feedback.
Sounds complicated, but actually works almost perfectly. In "Sport S +" - mode, the gears turned out later, the downshift occurs earlier and at higher speeds than in "S" mode. In addition, the "Sport S +" is - mode the electric power steering tuned EPS on the racetrack and the new "Sport" mode of the torque vectoring system activated. More on that later.
Gottlob we can the sport sedan today fight over the closed airfield circuit of Mendig - and spare us any costly clashes with the race management. The first corners we take leisurely, finally, the Michelin Pilot Super Sport (front 255/35 R19, rear: 275/35 R19) still cold and the asphalt does not matter in view of the cold and wet weather also the best impression. On the main straight but we can properly press the Tube. And, yes, it works! Lexus specifies the standard sprint from zero to huntert things with 4.6 seconds. And we believe immediately. The V8 has no problems to push the not exactly light load properly.
The engines package consisting of high-strength Schmiedepleueln and lightweight titanium valves on the intake and exhaust in Verbidnung with a low-friction design of the valve train, as well as the advanced adjustment of the variable valve timing VVT-iE (Variable Valve Timing-intelligent Electric motor) allow speeds up to 7,300 revolutions per minute. Between 4,800 and 5,600 rpm, the maximum torque of 530 Nm is on.
On the drying track and warming up of tires confidence in the Lexus GS F grows, the cornering speeds take just about like the grin on our faces. The chassis with dampers from ZF Sachs works perfectly, leaves too little body roll and is not too tight. Only the steering could be something about the central position directly - a case of serious sports cars niht rarely threshold compliance issues.
The good, so to speak, "mechanical" driving dynamics of the Lexus GS F are additionally supported by the Torque Vectoring Differential (TVD) by the drive torque at the rear axle selectively distributed and thus the cornering performance of the GS F optimized without the driver's intervention feels to ride as alzu disturbing.
In "standard" mode, the TVD system guarantees Lexus GS F for a fairly good balance between agility and stability. The perfect mode ie for use in road traffic. In "Slalom" mode, the GS-F already works noticeably more dynamic, agile and offers a more direct feedback. In "Track" mode, the system optimizes driveability toward maximum stability for high tempos.
Extended VDIM Sports mode
The system developed by Lexus Vehicle Dynamic Integrated Management (VDIM) summarizes the individual vehicle dynamics facilities such as ABS, VSC and TRC into an integrated system together and to react to every little traction loss better and both in normal driving and in sports use for maximum driving stability make. As in the Lexus RC F has also the driving dynamics management of the GS F over a wider range of functions with "Sport" and "Expert" mode, which is exclusively reserved for the F-models.
In "Normal" mode, the system with soft control interventions work and to ensure in normal driving conditions, a high level of active safety. In "Sport" mode, the control thresholds are higher, so that the driver gets more dynamic driving margin. The maps for VSC and TRC are matched to the racetrack. The "Expert" mode is only for experienced sports drivers who want GS F to drift in the drift on the racetrack. The TRC is then not active, VSC, motor control and brake system work with significantly higher control thresholds and act only a rotation of the vehicle around its axis counter.
The longer our stint, the later we set the braking points. Taking the anchor before tight bends, the Brembo brakes brakes with lightweight, highly rigid monoblock callipers in light alloy with six-piston front and four piston rear the Boliden downright violent one. The nearly two tons of Japan-Bombers one barely notices when braking. That's the way it has to be! Whether the brake system with the Lexus GS F even after many laps around the track still has the same little game? According to our only 4-5 laps in a row on the airfield circuit in Mendig to judge hardly.
After all, the internally ventilated brake discs (diameter 380 mm front and 345 mm rear) with helical blades are slotted to prevent fading. To cool the front brakes also carry two air inlets in the front apron in.
The Lexus GS F comes to driving dynamics might not match the motor side much stronger competition from Germany. For this he is with a starting price of 98,700 euros but also a bit cheaper - and not only because of its free-breathing V8 engine is an interesting alternative!