Luxury comes in a smooth package in Lexus GS 300h

IS IT just me? Or does anyone else out there think that Lexus designs of years past have a remarkable capacity to turn from swan to ugly duckling in a singularly short period of time.

I mean, look at an early LS300. When it appeared first it seemed to be the essence of solid luxury design and engineering, as pioneered by the European ‘big three’ of Mercedes, BMW, and Audi. Although squarish in shape and undramatic in appearance, it nevertheless exuded the sort of quality look that Lexus had been established to achieve.

Less than 20 years later and it looks horrid. Other Lexus contenders for the design hall of shame include the original GS 300 or the company’s first SUV, the RX 300.