 2013 Lexus GS 350 F-Sport. Click image to enlarge |
Eat Xenon, Old Man Winter: The GS’ xenon lights contribute to an at-ease feeling, to go. These are powerful, aimed in a way that keeps oncoming traffic from high-beaming you, and include a washer system—so light transmission is always at its maximum. Especially on longer after-dark drives and in poor-visibility conditions, drivers can expect their eyes to feel relaxed and free of fatigue. On my drive of the highways surrounding Sudbury, white, crisp light soaked the road ahead, as well as the roadside.
Reflective materials (signage, taillamps, safety vests, animal retinas) are engaged from farther away, too. Appreciably, this lighting system is standard.
Snow Mode: If you need extra confidence in slippery stuff, press the ‘Snow’ button. This forces the GS to take off from a stop in second gear, while numbing the throttle considerably to prevent the tires from breaking loose. If you’re not in a rush, this de-powered ‘SNOW’ mode helps things feel positively locked-down.
Electronics: Lexus’ so-called Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) and Traction Control (TRAC) systems got a good workout on my icy drive. On ice, where even slight throttle application will send the tires spinning fast in an instant, the system allowed little more than a few free rotations of the rear wheels before dialing back engine power and applying the corresponding brakes. Drivers with an appreciation for limited traction shouldn’t find any issue with the system’s calibration on ice. Corrections are issued out smoothly, and as invisibly as possible.
If only one tire is on ice, the brakes are applied solely to that wheel, which encourages the other wheel to kick in and do more work. This simulates the effect of a limited-slip differential.
 2013 Lexus GS 350 F-Sport. Click image to enlarge |
At city speeds, small lateral motions are allowed before the VDIM system engages to neutralize them. At higher speeds, you’ll see the system blinking its warning light before you even feel a loss of traction. And, if you want to hang the tail out, make donuts in the empty Canadian Tire parking lot or spray snow at things, just hold the traction control button down for about 7 second while stopped, and it’ll keep its nose out of your business. That’s fun stuff, too.
All said, with winter tires on board, you’ll feel the GS working hard to get itself up to speed, and to keep straight and true without any drama. My only complaint of the TRAC system’s calibration surfaced later in the evening, after perhaps 7 or 8 inches of snow had fallen. When at risk of getting ‘stuck’ at a low speed, the system doesn’t allow enough wheelspin to really fling the rear wheels clean. Turn the system off in this situation if needed.
Crash test results
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)
