^^ Execution wise the GS was never about a ton of room. Its tidy dimensions always meant it wouldn't be that spacious. The GS has remained about 190 inches long which is barely one inch longer than the 2nd gen from 1998-2005 and actually over 4 inches shorter than the first generation. The wheelbase did grow later in life.
The ES based on the Avalon the last two generations has always been a roomier car, that is one of its key selling points at its price point. No one bought a GS for room.
In comparison the 5 series and E class etc all grew substantially each generation where they are pretty much the size of an older SWB 7 or S class. I am really unsure why Lexus chose to keep the GS so tidy when everything else (A6, CTS etc) grew much larger.
Ironically the GS being arguably the best driving in class makes you realize the masses don't care as much as the internet wants us to believe.
Yes, the GS was never about a ton of room.
The GS was more about grand sports.
I never sat in the 1GS, however the 1998-05 2GS actually had more rear legroom than my 2005-12 3GS - probably because the 3GS had thick air conditioned front seat backrests.
My 2012-19 4GS seems to have even less rear legroom again - once again, maybe the air conditioned front seat back rests are even thicker again.
2nd gen to 4th gen GS's seem to have about the same cabin length.
The 1989-92 1ES was a compact sedan.
The 1992-96 2ES and my 1992-96 3ES actually had a shorter cabin with less rear leg room than the GS of the same period in time.
It was only about 2006-12 5ES when the ES's cabin became much longer, and in particular the stretched wheelbase 2012-18 6ES.
Traditionally GS has very closely followed the Toyota Crown wheelbase - I suspect because the Crown is a Japanese Domestic Market product that wants those particular dimension - in the same way as Toyota retaining the intermediate IS to GS size of the Toyota Mark X Series.
indeed... F10 never had problem selling with piggy driving characteristics and bad brakes. And despite internet talking about options like M5 and 335i, majority of them sold around world are 520i and 520d, that are certainly at least not better than GS350 and GS300h.
And then we come to the important question - why would Lexus do another GS in dying sedan market, that cares about room and comfort and not sporty driving? It makes little sense.
Cheaper version of LF-1 makes a lot more sense.
The majority of midsize luxury Germans selling around the world is certainly 2.0L 4 cylinder turbos etc, but the GS is now the same with the GS200t/GS300.
I don't know about Europe, but the luxury sedans still sell reasonably well in the USA with the:
2009-16 E Class raising its peak annual sales to 69k/year from the older 2002-09 E Class peak of only 50k/year.
Likewise, the 2010-17 5 Series raised its annual peak sales to 60k/year from the older 2003-10 5 Series peak of only 56k/year.
The 2012-19 4GS peak sales of only 22k/year fell significantly relative to the 2005-12 3GS's peak of 33k/year - this probably only occurred because the 4GS was much more deliberately sporty than the soft riding 3GS.
It's an even more prominent sales reaction with the all new 5LS sedan, probably because full size sedans are more expensive with generally older hence more conservative buyers.
Only Toyota Motor Corporation and President Akio can decide whether they design the IS/GS/LS to meet their own personal sporty tastes, or the sporty tastes according to their marketing homework - or they want to fulfil the tastes of the market, to sell in much more populous numbers.
According to the laws of physics, SUV tall wagons with large rolling diameter tires for higher ground clearance have heavier "
unsprung" mass, such that on impact with a bump, the momentum will be much higher - resulting in a
bouncier ride; the heavier the unsprung mass relative to the sprung mass, the bouncier the ride.
The SUV tall wagons also have a higher center of gravity for more pitching and rolling.
Meanwhile the taller height has more wind resistance for higher wind noise levels, and combined with the extra weight and optional 4WD, there is less fuel efficiency.
However SUV tall wagons do have much greater vertical cabin height, higher seating position and higher ground clearance etc.
Just like: acreage/suburban/hi rise living, Canon/Nikon/Sony, PC/Apple, Android/iPhone, gasoline vs diesels, atmospheric vs turbos, hybrid vs plug in, gasoline vs electric etc - low coupes vs medium height sedans vs tall SUV wagons - each format has its advantages/disadvantages and pros/cons; all up to the individual to choose what best suits their needs, wants and tastes.
