At the Las Vegas Speedway with a 2013 Lexus GS 350 F Sport and an LFA

At the Las Vegas Speedway with a 2013 Lexus GS 350 F Sport and an LFA
This is not the car I was driving when I won my title 😉

How did you  spend your Saturday?

I spent it behind the wheel of a 2013 Lexus GS 350 F, ultimately winning the title of “Fastest Woman in Vegas” while driving on a closed course at Las Vegas Speedway. The GS350 really impressed me because it was the best of both words — fast and sleek like a sports car, but large enough for a family and totally decked out.

At the Las Vegas Speedway with a 2013 Lexus GS 350 F Sport and an LFA

But nothing could prepare me for my rides with professional race car driver Scott Pruett.

At the Las Vegas Speedway with a 2013 Lexus GS 350 F Sport and an LFAScott explaining what we have to look forward to while riding with him in the LFA

One by one, Scott took us all for a spin in both the 2013 GS350 F and the Lexus LFA.

At the Las Vegas Speedway with a 2013 Lexus GS 350 F Sport and an LFAPhoto courtesy of Lexus

My reaction to these high-speed rides was priceless … and all caught on video.

The 2013 GS350 F — which took many of its tech and design cues from the LFA — is a blast to drive!

At the Las Vegas Speedway with a 2013 Lexus GS 350 F Sport and an LFAPhoto courtesy of Lexus

At 306 horsepower, [the Lexus GS350 F Sport] is one of the most powerful base engines in the segment, as well as the only one with both port and direct injection. It propels the car from 0-60 mph in 5.7 seconds and at the same time, fuel economy has been improved.

Acceleration from 30 to 50 mph can take just 3.0 seconds, and improved engine sound characteristics complement the bolder, more energetic personality of the new GS. The six-speed sequential shift automatic transmission has paddle shifters and sport driving functions as standard equipment.

The transmission incorporates many features adopted from the Lexus IS F high-performance sedan — including faster shifts, and downshift throttle blips — to support four driving modes that can be operated by toggling the Lexus Drive Mode selector. In addition to the Normal mode, the driver can customize the driving experience using ECO, Sport S and Sport S+ modes.

An optional electronically controlled all-wheel-drive system is designed to enhance traction in a variety of driving conditions. The system can vary front-to-rear torque balance from 50/50 to as much as 30/70, depending on driving conditions, for exceptional control.

Dan has a 2011 Lexus IS250; until this weekend I wasn’t even a bit jealous … Now I am!

 

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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 started 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 is best known for her device-agnostic approach, deep-dive reviews, and enjoyment of exploring the latest tech, gadgets, and gear.

4 Comments on "At the Las Vegas Speedway with a 2013 Lexus GS 350 F Sport and an LFA"

  1. Did you like the flappy-paddle gear box?

  2. I’m so jealous!!!

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