2006 GS300 unveiled at CIAS last week. Interesting that the badge still is 300 instead of 330.
Pics on Autospies.com:

Part One
Part Two

Can't wait for the specs to be released.

 

I'm typically in awe of car redesigns, but to be honest, I'm not a fan of the new GS.

The bottom part of the rear end is just way too big. If they had just slimmed that down a bit to match the trunk lid area, it would have been hot.

Also, on the front, they should have either stuck with the oval headlights or standard, but not both.

I'd take the new RL and E-class over the new GS.

 

The rear looks like a mix between the VW Phaeton and the Toyota Corolla . Rims look like TSX rims, but overall it looks pretty nice.

 

It looks decent from the front, although the front look is more like an evolution of the 1st gen Lexus SC than of the current GS. The rear is just nasty though...too much visual mass going on.

The design would work better if this were the LS, which would allow it to be bigger and thus have a longer wheelbase with the rear wheel pushed out further to carry the visual mass created by the sloping rear C-pillars and windows, and also elongate the trunk a bit to not give it that short/cutoff look.

 

I think it looks good. Cant wait to see how the AWD will do.

 

doesnt look that differnet from current design

 

this front kinda reminds me of the SABBARU

 

Like the current design better.

 

Out of curiosity, why would it be a 330?
Most of the 400 series were replaced with 430s, but I think all the 300s stayed that way.

 

RX300 became RX330 for '04.

 

Not to mention ES300 --> ES330

 

True, but the RX and ES both have no 400 series counterparts. (Though the RX400h will breat that rule when its released).

Anyway, I was just wondering. I never understood why Lexus bothered to switch from the GS400 and LS400 to the 430 anyway. I kept asking people, whats the extra 30 mean?

 

If you were to be cynical, the answer is to bring it closer to being a Mercedes clone. The V8 in the Mercedes base model S430 is 4.3L in displacement.

But I really don't know why else Lexus did that.

 

Well, the ES and RX changed because the engine was increased to 3300cc.. I haven't a clue about the 400s.

 

The inline 6 is gone after the '05 model year. It displaced 3.0 liters, hence the name "GS 300". The only other car that shared the same engine in the Lexus lineup is the IS 300 (The same Inline 6 that was in the last gen Supra). The ES and RX shared the same V6's which were bumped to 3.3 liters, renaming them to "330". The next GS and IS will too share the same engine as the RX and ES, but with slight differences in power, etc... The LS 430 and GS 430 share the same engine as well (4.3 liter V8), but with a slight difference in power between the two (LS=290 GS=300).
I don't understand why autospies is showing new pics of the car, it's the same car that was unveiled earlier this year in all of the major auto shows in the country, so their news is OLD news, as usual. Autospies sucks..
The '06 GS looks a lot better in person, IMHO. It still will take a little time to get used to it. Look at it this way, the cream of BMW is the 5 series, they are still selling well even with it's "new" look, I'm sure with Lexus' different look of the GS will definately make it a winner as well. My only disappointment is the minimal bump in power for the 330. I love my '01 GS, but the lease is up at the end of the month. My initial plan was to lease my current car up until the new one comes out, then replace it with the '06. Unfortunately we still have to wait another 4-5 months for it to come out, and I have a feeling it's going to be waaaaay overpriced initially. My only negative comment about my GS now is that as smooth as the engine is (soooooo smooth), it's just not powerful enough, and the V8 will most definately drink gas a lot more, not making it worth the big difference in price to me.

 

My bro is eyeing the new GS. Can you believe he's gonna trade in his 2002 C32AMG for a GS330/GS430??? Totally different cars. Personally, I would wait a year to make sure all the 'kinks' are out (better yet -- get a 2nd gen GS and mod the heck out of it). And you know they're gonna jack you when the new model comes out (ie any manufacturer will do this).

Oh well ... gotta test drive one when it comes out.

 

looks like a SC300 (front) and in the rear looks somewhat like the old GS300 just some modification involved. I guess I gotta see it in person to get a true opinion.

 

The grill looks like a Toyota avalon.

 

the current version of the car looks way nicer. the new car looks like it shares to much with it's toyota camry, avalon and corrola brethren.... just my opinion.... this car won't be on my list...

 

330 has a 3.3L V6

430 has a 4.3 V8

i hope the lexus will bring a 5.0 V12 to US, it's only exclusively for Toyota Century so far