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15/01/2012
REVIEW by EWAN KENNEDY
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People who want a serious 4WD like the Toyota LandCruiser, but find that the Toyota doesn’t have the advanced luxury they desire, often buy a Lexus LX 570 4WD. The two vehicles are closely related, indeed they come down the same assembly line in Japan, but have many changes that give them quite different personalities.
Now Lexus has revealed details of the upcoming facelift to the LX 570. A freshen up that’s complemented by new onboard communications technology.
Appearance changes see the big Lexus sporting a bolder radiator grille, a revised front bumper, redesigned headlight housings and larger foglight surrounds. There are LED daytime running lights for improved safety – though it can be argued that anyone who can’t see a Lexus LX 570 approaching should probably turn in their licence!
Huge wheels are all the rage at the moment and the LX 570 has a new design of 20-inch alloys
The Lexus’s driver's seat gets a new Easy Access system; the steering wheel and driver's seat automatically retract when the ignition is turned off.
Once you are in the front seats you will both have improved ventilation and will notice the instrument panel has been redesigned and a new, simple to use, colour multi-information display. A metallic finish is used on the centre instrument cluster and air vents. The cabin of the latest Lexus LX 570 features a mock mahogany woodgrain look.
Entertainment for kids of all ages is provided by dual rear-seat entertainment screens mounted behind the front seat head rests.
The LX 570's 5.7-litre V8 is unchanged but there are now steering wheel-mounted paddles controlling the six-speed automatic transmission.
Lexus LX 570 is a genuine 4WD not a dressed up wagon in the manner of many competitors. This is indicted by the fact that a two-speed transfer case provides full-time four-wheel drive uses a Torsen limited-slip locking centre differential with front to rear variable torque distribution. For really serious off-road work the Crawl Control has been uprated.
What Lexus calls a Turn Assist feature tightens the turning circle by adding more brake force to the inside rear wheel. Multi-terrain Select function allows the driver to optimise vehicle performance by choosing from five types of terrain – including rock, rock and dirt, mogul, loose rock, and mud and sand.
A much loved feature by existing owners of the Lexus LX 570 is Active Height Control. This lowers the chassis for easy entry and exit and returns automatically to its normal height when the vehicle begins to accelerate. For improved aerodynamics and on-road stability, the AHC system lowers the vehicle when travelling at higher speeds. When the transfer case is shifted into low range and during crawl control, AHC raises the vehicle to provide additional ride height.
Exterior visibility in tight conditions is enhanced with a multi-terrain monitor using exterior cameras. These include Wide-view Front and Side Cameras, located on both sides of the vehicle. The cameras can display the front and passenger side view simultaneously in split-screen mode.
The greatly improved Lexus LX 570 4WD is due for release during the second quarter of 2012. Prices and the finer details of the features will be finalised closer to the release date. |
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