The definition of a supercar used to be easy, it was based on horsepower we reckon if your car can do 450bhp its classed as a supercar, four door or two door it doesn’t matter. And the entry level price should be at least £80k. With so many car manufactures regularly breaking the 450bhp mark the supercar as we know it is no more. Cars like the Lexus GS F are partly to blame, actually we blame Mercedes AMG and BMW M Class performance derivatives more. That hasn’t stopped Lexus from heading on over to the Detroit with a world premiere of a new GS F high-performance saloon at the North American International Auto Show on 13 January. The GS F will be the next addition to Lexus’s ‘F’ line, joining the recently launched RC F coupe. The new model aims to include what Lexus owners value, refinement. Most Lexus owners won’t be too familiar with the GS F’s get up and go, the F in Lexus is what AMG is to Mercedes and the GS F will have unfamiliar levels of “speed and agility of a premium sports car” say Lexus. The GS F shares the same platform as the Lexus GS, but benefits from extensive enhancements throughout, including the powertrain. This features a naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 engine that produces 467bhp (348kW) at 7,100rpm and peak torque of 527Nm between 4,800 and 5,600rpm. This sophisticated unit can operate in both the Otto and Atkinson combustion cycles to optimise power or efficiency according to driving conditions. It will be matched to an eight-speed automatic gearbox with a manual shift function. Lexus’s Torque Vectoring Differential, which debuted in the RC F, will be part of the GS F’s standard specification. It will operate in three different modes: –

• Standard (default), for a balance of agility and firmness
• Slalom, emphasising nimble steering response and agility
• Track, delivering stability in high-speed circuit driving

The GS F’s monocoque chassis will feature structural reinforcements and an exclusive suspension package designed to optimise the car’s handling capabilities and ride quality. Drivers can anticipate stable, smooth performance on the open road and rewarding handling when tackling challenging routes or circuit driving. With a 1,830kg kerb weight*, the GS F is set to be the lightest model in its class. No word on pricing or availability, as usual Lexus like many other car manufacturers want to stretch out their new car story just a little longer.