Lexus GS Chronology

MILESTONES

January 1993 - A new addition to the Lexus family, the Lexus GS 300 luxury performance sedan, makes its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show and the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit.

March 1993 - Lexus GS 300 goes on sale.

January 1997 - Lexus introduces the HPS (High Performance Sedan) concept vehicle at the 1997 North American International Auto Show. The HPS is a dramatic hint of the all-new GS 400/300 performance sedan to be launched as part of the Lexus model line-up for 1998.

September 1997 - Lexus introduces its next-generation GS 400/300. New engines featuring Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i) produce 300 horsepower in the V8 GS 400 and 225 horsepower in the six-cylinder Lexus GS 300. A new 5-speed automatic transmission is also installed. "Something Wicked This Way Comes" advertising campaign is acclaimed for its dramatic impact.

October 1997 - The second-generation Lexus GS 400/300 goes on sale.

December 1997 - Lexus debuted its one-of-a-kind Street Rod at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Based on a '32 roadster, the Lexus Street Rod was created to showcase a specially modified Lexus GS 400 V8, producing more than 400 horsepower.

March 1999 - Lexus enters the world of motorsports with Lexus GS 400 luxury sport sedan in the Grand American Motorola Cup Sports class. The Team Lexus GS 400 won at Road Atlanta in its sixth race and went on to claim two track records and four podium finishes in Lexus' inaugural racing year.

April 1999 - Team Lexus launched and debuted two privateer Lexus GS 400 racecars in the Motorola Cup series. In its successful inaugural season, Lexus GS 400 secured four podium finishes in nine races.

August 2000 - Lexus L-Tuned Sport Packages, aftermarket sport packages that add more performance and style to the GS series, go on sale through Lexus dealers.

September 2000 - Lexus GS receives a new 4.3-liter V8 engine and is re-named the GS 430.

March 2003 - Lexus introduces a limited edition GS 300 SportDesign model. The 2003 SportDesign edition features new saddle-color leather seats, gunmetal-colored aluminum wheels and an exclusive Graphite Gray Pearl exterior.

January 2004 - Redesigned third-generation GS luxury sport sedan debuts at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

February 2005 - The third-generation GS goes on sale.

April 2006 - The Lexus GS 450h enters the market as the first hybrid-powered luxury sport sedan.

September 2006 - Lexus GS 350 enters the market with a 306-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 replacing the GS 300's 245-horsepower, 3.0-liter V6; Lexus GS 430 offers a newly optional Active Stabilizer system that helps keep the body flat in a turn (also available on Lexus GS 450h).

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