Owner: Mark Yuen
Location: Cinnaminson, New Jersey. USA
Vehicle: 2006 Lexus GS300
Car Club Affiliation: Fizz Autosports
Horsepower: 265
Photography Credit: Stuart Levine, Duy Nguyen
STORY
Lexus offers one of the best sounding OE systems on the market. The Levinson package is relatively inexpensive as well, so for general consumers, in particular, it represents a great overall value. The Levinson sound in the Lexus is balanced, dynamic and realistic; but it does lack one element that most audio enthusiasts have to have, sub bass. And if you're used to aftermarket sound, then the Levinson probably won't provide the type of power you're accustomed to.
The cosmetic and performance changes were easy. The audio install was a different matter. The installs always had the look I was after, but they never quite lived up to the sound quality I was seeking. I really wanted to improve the sound with this vehicle. I called Stuart Levine at Harman International (which makes the Levinson system for Lexus) for some help. It was he who recommended using the JBL MS8 on the system. Stuart mentioned that the Mark Levinson system had so many dedicated channels of amplification that they needed a way to sum them together. The MS8 would be able to handle the task and whole lot more. "His last words were, 'Trust me, you won't be disappointed.'" I acknowledged that Stuart was right.
We kept the factory source and integrated the MS-8, which now effectively controls the audio system. Clear Star mounted the controller display at the bottom of the center stack. The audio signal is now powered by the Infinity Kappa Four 4-channel, the Kappa One subwoofer amp and by the JBL MS-8, which has an internal amplifier.
ENGINE / PERFORMANCE
HKS Suction Intake
Aimgain (Japan) dual exhaust
DRIVETRAIN
Stock
WHEELS / TIRES
Leon Hardiritt Freiden, 20x10.5 (front); 20x11 (rear)
BRAKES
6-Piston F-Sport Big Brakes
Drilled rear rotors
SUSPENSION
JIC Magic FLT-FAS coil-overs
L-Tuned rear chassis braces
F-Sport Sway Bars
Crown Upper Strut Bar
EXTERIOR
Final Konnexion Front bumper with 2013 facelift
Final Konnexion Rear bumper
Final Konnexion Side steps bumper
Final Konnexion vented fenders
Junction Produce bonnet spoiler
Junction Produce roof spoiler
Ings trunk spoiler
Carbon fiber pillars
Carbon fiber lower trim
Carbon fiber grill trim
Carbon fiber lower bumper trim
JSpec LED mirror winkers
LED DRL’s
LED tailights
LED foglights
Blue Pearl over Glacier Frost Mica
INTERIOR
Full carbon fiber dash
Carbon fiber handle pods
Carbon fiber ash tray
Piano black console
Piano black switch plates
Suede door inserts with F-Sport blue stitching
F-Sport shift knob
Custom 2-tone floor mats with white surging
AUDIO / MULTIMEDIA
Mark Levinson Processors
Integrated MS-8 digital processor w/31 band equalizer and Logic7 surround processing
Infiniti Kappa Crossovers
Infinity KAPPA PERFECT 6.1 components (F)
Infinity KAPPA PERFECT 6.1 components (R)
Infinity KAPPA FOUR component amplifier
Infinity KAPPA One subwoofer amplifier
Infinity KAPPA 10” subwoofers
Full plexi/LED/carbon fiber install
Mobile Spec Front Fuse Holder
Mobile Spec Main Power Wire
Mobile Spec Distribution Blocks
Mobile Spec Capacitor
COMPETITION EVENTS / COMPETITION CLASSES
VIP Classes
COMPETITION RESULTS
Non-competitive demo booth car
FAVORITE MODIFICATION
2013 facelift using the Final Konnexion kit as a base. This gives the 3rd generation GS a 4th generation look and feel with the characteristics of the older version.
SPONSORS
Toyo Tires
Weds Wheels
Meguiar's
Fizz Autosports
RavSpec
JM Exclusive
Infiniti
SHOPS
JM Exclusive
Clearstar Media Group
Intercity Concepts
