Lexus GS 450h sports saloon is being freshened up for the 2010 model year with styling changes, new colours, revisions to the Pre-Crash Safety system and more sophisticated navigation and audio packages.
Revised Pre-Crash Safety system and new active headrests
The Pre-Crash Safety system in the GS 450h has been revised to support the pre-crash seatbelt and brake assist functions with pre-crash brake technology. Both front seats are fitted with new, inflator-operated active headrests, activated by a signal from the ECU in the event of a rear-end impact. The inflator slides a piston into the headrest, unlocks the mechanism and projects the headrest forwards and upwards to support the occupant's head and reduce the risk of whiplash injury.
Navigation and audio upgrades
In common with its sister Lexus models, the GS 450h is adopting a new hard disc drive (HDD) navigation system with the 40GB capacity, giving Europe-wide coverage with traffic information data capture in each country.
Two audio systems are featured in the GS 450h range: a 10-speaker Lexus premium package and a 14-speaker Mark Levinson Premium Surround Sound System giving 5.1-channel surround sound on selected CDs and DVDs. Both systems are now DAB ready and provide USB and audio jack plug connection for fully controlled use of portable music players, and Bluetooth with an audio streaming function.
Both systems also provide a "sound library" function, using the navigation system's HDD to transfer and store music files from CD up to 10GB capacity - the equivalent of about 2,000 music tracks.
