There was a time when Lexus was a catchphrase for Luxury and build quality, but that’s changing fast, with a slew of models on the way that take high performance right to the European competition. Already there is the IS-F, the V8 powered version of the IS250 that will put the frighteners on the BMW M3, and now there are plenty of rumours that the M5 (and Audi RS6) are next on the target list.

The recipe is simple. Take one next generation Lexus GS, rip the formula One inspired 500 horsepower sub five liter V10 engine from the LF-A supercar and stuff it under the bonnet of the GS, and call it the GS-F. While you’re at it, why don’t you get the eight speed automatic from the LS 460, modify it for lightning fast gearchanges, and feed all that power to the rear wheels. The gearbox would come with steering column mounted gearchange paddles, for sequential changes.

The choice of engine for the 2012 Lexus GSF would make economical sense, as the LF-A is only ever going to be a niche product, and engine construction costs can be cut by putting the engine in a more numerously sold car. The only potential problem is that details of the V10 engine are sketchy at best, and it may well be hand built on a dedicated small scale production line, rather than being able to be assembled using robots in a mass produced manner. Then the option would be the V8 from the IS-F, and with enough turbocharging and tuning, the same 500 horsepower should be easily attainable. Certainly some of the competition is V8 powered.

At the moment most of the GS-F project is pure speculation as there’s no word yet whether the project has gained approval, but you can see it making sense, at least to the marketing department, and we’re sure that the engineers are just itching to get their hands on the project. As with the Lexus IS-F, expect some alterations to the body to make the car stand out from the normal GS crowd, although as the car is more of a sleeper the alterations may not be as heavy handed as seen in some renderings.

If it does go ahead, the expected launch date for the 2012 Lexus GS-F is sometime in 2012, about a year after the all new Lexus GS hits the streets. By that time, it will be up against the V10 engined 520 horsepower Audi RS6, the 514 horsepower Mercedes E63 AMG, and the by then new 500 horsepower Cadillac GTS-V. It’s obvious that 500 raging horses is the new battleground for very high performance saloons. Watch out for the fireworks when they all get together…