The new Lexus GS has been awarded a best-in-class five star rating in the latest EuroNCAP crash test for adult occupant protection.

The new GS has received the maximum score for side impact, and a top-in-class result for the frontal impact test with 15 out of 16 points.

It also achieved a best-in-class result for pedestrian protection with a total of 18 points (two stars) and a rating of 41 points (four stars) for child protection.

A new safety feature included with the GS is the pre-crash safety (PCS) system that automatically prepares front seatbelt and emergency braking to help reduce collision damage and injury. PCS works in conjunction with adaptive cruise control (ACC), which automatically controls the GS’s speed in relation to that of the vehicle ahead.

The GS430 also adopts Lexus’s vehicle dynamics integrated management (VDIM). This integrates ABS, electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), traction control (TRC) and vehicle stability control (VSC) active safety systems with the electric power steering (EPS) and variable gear ratio steering (VGRS).

The GS is equipped with up to 12 airbags. Rear seatbelt pretensioners are fitted as standard, as is adaptive front-lighting (AFS). The car’s front bumper, cowl and bonnet have been designed to offer better protection against pedestrian injuries in a collision.

The new Lexus GS300 and GS430 go on sale in the UK from April 15.