I recently spent a week driving a very special Lexus, the 2019 GS F 4-door sedan’s 10-year anniversary edition. With a powerful 5.0 Liter 32-valve V8 engine delivering 467 HP and 389 lb-ft of torque, and D-4S direct injection system, my test vehicle was raring—and roaring—to go.
The 10th-anniversary edition GS F has a premium price tag, costing more than the standard version of the GS F. It announces its special status with a special coat of matte finish Nebula Gray paint and 19-inch black BBS wheels. The tires are Michelin Pilot super sports, with blue-painted Brembo brake calipers.
The test model’s starting price of $84,350 includes 8-speed sport direct-shift transmission with steering wheel-mounted “F” Spec paddle shifters and Brembo brakes with high friction pads. F Spec double wishbone-type suspension with Sachs-Sourced shock absorbers, and torque vectoring differential are also featured.
Power Plus Safety Features
Photo: Lexus Newsroom
All this power needs plenty of safety features, and Lexus makes sure you have them. They added all the airbags, seat belts, and even force limiting pretensioners that even the most security-minded driver might desire. Keeping you steady on the road are vehicle dynamics integrated management with vehicle-stability control. Blindspot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, Lexus Safety System+, and pre-collision system with pedestrian detection are also featured.
All speed dynamic radar cruise control, lane departure alert with steering assist and lane-keep assist are included. Triple-beam LED headlamps and daytime running lights are also standard. Drivers also have a lot of choices for what mode to choose. Normal is the most balanced, while Sport S delivers a more responsive feel.
The Sport S+ kicks it into high gear to provide maximum performance. Those of us who drive around town or in traffic probably won’t have an opportunity to use that mode often. Torque vectoring differential further enhances performance (again, not for us city drivers). But Lexus vehicle integrated dynamics management has even more ways to enhance power and performance for those who want to drive more aggressively.
Photo: Lexus Newsroom
Opening the driver’s door to the GS F sedan, I loved the special splash of blue leather on the side bolsters. Blue carbon trim is also on the center console, with blue suede trim on the dash and blue seat-belt straps. The steering wheel, console, and shift knob are also decked out in blue. I also appreciated the power tilt/slide moon-roof that opens and closes with a single touch.
Fuel economy is estimated at 16 mpg in town and 24 mpg on the highway, for an average of 19 mpg. The starting price of the anniversary edition GS-F was $84,350, but Lexus added several features to bring the price tag (with destination charges) to $92,655. These options included color heads up display ($900), along with Mark Levinson premium audio ($1,380). Also added: 10th Anniversary Edition package ($5,000) that included the Nebula gray paint and 19” wheels mentioned above. F performance front seats and engraved 10th anniversary plaque plus other special touches are also included.
My only regret for the week of driving the 2019 GS F anniversary edition was not being able to leave town. The GS F would be the perfect vehicle to drive on our state’s super highway 130 between Georgetown and San Antonio, where the speed limit is 80 mph.
