IT'S the car Lexus believes will herald a new chapter in the company's history, and it has just been unveiled at California's upmarket Pebble Beach.

The new GS super saloon will reach British shores next year with the promise of a more engaging driving experience, bolder design and a more spacious, contemporary interior.

Models heading in our direction have been confirmed as the GS 450h full hybrid and GS 250 petrol-engined derivatives, though more detailed information will not be released for a few more months.

Confidence looks to be the theme for this new generation GS, which faces off with a bold spindle grille that is set to become a signature feature of future Lexus models.

And the engineering team has also drawn on the Tardis factor by increasing cabin and boot space, yet leaving the exterior dimensions virtually unchanged.

But their main objective was to provide a more engaging driving experience, so the car has a new aerodynamic body, wider stance and stiffer structure along with a quicker shifting transmission plus distinctive engine sound and exhaust note.

The revised platform is more rigid than the current model and the track - wider by 40mm at the front and 50mm at the rear - works in combination with a revised suspension for superior cornering. 

Creature comforts have always been a trademark of Lexus and painstaking attention to detail has been applied to new GS cabin.

Apart from adding extra passenger space and a long, sculpted dash, there are revised door openings for easier entry and exit, and better boot access to go with an almost 25 per cent increase in luggage capacity.

Premium examples of standard equipment include a new energy-saving auto climate control system called S-Flow which uses the occupant-detection system to focus airflow only to the front area where passengers are actually seated - a first-in-class technology.

And a next-generation Remote Touch is standard on all models for smoother operation of climate, audio, phone controls and sat-nav.

The cabin also has a new analogue clock carved from an ingot, and ambient lighting, while white LED lights sequentially illuminate the areas around the doors, centre console and footwells.

Among the class-leading 10 airbags in the new GS, there are knee airbags for both driver and front passenger while rear occupants have seat-mounted side bags. New whiplash injury lessening front seats increase the likelihood that occupants will be in the optimum position at a moment of impact.

Options include a pre-collision system, which uses the dynamic radar cruise control set-up to provide early warning of objects that might result in a collision.

And the system also uses an infrared camera to monitor the driver's eyes. If the driver is not looking forward when a collision appears imminent, the system will sound a warning.

If the driver still doesn't respond, the system will automatically brake up to two seconds prior to impact.

Other available safety systems include night vision, head-up display, blind spot monitor and lane departure warning.

And next-generation Lexus multimedia brings the likes of enhanced Bluetooth capability with automatic phonebook download, DVD audio and video compatibility, MP3 sound enhancement, 5.1 Surround Sound, and a high-res eight-inch central control display.

For the ultimate in audio performance, an 835-watt, 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system is available providing 7.1 Surround Sound through 10 channels using a new class digital amplifier and more efficient  Green Edge speakers. In fact the new system produces almost three times as many watts per channel as the previous generation.