Lexus LX 570 Upgraded

The Lexus ‘spindle-grille’ that recently made its debut on the all-new Lexus GS 250 and 350 is now a feature of the Lexus LX 570. In keeping with current fashion it sports a new design of 20-inch alloy wheels. These won’t do a lot for the big 4WD in harsh off-road conditions as tyres can suffer due to lack of sidewall flexibility. 

Which may sound like an unnecessary complaint from us considering how few so-called 4WDs are ever taken off-road. But the large Lexus is one of the most competent vehicles in its class and we have done serious off-road trips on more than one occasion.

Perhaps the most noticeably feature of the latest Lexus LX 570 are the LED daytime running lights. There’s also a new headlamp design and the foglamp surrounds have been enlarged. The latter is part of a redesign of the front bumper bar, which, naturally, includes the lower section of the spindle-grille. 

There are also changes to the design of the rear bumper and taillights. Lexus says the new discreet tow hitch cover adds to the aesthetics of the revamped body package. While not many Lexus 570s go off sealed surfaces, they certainly do their fair share of heavy duty towing. 

The driver's seat has new Easy Access system that retracts the driver's seat and steering wheel when the ignition is turned off. Front seats have improved ventilation. The centre cluster has been redesigned, reducing the number of buttons. One-touch turn indicators as fitted on most recent model European and Australian cars are an added safety item on a large vehicle like this Lexus. 

There’s a new metallic finish for the centre instrument cluster and front side air vents. A new dual rear seat entertainment system will make life easier for the kids - and those who have to listen to them. Lexus LX 570, when fitted with an Enhancement Pack is fitted, has steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, which can be used to control the six-speed automatic transmission.
 
This Enhancement Pack also has the Lexus Pre-Collision safety System, Active Cruise control, rear seat heaters, ventilated front seats and mahogany wood grain-look interior trim, including on the steering wheel. The enhancement pack is available as a $16,000 option, bringing the recommended retail price to $156,900 - almost $9,000 less than the previous Lexus LX 570 Sports Luxury model.
 
The standard Lexus LX 570, if standard is the right word for a vehicle crammed with so many extras, now has a recommended retail price of $140,900 - almost $9000 less than the superseded Sports model. This luxury 4WD is a large vehicle and the addition of an off-road Turn Assist feature will be welcome.

This tightens the turning circle by adding more brake force to the inside rear wheel to help the rear skew around a little more. Which, of course, does no damage to the tyres as the vehicle is on an unsealed surface. That’s clever. 

Further off-road assistance is provided by a new selectable Multi-Terrain Select system. This juggles electronically between the stability and traction control systems over different surfaces to find the best combination.

You can select from five types of terrain modes; Rock, Rock and Dirt, Mogul, Loose Rock, Mud and Sand. Off-road and city driving are both made safer by Lexus’s new Multi-Terrain Monitor.
 
This uses four external wide-angle cameras to monitor blind spots or areas of the vehicle obscured from view. The cameras' vision is projected on the 8-inch LCD screen on the centre console. 

A new multimedia display that sits between the speedometer and tachometer, displays the front wheel steering angles, a digital speedo, satellite navigation and information relating to the Multi-Terrain Select function. 

The Crawl Control feature has been upgraded, with the number of preset speeds upgraded from three to five steps, for greater off-road control. Well priced for its class and positively crammed with the latest in luxury gear, the latest Lexus LX 570 is worth the attention of the well-heeled looking for a ‘real’ 4WD.