New Car Review of the 2004 Lexus GS 300 and 430 Luxury Sedan.

Description: Mid-Size Luxury Sedan
Base MSRP Range: $38,725 - $47,825
Invoice Price Range: $34,077 - $41,607

The GS sports sedans contain high-output engines and high-tech handling gear for world-class performance and Lexus-style luxury under the guise of stunning exterior designs.

The package, with wheels pushed outward to extremities and radical sheetmetal panels of curves and flat faces worked around a form with blunt nose and tail, presents an aggressive face with unusual oval headlamp clusters flanking a classy front grille.

Concealed behind the slick skin, sophisticated engines for the pair of GS models shape the sporty personalities. The ultimate edition -- GS 400 -- packs the twin-cam Lexus 4.3-liter V8 good for 300 hp. A second version -- GS 300 -- uses a dual-cam six-cylinder plant with in-line layout and displacement of 3.0 liters to muster 220 hp. Both cars employ the Lexus electronically-controlled automatic transmission, which provides five forward gears and intelligent shift logic.