Lexus to Drop GS 300 Base Model from Lineup

Lexus plans to give the GS lineup a major shakedown by dropping the entry-level GS 300 come 2020. Toyota's luxury brand cites poor sales as the reason for the discontinuation.

Dropping the GS 300 leaves just two available models, the GS 350 and the performance GS F.

The GS 450h hybrid, which is still available locally, has already bitten the dust after the 2018 model year also because of slumping sales.

"The GS 300 represented a small percentage of GS sales in 2018," Lexus spokesperson Alissa Moceri said in an interview. "We are constantly evaluating model mixes throughout our lineup."

The GS has certainly been in the crosshairs of Lexus, with the luxury brand stating last year that they were taking a "strategic look" at the GS as well as the IS line of sedans.

The GS 300 is not the only poor selling trim in the lineup--in fact, the entire class has ceased to be the brand's strong suit ever since consumer preference shifted to crossovers and SUVS.

Whether the entire GS lineup will go by way of the chopping board remains to be seen. For now, the paring down of the class from seven to just five trims (two trims belong to GS 300) will have to suffice.