February Will Bring the Launch of an All New 2013 Lexus GS

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Some of you will recall our ‘Guess what I am and Win’ contest series which offered a prize package consisting of:

2 one-year Pandora One premium subscriptions
4 movie tickets a month for a year from MovieTickets.com
A $250 OpenTable dining card

The clues were:

My screen width is wider than an iPad

I can help you plan your dinner-and-a-movie night out.

and

I can read your SMS texts for you…and even respond, if you like.

The answer, as EdifyHimDaily soon guessed, was the 2013 Lexus GS.

Some of you might have wondered what the prize package had to do with the final answer, and that was answered by the Lexus GS press release which came out on November 14:

Built for the age of 24/7 connectivity, the GS abounds with options for staying tapped in and current. Whether it’s conducting local searches through Bing or Yelp, making reservations through OpenTable, listening to Internet radio on Pandora® or iHeartRadio or checking in on Facebook, the next generation Lexus Enform® is there to assist. With this system, drivers can also connect with a live operator to find the nearest coffee shop, pharmacy, gas station, anything. Request driving directions and they’re beamed directly to the navigation system for multitasking at its best. Better still, the voice-enabled Remote Touch system, standard in every GS vehicle, lets drivers operate much of the technology with conversational voice commands so hands stay on the wheel. Talk about a status update!

As part of the optional navigation system, the GS also introduces the industry’s first 12.3-inch split-screen, high-resolution multimedia display. That’s wider than an iPad® and large enough to support simultaneous, split-screen viewing of a large map display, plus audio, climate or other vehicle information.

And now there’s word on when the new 2013 GS 350  will make its appearance …

... the new 2013 Lexus GS 350 comes to dealer showrooms in February 2012. Its arrival will be heralded by Lexus’ first-ever Super Bowl commercial, followed by Lexus being the Official Automotive Marketing Partner of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue.

“The launch of the all-new Lexus GS is so big that nothing short of the Super Bowl and the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition would do it justice,” said Mark Templin, Lexus group vice president and general manager. “We’ll also support the launch with a strong presence across all media, including a Consumer Performance Drive tour to encourage hands-on experience with the 2013 Lexus GS.”

The fourth-generation GS was revealed this summer at the prestigious Concours d’Elegance in Pebble Beach, Calif., and is making its auto show debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show, under way now. The all-new sport sedan features Lexus’ new design philosophy, including the signature Lexus spindle grille.

The new GS also incorporates a higher level of precision handling and driving dynamics. Whether gliding through a sweeping curve or attacking a tight corner, the GS exhibits a solid stance and confident handling. Its powerful 3.5-liter, 306 horsepower V6 engine propels the 2013 GS 350 from 0-60 mph in just 5.7 seconds.

Passengers enjoy a spacious cabin with luxury appointments including white LED ambient lighting and a classic analog clock. Cabin materials include three types of wood set off by meticulously detailed contrast stitching on the instrument panel, door trim, center console, shift knob and steering wheel.

Debuting on the new GS is the next-generation version of Lexus Enform® with Safety Connect®. This advanced multimedia system connects to music, information and entertainment services through the user’s smart phone. Apps include Bing for local search, OpenTable, MovieTickets.com, Pandora®, iHeartRadio, Facebook and Yelp. An SMS text-to-speech feature allows the driver to be read text messages and send preset responses. DVD audio and video compatibility, along with HD RadioTM with iTunes tagging and a three-month trial subscription to SiriusXM Satellite Radio® are standard.

The GS 350 will be available in rear-wheel drive (RWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations, and can be equipped with the available Premium, Luxury or F SPORT packages for greater personalization.

Next spring, the GS 450h hybrid arrives to complete the line-up. With a total system power output of 338 horsepower, the GS 450h not only has the power of a V8, but is projected to exceed most competitive V6s in fuel mileage with EPA-estimated ratings of 29 mpg city, 34 highway and 31 mpg combined.

All this gadgety goodness is almost enough to make me wish that I was in the market for a new car …

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About the Author

Judie Lipsett Stanford
Judie is the co-owner and Editor-in-Chief of Gear Diary, which she founded in September 2006. She got her start in 1999 writing software reviews at the now-defunct smaller.com; from mid-2000 through 2006, she wrote hardware reviews for and co-edited at The Gadgeteer. A recipient of the Sigma Kappa Colby Award for Technology, Judie has written for or been profiled by nationally known sites and magazines, and she has served on multiple industry hardware and software award panels. She is best known for her device-agnostic approach, enjoyment of exploring tech, gadgets, and gear, and her deep-diving, jargon-free reviews.