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My word, does Lexus really need to be all that concerned about a brash new look for its grille?

Lexus designers burned the midnight oil after the brand lost out to BMW and Mercedes last year in the luxury sales race; Lexus had been the leader for 11 years previously. “We need stronger character, sportier designs,” said the planners.

Younger customers are the goal. “Give us a grille as recognizable as BMW’s long-used twin-kidney look,” executives asked.

Hence, the new spindle grille on the 2013 Lexus GS350 AWD F Sport sedan. The front of the new GS signifies a look that will be used in even more bold form on other upcoming Lexus products.

As I pointed attention to the grille on the ’13 model, it received mixed reaction. Will it add allure?

With a long hood, F Sport performance logos on its front fenders and rakish windshield, the GS is stylish. Wheels are 19-inch split five-spoke alloys with dark graphite finish. The rear features a deck lip spoiler and a valance which contains dual exhaust tips.

The comfortable interior gets a different look from striated aluminum, a “like it or not” trim. Wood trim is available and probably better suits the soft leather interior finish. The cabin is very quiet.

The rear seat is roomy enough for three adults, and, with the middle unoccupied features a drop-down armrest that contains slide-out cupholders and a nice-size storage bin. Added comfort for rear-seat passengers comes from a power shade at the rear window. Trunk space is adequate at 14.3 cubic feet.

A feature is the large 12.3-inch display screen for the navigation, audio, climate, etc., for which many functions are controlled from a remote-touch joystick in the center console.

Adding F Sport enhancement to the GS’s 306-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 engine and 6-speed automatic transmission are paddle shifters and three driving modes beyond normal – eco, sport and sport-plus. Throttle response is eased in eco mode, as well as changes in seat heating and climate control settings for further energy savings; shifts are delayed and handling tightened in the sport and sport-plus modes.

Most of the GS’ competitors are equipped with 7- and 8-speed transmissions; the Lexus 6-speed, however, is smooth and picks up in performance with the paddles for quick shifts. The all-wheel-drive system can vary torque split from 50/50 to as much as 70 percent to the rear wheels.
The GS averaged 21.9 miles per gallon in an even split of city/highway driving; EPA estimate is 19/26. Premium fuel is recommended.

Pricing for the ’13 Lexus GS swelled to $58,997 with the optional F Sport package, navigation, blind-spot monitor and park assist. Among F Sport additions are sport-tuned suspension, the dark graphite wheels, sport front seat with power side bolsters, heated and ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel, rain-sensing wipers.

Speed-sensing steering, bixenon headlamps with washers, power tilt/slide moonroof, dual-zone climate control and leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob are standard items.

Notes from e-mail

Q: Bud, you just had to mention Crosley in a recent column to get me going. Regarding D.R.’s comment about a Crosley engine in an Abarth is probably, like you stated, wrong. In the ’50s, Crosley cars, except for the Hot Shot and Super Sports, weren’t road cars to race. What did happen was that the Crosley engine, quite hot, was placed in many race cars. I know of three Italian manufacturers who built race cars with Crosley engines in their factories – Bandini, Nardi and Siata. The great Carroll Shelby supposedly even raced a Bandini/Crosley. Mr. Abarth did fantastic “hop-up” work on Fiats and other Italian cars. I don’t believe Abarth produced engines, but I don’t doubt that an Abarth-modified Fiat engine was at some time stuck into a Crosley. This year’s Crosley Automobile Club/Mile High Regional meet will be Sunday, July 29, at the Buffalo Bill Weekend in Golden. – R.R.

A: Good to hear from you, Ray, keep on resuscitating those Crosleys.

Q: Bud, I enjoyed the review of the 2012 Chrysler 300 Limited last week, and think it is important that the company has equipped the big car with a 6-cylinder engine and 8-speed transmission. We don’t need to drive Hemis. What I wonder is whether those big Chryslers are selling or not, in view of the gas prices. – D.L.

A: Well, Del, the 300 is selling very well. In the first four months of this year, Chrysler sold 27,729 300s, compared with 8,642 at the same point a year ago. The 300 is one of the best-selling full-size models on the market this year.

2013 Lexus GS 350 F Sport

$58,997

(price as tested)

MPG City 19 Highway 26

Vehicle type: All-wheel-drive luxury sport sedan

Wheelbase: 112.2 inches

Length/Width/Height: 190.7/72.4/57.9 inches

Weight: 4,000 pounds

Engine: 3.5-liter V-6

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Fuel mileage: 21.9 mpg

Fuel tank: 17.4 gallons

Warranty: 4 years/50,000 miles basic; 6/70,000 powertrain

Competitors: Infiniti M37x, BMW 535i xDrive, Jaguar XF, Audi A6

Built at: Tahara, Japan

THE STICKER

$49,450 base

$5,695 F Sport, heated and ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel, 18-inch graphite-finish alloy wheels, adaptive suspension, rear valance and spoiler

$1,785 Navigation with 12.5-inch split-screen multimedia display

$500 Blind-spot monitor

$875 Destination

PLUSES

Comfortable interior

F Sport looks

Navigation, audio

MINUSES

Fuel mileage

6-speed transmission