AutoArt 1:18 2006 Lexus GS430

In the early eighties, the primary Japanese automobile manufacturers all launched premiere automotive marques in hopes of capturing a portion of the spots/luxury market inhabited primarily by the German BMW and Mercedes, England’s Jaguar and North America’s Cadillac and Lincoln. Of all these brands, Toyota’s Lexus brand has been the most successful at building a brand that is viewed by as an equivalent.

Still, despite building a brand that is known for quality and reliability, the current crop of Lexus design is more anonymous than it’s European counterparts. Comparatively though it remains miles ahead of Infiniti (with exception to it’s deserved-to-be-modeled M35) and Acura (with the exception of it’s previously modeled NSX)..

So what to make of the 2006 Lexus GS 430 from AUTO art? What we have here is a model that echoes back to the very first AUTO art model, a Lexus GS 400. Then as now we have incredible, run and peel free paint, in this case in a color called mercury metallic. When Kyosho still seems to battle tool marks in each silver BMW, it is remarkable how effortless it seems that AUTO art seems to execute silver variants.

The chrome treatments are faultless – note the deftness of the accent on the rocker panel, the suppleness of the graduated crescent window trim and the simple logo and insiginia treatments on trunk and grill. The black dots that represent door locks are the only incongruous elements. Modern complex lights are well modeled front and back are pleasing. Trunk and engine compartments are about as well done as they come on a modern sedan. The brake detail speaks volumes for the tires and wheels; done in utilitarian fashion, sturdy and anonymous.

If Lexus and it’s peers are behind their European brethren in terms of external style, their elegant interior architecture the Asian brands have been pacing the field for the last decade. The faux wood accents, flocked carpeting and the clean styling of the dash and gauges are all detailed fastidiously. A nice touch was to model with a sunroof – a rarely treat in 1/18 –which has the added benefit of allowing more light into a darkly colored cabin. Look at the vents in the console that benefit the rear seats; they are nicely scored and blacked out – this is just the kind of detail where AUTO art succeeds and others fall short and just leave plastic blobs.

So is this a model that’s a must have? Well, except for a Lexus collector, probably not. Is AUTO art to blame for that? Again, probably not. This is a competent personal luxury car that’s been well modeled. But it doesn’t bring whispers of excitement or screams of joy. While the shut lines are tighter than Scrooge with a shilling and the stance is better than Shania Twain with a microphone, there’s a lack of electricity that derives from the personality of the subject.

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