Recently launched in Hong Kong, Lexus' prestige cruiser has been given a sharp update for 2008.
Sitting on an all-new chassis, the GS300's body has been lengthened by a smidgin, yet it retains its characteristic curvaceous elegance. Lexus' arrowhead-inspired redesign lends more of a modern edge to the sedan, which boasts funkier headlights, door mirrors with integrated indicators, a shark-like nose and front grille and spanking seven-spoke alloys.
Exterior design cues have been carried through to the interior, which has always been a swish affair, but this time there's more use of tactile materials.
New design elements include double-stitched leather seats, a restyled dashboard with natural wood grain panelling, speed-sensitive power doors and windows and internally fan-cooled front seats that eliminate the humid feeling associated with leather (although only in the Deluxe model).
As well as ventilated front seats, the Deluxe variant has a few premium features over and above what comes on the standard model, including a sunroof, a rear spoiler, a wooden steering wheel and gearstick knob, a power-operated rear window sunshade and side airbags for the rear seats.
Lexus has gone all out to make sure the kit lives up to the expectations raised by the GS300's spacious five-seater cabin and boot space, with interior LED mood lighting, dual-zone climate control, a 10-speaker, six-CD entertainment system, rain-sensing wipers, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, a Bluetooth adaptor, and keyless entry as standard issue even on the entry-level model.