New Lexus Performance Sedan Makes Debut Pacing CART Indy Cars in Monterey
6 September 1997
New Lexus Performance Sedan Makes Debut Pacing CART Indy Cars in MontereyMONTEREY, Calif., Sept. 6 -- A new breed of Lexus, the GS 400 high-performance sedan, makes its first public appearance this weekend pacing the Toyota Grand Prix of Monterey CART race. The latest addition to the PPG CART World Series Pace Car fleet, the GS 400 showcases an innovative paint and graphics package created jointly by Lexus and PPG Industries. Finished with PPG's high-tech Chromaflare paint process, the GS pace car graphics create an optical "positive-negative" effect as the car is seen in motion. Thanks to a new Lexus powerplant with the first use of continuously variable valve timing in a V8, the GS pace car will boast more than 300 horsepower. Its race-car-inspired E-Shift 5-speed semi-automatic transmission promotes lightning-fast shifts for high-performance driving -- increasing control through demanding roads like Laguna Seca's world famous "Cork Screw." The GS 400 pace car rides on Goodyear Eagle GSC tires in 255/40 ZR 19 size, mounted on BBS alloy wheels. It is also fitted with Brembo brakes, Borla custom exhaust and H&R racing suspension. The production GS 400 will be available for sale in October, and is expected to be the fastest production automatic sedan in the world. It is capable of sprinting from 0-60 in 5.7 seconds and has a top speed of 149 mph. Like its production siblings, the GS 400 PPG pace car is the wicked member of the family, a completely different kind of Lexus. Lexus GS 400 Pace Car Performance Features: -- 4.0-liter four-cam 32-valve V8 -- Aluminum block and heads -- Continuously variable valve timing -- 300+ hp, 310+ ft.-lbs. Torque -- E-Shift semi-automatic 5-speed transmission Design: -- TMC Design Studio, Japan Fabricator: -- Toyota Motorsports Paint: -- PPG Industries Color: -- Spectra Blue Chromaflare Graphics Design: -- Molly Designs Tires -- Goodyear Eagle GSC 255/40 ZR19 Wheels -- BBS "LM Rad" 8-1/2 x 19 alloy Brakes -- Brembo 4-piston Suspension -- H&R coil-over shocks, racing springs. Exhaust -- Borla custom-built free-flow Safety: -- Roll cage -- Dual halon fire system -- Fuel cell -- 4-point safety belts -- Lexus Vehicle Skid Control system SOURCE Toyota Lexus